Background cattle refers to young beef animals, typically weaned calves, that undergo an intermediate feeding and management program after weaning and before they are moved to a finishing feedlot. This crucial phase is designed to promote efficient growth, improve health, and add value to the calves before their final fattening stage.
Understanding the Backgrounding Process
Backgrounding is a strategic management and feeding program in which cattle are fed for a period of time after weaning. This phase focuses on developing the animal's frame and muscle mass rather than depositing excessive fat. It acts as a bridge between the calf stage on the ranch and the intensive finishing period in a feedlot.
The primary goals of backgrounding include:
- Economical Weight Gain: Utilizing forage-based diets to achieve cost-effective growth.
- Improved Health: Strengthening the immune system and reducing stress before entering the feedlot environment.
- Enhanced Performance: Preparing cattle to perform better and more efficiently in the finishing phase.
- Increased Market Value: Adding weight and health ensures a higher-value animal for sale to feedlots.
Key Aspects of a Backgrounding Program
A successful backgrounding program integrates several critical components to ensure the calves thrive.
Nutrition and Feeding
The diet for background cattle typically emphasizes forage, which is more cost-effective than grain-heavy feedlot diets. This can include:
- Pasture: Grazing on high-quality forages.
- Hay and Silage: Stored forages used during winter or when pasture quality is low.
- Supplements: Protein, vitamins, and minerals are crucial to balance the forage diet and support growth. Grains might be fed in limited amounts to achieve desired weight gain targets.
For more detailed information on cattle nutrition, resources like the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension offer valuable insights.
Health Management
Maintaining the health of background cattle is paramount. This involves:
- Vaccination Programs: Protecting against common diseases like Bovine Respiratory Disease (BRD).
- Parasite Control: Regular deworming and external parasite management.
- Stress Reduction: Implementing low-stress handling techniques during weaning and throughout the backgrounding period.
- Monitoring: Daily observation for signs of illness or injury to allow for prompt treatment.
Facilities and Environment
Appropriate facilities are essential for the well-being and performance of background cattle. These may include:
- Adequate Pasture: Sufficient grazing area per animal.
- Dry Lots: Pens with shelter, feed bunks, and water access, especially useful during adverse weather or for specific feeding strategies.
- Clean Water: Constant access to fresh, clean drinking water.
- Shelter: Protection from extreme weather conditions.
Benefits of Backgrounding Cattle
Producers engage in backgrounding for several compelling reasons that benefit both the animals and their economic returns.
- Economic Advantage: Converting less expensive forage into valuable weight gain reduces overall production costs.
- Reduced Feedlot Stress: Backgrounded calves are typically healthier and more accustomed to feed bunks and water troughs, leading to lower sickness rates and better adaptation in the feedlot.
- Improved Feedlot Efficiency: Calves that have developed a strong frame during backgrounding can utilize feedlot diets more efficiently for muscle and fat deposition.
- Marketing Flexibility: Backgrounding allows producers to hold calves to heavier weights, providing more options for marketing timing and potentially higher prices.
- Enhanced Carcass Quality: Healthy, well-grown cattle tend to produce higher quality carcasses.
Backgrounding vs. Direct Finishing
Understanding the distinction between backgrounding and direct finishing is key to grasping the role of background cattle in the beef production chain.
| Feature | Backgrounding | Feedlot Finishing |
|---|---|---|
| Timing | Post-weaning, pre-feedlot | After backgrounding (or direct from weaning), pre-harvest |
| Primary Goal | Frame growth, health, moderate weight gain | Rapid weight gain, fat deposition |
| Diet Focus | Forage-based (pasture, hay, silage) with supplements | High-concentrate (grain-based) |
| Typical Environment | Pasture, dry lots with ample space | Confinement pens |
| Duration | 2-5 months (highly variable) | 3-6 months (highly variable) |
| Daily Weight Gain | Moderate (1.5-2.5 lbs/day) | Rapid (3-4+ lbs/day) |
Ultimately, backgrounding cattle represents a strategic stage in beef production, adding value through growth and health management between weaning and the final feedlot finishing phase.
