SweetPro Cattle Video Testimonies

"For the summer we had, we're pretty happy. One steer topped 800 pounds and three were over 700 pounds."

Dick and Lorie at Yorkton, Saskatchewan

Weaning Bigger, Healthier Calves After Year 'round Supplementing with SweetPro¨ Lick Blocks.

September/October 2001 • Dick Wudrich of Yorkton, Saskatchewan has become a convert. Like most cow-calf producers, his prior supplement program had been very seasonal. But now Wudrich supplements his herd with SweetPro year around and it's paying off with heavier weaning weights, easier calving and better herd health. He's convinced - converted, if you will. It's putting more money in his pocket.

"I'd been having problems with cows cleaning after calving," Wudrich said. "Trying to solve that problem with retained placentas is how I got started with SweetPro." The cleaning problems were eliminated and breed-back improved immediately. "And there was less sickness - by a long shot, less sickness!" he added emphatically.

Over time, Wudrich kept SweetPro barrels out for the cows longer and longer each year. First it was just a couple months before and after calving. Then he supplemented with SweetPro until after the bulls were out and eventually, after hearing other success stories about extended use of SweetPro, he left barrels in front of his cows all year around.

The reports Dick has been hearing told of weaning weights being 60 to 80 pounds heavier when SweetPro was used all year long. Those calves were getting a double benefit in the year-around program. They were getting more milk and richer milk from the cows, plus the calves got extra protein and minerals as they licked the barrels themselves.

Cows benefit too. They were getting supplements at a time when they are most efficient in using feed to regain body condition after nursing a calf. Their important body condition scores (BCS) were higher heading into winter.

Dick Wudrich's experience, using SweetPro 16 year around was consistent with others. His calves were bigger and weaning stress was reduced because the calves were accustomed to the barrels and went right back to eating after weaning.

One of Dick's settlement sheets from Heartland Livestock Services on October 15, 2001, showed average pay weight on 23 steers, after a 3% pencil shrink, was 621 pounds. One steer topped 800 pounds (805) and three were over 700 pounds (747, 723 and 727). The lightest steer, 461 pounds, was late a calf from a new cow which was bought pregnant. Calving started in mid March of 2001.

The cow herd is not big framed. Wudrich estimates their average weight at 1100 pounds. "They're a mixed bunch," he noted. "A dog from every village." The bulls are Red Angus and Gelbvieh.

All calves had been castrated as babies before going out on pasture. The pastures were native grass and bush, some of which were seeded with a little alfalfa.

"There was no over abundance of pasture this year," Wudrich noted. "For the summer we had, we're pretty happy."

Dick Wudrich has been using SweetPro barrels for nine years. He can be reached at 306-782-0678 in Yorkton, Saskatchewan.

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