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Backgrounding Cattle

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cattle feeding at a hay troft
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NDSU
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Backgrounding cattle is a management and feeding program in which cattle are fed for a period of time after weaning and before they are placed in finishing feedlots. Backgrounding calves are similar to stocker cattle except in the northern tier states, where snow covers the ground in the winter and cattle are fed a forage-based ration instead of being sent to “stocker” grazing.

Backgrounding does several things. It provides time for calves to get through the stress of weaning and develop immunity through vaccines recently administered. Backgrounding adapts calves to a feeding bunk and totally mixed rations that may include grains, silages, distillers grains and hays. Backgrounding also delays marketing of calves for 35, 90 or more days after weaning.

Sections

2026 Backgrounding Cattle Videos (coming after Nov. 1, 2026)

  • 2026 Price Outlook and Price Risk Management - Tim Petry, NDSU Extension Livestock Marketing Economist
  • Backgrounding Budgets/ Economics for 2026 - Bryon Parman, NDSU Extension Agricultural Finance Specialist
  • 2026 Rations, Feed Costs and Cost of Gain - Karl Hoppe, NDSU Extension Livestock Specialist, Carrington Research Extension Center
  • Possible 2026 health issues for Backgrounding Calves - Jake Galbreath - Assistant Professor / Extension Veterinarian & Livestock Stewardship
  • Considerations for weaning and backgrounding calves in 2026 - Vinnie de Souza Izquierdo- Assistant Professor / Extension Beef Cattle Specialist
  • Heifer Development Considerations for 2026 - Lacey Quail, NDSU Extension Livestock Management Specialist, North Central Research Extension Center
  • Disposing the 1-2% death loss via composting - Mary Keena, NDSU Extension Environmental Management Specialist, Carrington Research Extension Center
  • Exploring the Hidden value in Backgrounding calves – Manure - Mary Keena, NDSU Extension Environmental Management Specialist, Carrington Research Extension Center
  • BQA Certification when Backgrounding calves - Lisa Pederson, NDSU Extension Beef Quality Assurance Specialist, Central Grasslands Research Extension Center

Previous Playlists

  • 2025 Backgrounding Cattle
    • Price Outlook and Price Risk Management
    • Managing Heifers
    • Economics of Backgrounding Cattle
    • Rations, Feed Cost and Cost of Gain
    • Health Issues in Backgrounded Calves
  • 2024 Backgrounding Cattle
    • Economics of Backgrounding and Finishing Cattle
    • Price Outlook and Price Risk Management
    • Rations, Feed Cost and Cost of Gain
    • Preparing Heifers
    • Minimizing the Impact of Stress Through Backgrounding Systems
    • Implanting: Technique
  • 2023 Backgrounding Cattle
    • Market outlook - What to Expect and Price Protection
    • Budgets for Different Classes of Cattle
    • Rations, Feed Cost and Cost of Gain
    • Implants - What to Use and Value
    • Calf health - What to Do After the Vaccinations
  • 2022 Backgrounding Cattle
    • Calf Health Issues - Managing to Prevent the Preventable
    • Cattle Price Situation and Outlook
    • Economics of Backgrounding and Finishing
    • Weaning Considerations for Healthy Calves
    • Feeds, Alternative Feeds, and Cost of Gain
  • 2021 Backgrounding Cattle
    • Backgrounding feeds and rations
    • Calf health issues
    • Cattle Feeding Scenarios
    • Calf Market Outlook
    • Rations and Backgrounding
  • 2020 Backgrounding Cattle
    • Backgrounding Budgets and Profits for Cattle
    • Market outlook for backgrounding calves
    • Feed and rations for backgrounding
    • Health Concerns for backgrounding calves

Sources and Prices for selected Co-products produced in North Dakota

As of November 14, 2024

Commentary – spot Corn Prices, $ per bushel

  • 3.77 Blue Flint Ethanol, Underwood
  • 3.77 Red Trail Energy, Richardton
  • 3.82 Tharaldson Ethanol, Casselton
  • 4.04 Hankinson Renewable Energy, Hankinson/ Guardian Energy
  • 3.62 Harvestone Dakota Spirit, Spiritwood

Corn price sets the value of co-products.

Dr. Karl Hoppe
Area Extension Livestock Specialist
NDSU Carrington Research Extension Center
701-652-2951

Coproduct Feeds (xx means no price quote available)