How to Organize Your Cattle Records
Question of the Week: How many steps are in your cattle record-keeping process?
Every operation is different which leads to many different methods of collecting herd records. Keeping up-to-date records is critical when you look at improving your profitability from a breeding stock selection standpoint. However, are you adding in extra steps that end up wasting your time?
Take a minute to write down every step that goes into collecting your herd data and then ask yourself which steps can be automated, eliminated or delegated to maximize your time.
This week on the Casual Cattle Conversations podcast, Ray Williams joins the show to discuss what challenges he sees cattle producers make as they record or don’t record herd data. Williams shares solutions to these challenges as well as insight on how your operation can get started in the right direction in 2023.
Animal ID Systems
The basics of record keeping begin with how you are tagging your replacement females and newborn calves. You need to have a system that all people on your operation understand and allows every animal to have their own unique ID. Williams cautions against giving new calves the same number as their dam because this can lead to confusion in digital record-keeping platforms. Shaye shares how her family tags new calves according to the year they are born and what number calf they are in the calving season. For example, the first calf born in 2022 was calf 200 and the second was 201. The dam and sire are also included on the tag above the main number. Williams shares that using the international alphanumeric system is another great method for creating ID numbers for your animals as well.
Methods for Recording Data
When it comes to how you record data, the biggest thing is that it must work for your entire team. Some people use dry-erase markers to write on the window of their side-by-sides and others input data into apps and sheets on their phones. Depending on the size of your operation and how many people are involved, how you record information is going to vary. Williams sees an increase in the number of cattle producers switching over to digital platforms, because it makes it easier to analyze data after it is recorded. It saves time in the long run, even if it is a learning curve at first.
Technology for All Generations
It’s easy to say that grandpas and dads won’t be able to handle new technology or phone apps. However, Williams shares that he sees many older producers enjoying this new technology. The Gallagher apps and dashboard allow cattle producers to talk to the app and input information instead of having to type it in. It also allows you to see herd averages and outliers faster. You can also set up alerts that pop up for specific animals when you scan their EID tags. These can be used to remind you to take a DNA sample, not to breed this cow again or whatever you need to be reminded about.
Overall, Williams urges cattlemen and women to take the time to determine what data points they need to track to move their herd forward and look at what technology and recording systems can do that for them to make their lives easier.
Listen to the full episode on your favorite podcast app or by heading over to the Casual Cattle Conversations website.
