Preconditioning and Integrating Pre-Purchase Information

Abstract

Practitioners, producers, and researchers have tried to evaluate the merits of bovine health management programs such as preconditioning for many years. Researchers have demonstrated varied results on the benefits of preconditioning. Most research has pointed out program deficiencies (1-6).

The definition of a preconditioned calf is frequently left to the principal investigator. A nutritionist may consider preconditioning as a vaccination program and a veterinarian may consider it as a total management program. This makes comparisons of studies difficult.

A decision making process in herd health and management programs can be implemented by defining the situation, considering the options, studying present knowledge of the options, selecting a strategy, and evaluating the outcome (7). Since the problem with many studies is defining the situation, maybe one should define a non-preconditioned calf.