what type of records do you need to maintain for your recordscows
10 Cattle Records Worth Keeping On The Ranch
A beef specialist shares his summit 10 list of which ranch records to keep and why.
Tape keeping has ever been an important do in the beefiness manufacture – peculiarly to track genetic performance and profitability. Merely since the 2003 incidence of BSE in the United States, tape keeping is also coming into the spotlight for biosecurity reasons.
Today, source and historic period verification are industry buzzwords every bit beef export markets – like billion dollar client Japan – demand that cattle be 20 months or younger to be eligible for export there. Thus, to raise future marketing options, U.S. cow/calf producers are being encouraged to keep nascency records on all of their calves.
"Recording origin and date of birth for calves is becoming an increasingly of import tape to accept now. It can't be ignored in this day and age," says Trey Patterson formerly an Extension beefiness specialist with South Dakota State Academy and now with the Padlock Ranch at Ranchester, Wyoming.
While record keeping does hateful more effort on the part of the producer, Patterson says both seedstock and commercial producers should also view it as an important and powerful tool. He says along with documenting when calves are born in grooming for export source verification programs, keeping well-documented ranch records tin aid producers monitor where they are and aid decide where they need to get for production. "Records can give you lot the tools to help make up one's mind how to increase profitability," he says.
For example, Patterson says information technology is critical for beef producers to know Unit Cost of Production (UCOP), which is determined past variable and fixed costs minus non dogie acquirement divided past pounds of weaned calf. "To make decisions you lot tin can and so analyze the unit toll of production, identify areas of high leverage, and make effective direction decisions," he says.
The Top 10
That said, Patterson shares this list of records that he advocates be kept on the ranch:
1. Inventory. "Inventory is of import because it provides all the numbers needed to calculate benchmark data," Patterson says. Inventory to track includes:
- Number of cows exposed to bulls, which is important because information technology is a denominator in many calculations;
- Number of cows at calving time, to determine calving rate per moo-cow exposed; and
- Number of calves weaned, to make up one's mind weaning rater per moo-cow exposed.
- Other inventory includes number of cattle sold or dead/and the date; number of head purchased and the date; number of replacement females; and number of bulls.
2. Individual Animal Identification. It'due south a given that seedstock producers already exercise this for genetic evaluation, merely as mentioned, individual animal ID is condign an imperative do industry broad for biosecurity reasons. "From a biosecurity standpoint this is of import even if we don't have COOL or national ID because individual ID gives the power to trace an animal," Patterson says. He adds, "If you have a cow with BSE or Foot and Mouth Disease, don't you lot desire to have the power to testify y'all've done things right? Information technology tin protect you."
Individual animal ID records should document the calf'southward place of origin, date of birth and health, vaccination and BQA treatment records (i.e. what treatments given and when.)
In one case you have individual animal information, Patterson points out that a producer tin as well utilize that to track product and performance data for making replacement heifer decisions, culling animals that have a history of dysctocia or other problems, and tracking cow herd longevity.
3. Market Weights. Patterson advocates having weights on calves, cows and bulls, at minimum by group, with individual weights existence even better. "This allows you to compare breakevens with market prices ($/cwt of dogie sold), and it as well can serve as alternative criteria of cows whose calves aren't producing satisfactory weaning weights," Patterson says.
iv. Pregnancy Information. Patterson advises preg-checking the herd annually every bit a record keeping tool. He says, "Consider if 5% of the herd is open. That is costing you to keep those females in the herd. Then it makes sense to preg-check and and so sort and marketplace the open cattle."
5. Calving Data. This should include both the dogie and dam ID, a calving/dystocia score for making future alternative decisions, and the nascence appointment, birth weight, and deaths. Again, this allows for documentation of historic period and birth origin of the animals in the herd, and the information can also be used as criteria to cull late calvers, says Patterson.
6. Pasture Usage. This is a tape you may non retrieve of keeping, merely Patterson says it can be a valuable tool for drought direction. He suggests documenting when a pasture is used each twelvemonth, precipitation levels, and the stocking rate. Having this information can assist you plan when and how to use pastures the post-obit year and avoid negatively impacting range condition past using pastures at the same time every twelvemonth. It as well gives a record of historical stocking rates.
7. Feed Purchase Records. Given the current BSE situation and ban on item feedstuffs, Patterson says, "I'd want this in my file. That way if you ever have a BSE incidence you tin can show that you didn't feed high risk materials." For these records he says to go along dates, supplier and feed tags, and document that the feed was legal at that time. Patterson says to go along past feed records for at least x years.
8. Sire Information. Once again, this is information all seedstock breeders keep, merely commercial producers would do well to track it too. Patterson says past documenting what bulls were with each group of cows producers tin better follow genetic goals and who is producing quality progeny, or if ever there is a problem bull, yous know who it was.
9. Enterprise Costs. To really understand the costs that get into your business, Patterson recommends breaking costs down by enterprise (i.e. moo-cow/calf, feeders, ingather or hayland, etc). He says costs such as feed, maintenance, depreciation, involvement, labor, etc. should be calculated for each enterprise.
ten. Enterprise Revenues. Income for each enterprise should too be tracked. This includes cull cows, bulls, steers, heifers, feed, etc.
Making It Work
Finally, once y'all have a complete set of records, you lot tin can clarify them to calculate UCOP ($/lb of weaned dogie) profit (revenue – costs), and return on assets (profit or loss/$invested). This list of records will also allow y'all to assess weaning weights/cow exposed, calving rates, calving distribution, cow longevity/replacement rates, reproductive rates past age, too every bit identify problem cows and evaluate marketing plans.
Most chiefly regarding tape keeping Patterson says, "It doesn't have to be hard." He points out that the IRM redbook is a start. Tools for and then analyzing information tin can include Standardized Performance Analysis (SPA) software available through University IRM programs or other spreadsheet software programs that calculate production and financial data and you are comfortable with.
Patterson admits record keeping can be a challenge because anybody approaches it differently. But he says finding a organisation that works will ultimately help your ranch run more than efficiently.
Patterson says producers should utilize iii guidelines in designing their record keeping system: ane) make time for tape-keeping; ii) decide the herd information that will be near economical and viable to collect; and 3) determine how you lot will use that information.
Patterson says, "A ranch is made up of several different components – natural resource, production levels, family, etc. And interestingly stress and conflict are usually the factors that drive decision making. Only with planning and management, producers can shape the way direction decisions are fabricated to exist more effective. Having records tin aid producers make curt and long-term decisions."
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Source: https://www.beefmagazine.com/americancowman/in-the-spotlight/record_keeping