The southeastern United States is a region that enjoys a competitive advantage in beef production due to its favorable environmental conditions (Lacy et al., 2005). Abundant rainfall and forage availability, along with a temperate climate, create conditions that are conducive to beef cattle production. Southeastern cattle producers generally receive a discount for their beef calves because of the additional freight costs and morbidity and mortality costs associated with long shipping distances to cattle feeding states (Rhinehart and Poore, 2013). Because of this, stockering beef calves (generally defined as the intermediate step between the cow-calf phase and the feed-lot finishing phase of beef production) is often touted as a way to increase ranch income and add value to southeastern beef cattle (Lacy, 2004).