08/26/2026
Going into the fall rush, calves experience many changes including a new environment, co-mingling, different feed sources, and vaccinations.
Here are 4️⃣tips to help calves to the feedlot.
1️⃣ Processing time. When calves arrive at the feedlot, their history is often unknown. Due to this, it is important to let them rest 12 to 24 hours. During this time calves should have access to water and long stem hay. Once calves have adequate rest, they can be processed which may include vaccination, parasite control, feedlot identification, and sorting.
2️⃣Get calves to eat and drink. Newly weaned calves often walk the perimeter of the pen. It is important to make sure they find the water source. If calves are struggling to find the water tank it may be helpful to allow the water to overflow for a few hours. These freshly weaned calves may not be bunk-broke, so offering them common feedstuffs, like long stem hay, is important. Once they are bunk broke producers can start a 21- to 28-day step up period. Calves should be eating 1.4% of their body weight within 14 days.
3️⃣Health. During the 21–28-day transition period calves, may start to have health events. It is important to establish a veterinary-client-patient-relationship (VCPR) prior to calf arrival to develop a treatment plan.
4️⃣Adaptation. When calves enter the feedlot, they transition over 21-28 days to eat to an energy fill rather than a gut fill. Typically, calves can spend 3 to 7 days on each step. Producers should reduce roughage by no more than 10 percentage units at each step while holding the byproducts constant and slowly increasing the amount of concentrates. Calves should be increasing their intake to be kept full this step-up period, so they do not become aggressive at the bunk and overeat. Ideally, once stepped up, 1/3 of the pen should be up at the bunk eating, 1/3 of the pen laying down, and 1/3 of the pen coming up to eat during feeding. This helps ensure that producers are not behind their cattle when calling bunks.
