Trends in the Percentage of Lots of Beef Calves Qualifying for Various Health Programs When Sold Via Summer Video Auctions from 1995 through 2017

The objective was to characterize the potential change in the percentage of lots of beef calves qualifying for various health protocol programs sold during summer video auctions from 1995 through 2017. There were 78,422 lots of beef calves (10,358,273 total calves) sold via 184 summer video auctions from 1995 through 2017 included in this analysis. Information describing factors about lots sold through a livestock video auction service was obtained from the auction service. The health management of a lot was determined and recorded based on lot description information provided by the seller and sales representative. Lots of beef calves were characterized as qualifying for one of eight health protocols. The eight health protocol classifications included: VAC 24, VAC 34 and 34+, VAC 45 and 45+, VAC Precon, non-weaned and at least one dose of a viral respiratory vaccination administered, weaned and at least one dose of a viral respiratory vaccination administered, non-weaned and no viral respiratory vaccination administered, and weaned and no viral respiratory vaccination administered. There was a dramatic shift in the percent of beef calf lots that qualified for health programs such as VAC 34 and VAC 45 from 1995 through 2017. The percentage of lots of beef calves sold as VAC 34 and 34+ was 11.4% in 1995 and increased to 51.6% in 2017. In 1995, only 2.8% of lots sold met VAC 45 and 45+ protocol requirements but had increased to 29.4% of all beef calf lots sold in 2017. During the same time, the percentage of lots of beef calves sold without receiving any viral respiratory vaccination decreased. In 1995, 41.1% of lots of beef calves were sold without receiving any viral respiratory vaccination, while less than 0.5% of beef calf lots were sold in 2017 without receiving any viral respiratory vaccination. At the onset of the 23 years included in this study, only 16.2% of lots of beef calves sold via summer video auctions qualified for a VAC health protocol. By 2017, however, 88.6% of beef calf lots were qualified for a VAC health program indicating evolving adoption of improved health management practices by beef producers.