Backgrounding Cattle
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.
2025 Backgrounding Cattle Videos
- Price Outlook and Price Risk Management - Tim Petry, 线上赌博app Extension Livestock Marketing Economist
- Managing Heifers - Dr. Lacey Quail, 线上赌博app Extension Livestock Management Specialist, North Central Research Extension Center
- Economics of Backgrounding Cattle - Bryon Parman, 线上赌博app Extension Agricultural Finance Specialist
- Rations, Feed Cost and Cost of Gain - Karl Hoppe, 线上赌博app Extension Livestock Specialist at the Carrington Research Extension Center
- Health Issues in Backgrounded Calves - Dr. Jake Galbreath - Assistant Professor /Extension Veterinarian - Livestock Stewardship
Previous Playlists
- 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
线上赌博app Carrington Research Extension Center
701-652-2951
Barley Malt Sprouts (not pelleted)
Busch Agricultural Resources
Moorhead, MN
314-577-7372
$ xx /ton FOB, 18% CP –semi loading before 8am or after 4 pm
Feed Barley #5 - $xx/ton
Screenings (dust) – $xx/ton
Beet Pulp- Dried - pelleted
United Sugars – Midwest Agri
Moorhead, MN
1-800-842-2133 or 415-259-2623 or 415-755-3278 (preferred)
$xx /ton in Moorhead, Minnesota tight supply, call now for next fall delivery
$xx /ton in Sidney, Montana –
$xx /ton off spec dried pulp when available
9% CP
Beet Pulp Shreds - Dried – Bagged – 40# bags
United Sugars
Moorhead, MN
1-800-842-2133
$xx /ton @ Crookston plant
Beet Tailings/Pressed Beet Pulp
American Crystal Sugar
Hillsboro, ND
218-236-4320 or 4340
$xx/ ton pulp or tailings
Dry Shreds are sometimes available at Hillsboro
Need to apply for product with byproduct sales agreement
Beet Tailings/Pressed Beet Pulp
American Crystal Sugar
Drayton, ND
1-701-454-3326 or 701-454-3221
Ask for ‘pulp and tailing program’
No cost for wet pulp or tailings
Beet tailings – 85-90% moisture
$xx / load (25 ton) Pressed beet pulp - 70-74% moisture
Beet Tailings/Pressed Beet Pulp
Min-Dak Farmers Coop
Wahpeton, ND
1-701-671-1332
$xx/ton – Beet pulp Pellets via Midwest Agri
$xx/ton – Dried beet pulp Shreds – limited availability – off spec
$xx/ton – Pressed Beef pulp – 75% water
$xx/ton – Beet Tailings – 83% water – 10.7% CP DM basis, - sold out
$xx/ton - Feed raffinate (de-sugared molasses)
- ADM
Velva, ND
1-800-548-8613 or 612-463-2528
$xx/ton pelleted – 36%CP guaranteed. Limited availability.
- Northern Sun ADM and Edible Bean Specialties
Enderlin, ND
1-800-553-6032 or 701-551-2868
$172/ton meal – 36%CP guaranteed. Limited availability.
- Cargill
West Fargo, ND
1-701-282-1626
$xx/ton pelleted – 36%CP guaranteed
- CHS - Northstar Agri Industries
Hallock, MN
1-218-843-2531 plant
651-355-6806 sales
$xx/ton meal – 36%CP guaranteed
Corn Gluten Meal
Cargill
Wahpeton, ND
1-800-437-8045
$xx /ton 90% DM, 60% CP
Corn Gluten Feed - Dried
Cargill
Wahpeton, ND
No longer being produced - only wet product at Wahpeton
1-888-296-8652 or 952-742-2518
$XX/ton 90% DM, 21- 22% CP, 18% CP guaranteed
Corn Gluten Feed - Wet
Cargill
Wahpeton, ND
402-237-3707 or 402-533-5037 or 605-237-2190
$xx/ton 62.5% DM, 22% CP, 18% CP guaranteed
Blue Flint Ethanol
Underwood, ND
701-442-7575 plant
Modified DDGS – $75-/ton, 50% DM, call plant
DDGS $145/ton – 90% DM 25% CP
Dakota Spirit AgEnergy
Spiritwood, ND
701-442-7575 or 701-251-3900 load out dry 7am-3pm wet all day
Modified DDGS – $75/ton, 50% DM, call plant
DDGS $145/ton – 90% DM 25% CP,
Red Trail Energy
Richardton, ND
701-974-3880
Modified DDGS – $xx/ton, 50% DM - call plant – 701-974-3880
DDGS $165/ton – 90% DM 25% CP, 9% fat - call - RPMG 877-776-4334 Broker for dry DGS
CDS-Condensed Distillers Solubles ‘Corn Syrup’ $xx/ton FOB - 30% DM, 26%CP DM
Advanced Bio Energy and Glacial Lakes – Mina (Aberdeen Energy)
Aberdeen, SD and Huron, SD and Mina, SD
Plant 605-225-0520
call DakotaLand for prices and availability 605-216-5422
Dried DGS - $xx Mina $xx Aberdeen /ton FOB 89% DM, 28% CP
Modified DGS - $xx Mina/Ton 35% DM, 29% CP, 15% fat
CDS-Condensed Distillers Solubles ‘Corn Syrup’ $xx/ton FOB -
Red River Energy
Rosholt, SD
1-605-537-4585 ext 212 plant
Sells dried via Gavilon 402-889-4384
Dried DGS - $xx /ton FOB - 90% DM, 28% CP
Wet DGS - $xx /Ton - 30% DM, 29% CP, contact plant
CDS-Condensed Distillers Solubles ‘Corn Syrup’ $xx/ton FOB - 25% DM, 22% CP
James Valley Ethanol
Groton, SD or Big Stone, SD
1-605-397-2726
Call Poet Nutrition for prices and availability 1-888-327-8799 ext 1 or 2
Dried DGS - $xx/ton FOB - 89% DM, 26% CP, 4.5% fat
Wet DGS - $xx/ton FOB sporadically available, 32% DM
CDS-Condensed Distillers Solubles ‘Corn Syrup’ $xx/ ton - 30% DM, 13% CP,
Tharaldson Ethanol
Casselton, ND
701-347-4000 ext 1
Dried DGS - $150/ton - 89% DM, 31% CP, 7% fat
Wet DGS - $50/ton, 35% DM
CDS-Condensed Distillers Solubles ‘Corn Syrup’ $50/ ton - 30% DM
Hankinson Renewable Energy, LLC
Hankinson, ND
701-242-9430 plant
Call RPMG for price 952-465-3252 or 877-776-4334
Dried DGS - $135/ton
Modified DGS - $70/Ton - 50% DM
CDS-Condensed Distillers Solubles ‘Corn Syrup’ $xx/ton FOB – 30% DM
Corn oil – xx cents /lb
United Sugars / Midwest Agri
Moorhead, MN
1-800-842-2133 or 415-259-2929 or 415-755-3278
$xx/ton - 65% dry matter, 13% CP, 57% TDN
Call for availability
Buyers Quick list – processors could have screenings and chips available
Field Pea splits
Dakota Dry Bean
Crary, ND
701-398-3112
Call Grand Forks for prices 701-746-7493
Field Pea price $xx/bushel
$xx/ton Pea chips – not available
$xx/ton Screenings - cleanings
Field Peas and screenings
ADM
Enderlin, ND
701-555-2871
$233/ton at Mayville or Harwood
Field Pea screenings
Legume Matrix
Jamestown, ND 58501
701-269-2075
$xx/ton Pea Screenings
$xx/ton Lentil Screenings
Field Peas/ Lentil Screenings
JM Grains
Garrison, ND
Cell 406-698-8663
Office 701-463-7261
$xx/ton Pea Screenings 24% CP
Field Pea/ Lentil screenings
United Pulse
Williston, ND
701-572-4070
$xx/ton Heavy Screenings
$xx/ton hulls and fines Screenings
Cargill
West Fargo, ND
701-282-1626
$xx/ton 92% DM, 34% CP, 3-4 % oil
ADM
Red Wing, MN
402-219-3065
$xx/ton 92% DM, 34% CP
United Sugars Midwest Agri
Moorhead, MN
1-800-842-2133 or 415-259-2929 or 415-755-3278
$xx/ton – 79% dry matter, 12% CP, 85% TDN
$xx/ton raffinate
Call for availability
Cavendish Farms
Jamestown, ND
1-701-252-5222
very limited availability
Soybean Hulls
- AGP – Ag Processing Inc
Aberdeen, SD
1-800-247-1345 corporate office or 605-626-9005 Aberdeen/Matt Jerrett
$180/ton April 2021 availability
- Northern Sun/ADM
Enderlin, ND
1-800-553-6032 or 701-551-2868
$xx ton, 35-40% fiber, 10%CP DM. Limited availability
- Green Bison Soybean Processing
Spiritwood, SD
1-800-475-4291
$160/ton xx% CP
- North Dakota Soybean Processors
Casselton, ND
1-701-895-1010
$115/ton 9-12% CP
Soybean meal
- Green Bison Soybean Processing
Spiritwood, SD
1-800-475-4291
$285/ton 46% CP
- North Dakota Soybean Processors
Casselton, ND
1-701-895-1010
$278/ton 46% CP
- AGP – Ag Processing Inc
Aberdeen, SD
1-800-247-1345
$286/ton 46% CP
- Northern Sun /ADM
Enderlin, ND
1-800-553-6032
$xx/ton, 46% CP DM basis presently not available not crushing
- Northern Sun/ADM
Enderlin, ND
1-800-553-6032
$195/ton pelleted, 35% CP
- Cargill
West Fargo, ND
1-877-520-7580
$xx/ton loose meal 89% DM, 29% CP
- Dakota Growers Pasta Co. (Post)
Carrington, ND
701-652-2855 or 701-997-3023 (Cole Hansen)
$110/ton Pelleted. Limited Availability - 14% CP guaranteed (usually 17-18%CP)
- Ardent Mills (Cargill /Conagri)
Fairmount, ND
Plant – 701-443-5414 sales – 651-333-4413 -- 701-721-5305
$xx/ton meal
$2xx/ton pelleted - 15% CP guaranteed (usually 17% CP)
- Minot Milling (Philadelphia Macaroni)
Minot, ND
1-701-557-3700 or 267-664-9165
$xx/ton pelleted - 14% CP guaranteed (usually 15.2% CP) available after March 2021
- Enterprise CP
Cando, ND
701-370-1297 plant
701-238-8384 call for midds Rick Jack
$xx/ton loose meal- 14% CP guaranteed (usually 17-18% CP)
- North Dakota Mill and Elevator
Grand Forks, ND
1-701-795-7000 or 7229
$90/ton meal -- spot loads available
$110/ton pelleted -14.5% CP guaranteed (usually 16.5% CP) Weekend morning pickup only