Economic Implications of Providing Aggressive Treatments in Cattle
Welcome back to Cattlemen & Veterinarians: A Partnership in Bovine Health, powered by American Cattlemen Media. Just ahead, hosts Dr. Shynia Peterman and Gale McKinney chat with Dr. Eric DeVuyst and Dr. Cheryl DeVuyst, owners of DeVuyst Ranch about the Economic Implications of Providing Aggressive Treatments in Cattle. 
Cheryl and Eric have a background in production agriculture and focus on their work. Cheryl’s specialization is agricultural finance, while Eric’s is farm and ranch management. In addition to currently serving as Vicec-Chair of the Cattlemen’s Beef Board, Cheryl is an advisor to the Oklahoma Collegiate Cattlewomen and works to help develop young leaders in the beef industry. She was named the Oklahoma Cattlewoman of the Year in 2024. Eric has focused on research and Extension projects that impact the profitability of agricultural operations. Some of his research includes the economics of genotyping in cattle operations, management of cow-calf operations, and feedlot profitability.
The conversation begins with an overview of the current cattle market, where tight supplies and strong consumer demand for beef are driving record prices. Weather-driven forage availability, especially the easing of drought in parts of the Great Plains versus persistent dryness in western regions, is shaping whether the industry moves into an expansion phase. Eric and Cheryl emphasize that, regardless of market cycles, the single most important number for cow-calf producers to track is cost of production. Producers cannot control cattle prices, but they can influence their costs through stocking rate, feed management, and disciplined record-keeping.
Feed costs and land decisions emerge as critical drivers of profitability. Overstocking inflates feed bills and degrades grass, while chasing expensive land can create unsustainable financial pressure. Most U.S. cow-calf herds are small, often family-run operations with modest labor costs, but large operations may face tightening labor conditions. Instead of focusing solely on individual weaning weights, the guests recommend thinking in terms of pounds weaned per acre and favoring moderate-sized cows that allow higher stocking rates and better overall output.
Common economic mistakes include chasing the wrong EPDs, inadvertently selecting large, high-maintenance cows, and failing to keep or analyze detailed production records. Vaccination and basic health protocols are framed as “cheap insurance” rather than direct profit centers—producers may not see the absence of disease as a measurable return, but the financial hit from outbreaks is immediate and severe. University tools such as preconditioning budgeting models can help evaluate value-added programs, and research shows that bundled practices like vaccination, castration, dehorning, defined calving seasons, and sound genetics substantially increase the odds of premiums and profitability.
Economic Implications of Providing Aggressive Treatments in Cattle
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