Official Publication, North Dakota Beef Cattle Improvement Association
July 2000 -- Volume 5, Number 2    

DATALINETM attracts entries.  Over 1,000 head enrolled.

Over 1,000 head of North Dakota grown calves from the 1997 calf crop are already enrolled in the DATALINETM program, according to North Dakota Beef Cattle Improvement Executive Secretary Dr. Kris Ringwall of Dickinson. The calves, which represented a 250 per cent increase, will be electronically identified and data will be collected on the animals all the way through harvest.

More calves can be enrolled in the program at any time and there is no requirement as to weight of calves going into the DATALINETM program.

The NDBCIA, on behalf of its membership, developed alliances with three feedyards as follows:

The DATALINETM program retained ownership alliance gives producers the potential for additional income plus "cow-calf producers can complete an information cycle which will help them make future management decisions," Ringwall said. "Imagine knowing how the progeny from each sire and/or cow-family in a producer's herd performed in the feedlot or how these same progeny yielded on the rail. This information can directly affect profitability in the cow-calf business."

The concept is a big step for producers and needs to be considered in light of the current market, which is stronger for certain classes and colored calves. "I think some of these classes, particularly heifers, it might be advantageous," Ringwall said. "If you are to look at severe discounts, you need to put your calves in a retained ownership program and sell on the rail." (The DREC heifers in the 1996-97 program returned $52 additional net dollars. (See Table 1)

There is no cost to get into the DATALINETM program and producers can deal with the NDBCIA or go directly to the yards. In order to get data on calves in the program, Ringwall said the NDBCIA "encourages 50 per cent ownership of the calves but some yards will go less on than that."

The NDBCIA developed a health protocol for calves going into the DATALINETM program which included pre-conditioning vaccination of 7-way Clostridial and 4-way Viral vaccinations, prior to weaning (minimum of 2 weeks). Booster vaccinations are required for the 7-way Clostridial and 4- way Viral at the time of weaning. Hemophilus somnus and Pasteurella vaccinations are optional depending upon feedyard requirements. Feedlots prefer calves be weaned and on feed for a minimum of 30 days, however, Ringwall said these are just guidelines. Producers using this health protocol will most likely minimize risk, maintain healthy calves and keep finishing costs lower.

TABLE 1
  No of Head Birth Weight Wean Weight 205 Adj ADG WDA Age Frame Score
127 25 86 556 555 2 2.4 230 4.5
132 16 76 550 555 2.1 2.4 231 4.4
155 19 79 546 553 2.1 2.4 225 4.4
1445 30 80 557 564 2.1 2.5 224 4.3
336 11 71 417 502 1.8 2.2 195 3.7
DREC Avg 296 88 522 559 2.1 2.6 205 4.7
ND Avg 18415 89 533 576 2.3 2.7 200 5.7