On today’s Cow-Calf Corner, Paul Vining, OSU Extension OQBN Coordinator, talks about the value added by OQBN Vac-45 Certification.
Oklahoma Quality Beef Network (OQBN) Vac-45 are scheduled to begin in November 2024. The OQBN Vac-45 Program is a calf preconditioning program designed to improve the health and performance of beef calves and therefore contributing to an increase in calf profitability.
Benefits of OQBN Vac-45 Certification:
- Improved Calf Health and Performance: University studies show that preconditioned calves gain between 0.40 to 0.77 pounds more per day than non-preconditioned calves during the feedlot phase. Preconditioned calves also demonstrate up to a 90% reduction in respiratory illnesses, which not only leads to healthier animals but also reduces the need for medical treatments.
- Greater Marketability and Premiums: Healthy calves that perform better in the feedlot and require less medical intervention produce higher-quality carcasses. Thus, there are increased market premiums for OQBN-certified calves. In 2023, OQBN-certified calves received average premiums of $18.41 per hundredweight (cwt). Over the past 10 years, the average premium for certified calves has been $14.04/cwt, making OQBN certification a valuable investment for producers.
What is Required for OQBN Certification?
Many producers are already implementing practices like those required for OQBN Vac-45 certification. The program involves preconditioning calves for 45 days post-weaning, including vaccinations, weaning management, and other health protocols designed to reduce stress and promote calf welfare.
Specific Requirements
OQBN Vac-45 Certification Requirements:
- All calves must be:
- Raised from the ranch of origin
- Bull calves must be castrated and healed
- Dehorned and healed
- Weaned a minimum of 45 days
- Vaccinated with 2 doses of a 5-way respiratory vaccine
- Vaccinated with 2 doses of at least a 7-way clostridial vaccine (blackleg)
- Vaccinated with 1 dose of Pasteurella/Haemolytica (shipping fever)
- Identified with an OQBN program ear tag
- Must follow one of three vaccination protocols
- Branding (2-4 months of age) and Weaning
- Preweaning (2 to 5 weeks preweaning) and Weaning
- Weaning and Post-Weaning (2 to 4 weeks after weaning)
New for 2024: BigIron Online Auction Option
To facilitate the marketing of OQBN-certified calves, a new online auction opportunity is available through BigIron Auctions. This new feature offers producers a broader platform to market their preconditioned calves to a large audience of buyers.
How to Get Started:
- Visit the OQBN Website: Learn more about the program by visiting the Oklahoma Quality Beef Network page on Oklahoma State University’s website Oklahoma Quality Beef Network | Oklahoma State University.
- Order OQBN Ear Tags: Producers can register their calves and purchase OQBN ear tags online at OQBN Program Registration and Tag Purchase.
- Contact Program Coordinator: For additional details, contact Paul Vining, OQBN Program Coordinator, at 405-744-4268 or via email at paul.vining@okstate.edu.
OQBN provides a pathway for beef cattle producers to improve their operation’s profitability while contributing to the production of healthy, high-quality beef for the market.
Paul Vining, Oklahoma Quality Beef Network coordinator, has updates for the OQBN program on SunUp TV from August 24, 2024. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8hya8KDwPpY
