ETL Precondition Sale

The ETL Precondition Sale is a value-added marketing program designed to help producers improve cattle quality, meet today’s buyer expectations, and ultimately increase profitability at the ranch level. The program is supported through collaboration with East Texas veterinarians, Texas feed suppliers, East Texas Livestock, and most importantly, cattle producers.

Why Preconditioned (Weaned) Cattle Matter Today

Properly weaned and preconditioned cattle are increasingly desirable due to higher buyer expectations, market volatility, rising feed and veterinary costs, and greater emphasis on health and performance. Well-handled, preconditioned cattle are consistently rewarded by buyers in today’s market.

Why East Texas Livestock Is the Right Market

Located in the heart of Texas cow-calf country, East Texas Livestock has operated from the same location for more than 45 years, building trusted relationships with buyers from Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Arkansas, and across the southern United States. With 18–23 active buyers most weeks, East Texas Livestock provides the buyer depth necessary to establish true market-setting prices.

Arrival Requirements & Feeding

To ensure proper presentation, cattle must arrive no later than 12:00 PM (noon) on Sunday prior to the sale. Friday or Saturday delivery is strongly preferred. Cattle remain on full feed and free-choice hay for the entire time they are on the grounds. Early arrival allows cattle to be sorted into uniform, buyer-preferred lots and marketed effectively.

Live-Weight Selling Advantage (No Preweighing)

East Texas Livestock does not preweigh cattle prior to sale. Preweighing at many markets results in an automatic pencil shrink of approximately 2 percent, which directly reduces the seller’s pay weight. At East Texas Livestock, cattle are sold on live weight, allowing the producer to receive the full benefit of any weight put on the calf while on feed.

No Commingling of Cattle

Cattle entered in the ETL Precondition Sale are not commingled. Your cattle are kept separate and marketed as uniform groups, allowing buyers to see the full benefit of your genetics on display. This prevents cattle from being mixed with other producers’ cattle that may be unhealthy or less desirable, helping protect cattle health and ensuring your calves are evaluated on their own merit.

Advanced Buyer Marketing

Photos, videos, weights, head counts, and vaccination protocols are shared with buyers prior to sale day and announced in the ring before cattle sell, allowing buyers to prepare orders and bid with confidence.

Facility Advantages

With over four acres under roof and capacity to handle up to 5,000 head, East Texas Livestock offers a facility designed for low-stress handling, efficient sorting, and cattle health—factors that increase buyer confidence.

Market Advantage

In today’s market, preconditioned cattle commonly bring $120–$250 per head more than unweaned cattle when sold in front of the same buyers, on the same day, and in the same market. Buyers continue to pay premiums for cattle that reduce risk and perform predictably.

Simplified Health Protocols

Producers select one product from Group A and one from Group B at both pre-weaning and post-weaning stages.

Pre-Weaning

Group A (Clostridial): Ultrabac® 7 or 8, Vision® 7, Bar-Vac® 7

Group B (Respiratory): Bovi-Shield® Gold 5, Pyramid® 5, CattleMaster® Gold FP

Post-Weaning

Group A: Same clostridial product used pre-weaning

Group B: Bovi-Shield® Gold One Shot, Pyramid® 5 + Presponse® SQ

Bottom Line:

ETL Precondition Sale cattle are properly weaned, correctly vaccinated, professionally grouped, fed, and marketed to more buyers—resulting in stronger demand, better competition, and higher value.

Below is an old example of the difference:

Below are two charts for simplifications. As a cowman, it is hard to keep up with the scientific names and uses of all the different medicines available and which medicines can be administered with others. Below we have broken it down to where only two shots have to be administered at pre-weaning and post-weaning. There are several other options available but these charts are offered up for simplicity.