Agri News, MN
11-07-06
Midwest news and notes
Certification pays for feeder producers
Recently completed research by Iowa State University Extension economists
looked at the value to beef producers of using a third-party certification.
Data from 20,000 lots of cattle in 105 auctions at nine locations was collected.
The report shows the value of different weaning and vaccination practices, says
John Lawrence, lead researcher. More importantly, it shows there is value in
third-party certification.
All else being equal, green tag calves, weaned at least 30 days, and with a
signed preconditioning certificate, brought $6 more per hundredweight than did a
newly weaned calf with no vaccination.
The signed reconditioning certificate was worth $3 per hundredweight more than
if the seller made the claim that the cattle were weaned and vaccinated,
Lawrence said.
A copy of the report is available by calling (515) 294-5247.