Feed Lot Magazine Online, Livestock Marketing Association Launches First Nationwide Certified, Vaccinated Calf Program

The Livestock Marketing Association, whose members serve producers in 43 states, is launching the first national vaccinated and certified calf program (LMA-VACC).

" The time has come for markets to rally producers behind a national, joint effort to improve health standards in the livestock industry - and nobody is better suited to do that than LMA markets," said Jim Schaben, Jr., Dunlap, Iowa. He is LMA's immediate past president, and a member of the committee that developed the program.

America's auction markets have been a traditional source of feeder cattle. And according to a May 2000 report from USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), the largest single source of cattle for feedlots - 46.9 percent - is auction markets.

LMA-VACC has three levels to accommodate various production practices around the country, such as producers who can't background their calves, along with those who can. All three levels start with a comprehensive vaccination program, emphasizing proper administration of vaccines, and subcutaneous injection whenever possible.

Level one is the basic vaccination program for producers who can't background their calves. Level two is also for producers who choose to give vaccinations, and subsequently give booster shots at least 14 days prior to sale.

In addition to vaccinating and boostering, level three is for calves which are weaned for at least 30 days prior to sale.

All three levels have other requirements, including recommended nutrition, along with submission of required health records, the LMA-VACC ear tag and proper processing.

This processing requires all bull calves to be knife cut prior to, or at weaning, and dehorning or tipping horns prior to or at weaning.

The ear tag will be a two-piece tag with the LMA-VACC logo and a management number on the front. The back will have a four-digit code, identifying the state and the market using the tag.

Producers will sign certification forms, on which they will verify vaccine administration, date they were given and the procedure used to give them. LMA is suggesting to its member markets that these forms be returned to the market at least two weeks prior to sale.

" This will verify that producers have given the vaccines at the proper times and will help insure the accurate representation of the cattle," Schaben said.

LMA-VACC is not designed to compete with other preconditioning/beef quality assurance programs within the industry. "In fact, it absolutely enhances every program that's out there," Schaben said, "and is compatible with those programs."

There is no question that a certification program can enhance the competitive marketing of quality calve, said LMA President John Willis, Lake City, Fla. "The payback from these programs, to both buyers and sellers, has been shown many times over," he noted.

And because LMA-VACC is the first national certification program, once it is up and running, buyers from Spokane to Okeechobee "can buy with confidence," Willis said.

Producers who want to participate are urged to contact an LMA member market. For more information, call 800-821-2048.