Just a few years ago, a Palm Pilot that carried your contacts and schedule was considered revolutionary. Fast forward a few years and mobile phones the size of a pizza box replaced pagers. Then handheld cell phones arrived and have forever changed our daily lives.

Add the internet, long-lasting batteries, increased connectivity, and we have unlimited access to all the information we could ever want. Each tidbit of information can be collected, stored, analyzed, and applied, transforming lives and businesses faster than ever before.

Technology has impacted every corner of the world, including the cattle industry.

Leveraging technology can improve efficiency and profitability when it comes to raising, feeding, and marketing cattle, said Dale Blasi, Kansas State University (KSU) professor and the manager and director of the KSU Beef Stocker Unit and Animal Identification Knowledge Laboratory.

“Utilizing the vast amount of data that technology enables us to collect and transforming it into usable information and knowledge creates opportunities for producers to become more sustainable and profitable,” Blasi said.

From Palm Pilots to Apps

Blasi has witnessed the tech grow and has used various iterations from the meager Palm Pilot beginnings to the apps available now. “I was initially drawn to the use of handheld devices about 27 years ago with the advent of the Palm Pilot. A lot of folks poked a lot of fun at carrying a small, computer-sized device around.”

“We tend to take technological advances for granted today. Even 10 years ago, the video streaming and advanced photo capabilities were not possible. Today, with the wide variety of apps, producers can check market prices, record and transfer data as a PDF, receive diagnostics from a photo, and manage every aspect of feeding cattle,” Blasi said.

Blasi knows firsthand that apps enable a person to comfortably feed different pens of cattle unique diets. Not only is it possible for apps to calculate the weight of each ingredient needed for a ration, but the software can keep track of inventory, produce invoices and sync with home computers and other software to enhance capabilities.

At the KSU feedyard facility, an iPod with Performance Livestock Analytics (PLA) is coupled with electronic ID tags that record all chute-side activities and data to provide a complete picture of what is happening in each pen, and with each individual.

App Capabilities

Health records, treatments received, what and how much is being fed, and tracking feed inventory are all recorded and managed through the PLA application. “The feed inventory aspects are really good. You know what you have on hand, can calculate outward projections and understand how long the current supply will last, and know what deliveries are necessary,” Blasi said.

“For producers wanting to track genetics, herd health, age, and production of females within the herd, grazing information, and forage production or feed usage, and have access to that information for future projections, there are numerous apps available,” Blasi said. “A lot of companies have hung their hats on developing algorithms and being able to predict health complications 2 or 3 days before an animal actually shows symptoms of being sick. For example, producers who can step in to address illness at a much earlier time can save lungs on calves.”

However, he pointed out that choosing and becoming proficient with the specific app best suited to you and your operation will require some time and initiative. 

Blasi believes using apps to collect and store data relative to each cattle operation saves producers time and labor and creates opportunities to improve cattle management. But, becoming more efficient and profitable comes from analyzing the data and implementing insights the data provides.

Gaining Insights and Improving Operations

“After data is collected, we need to go backwards and answer the question, why,” Blasi said. “And electronic records have more utility to be evaluated, providing more on-the-spot answers.” However, some producers are overwhelmed by all the data and unsure what to do with it. “Identifying statistical outliers is the goal. The descriptive statistics can really help producers identify variations. For example, looking at variations in feed intake, or market out-weights in particular pens of cattle. There’s a lot of software that already has those comparative diagnostics ingrained in them, but it requires time to look at the data,” Blasi said.

All apps present challenges. There are initial costs and dedicated time is needed to learn the software and become proficient, but benefits can outweigh challenges.

“Labor availability is a huge issue for many operations, so anything that can reduce labor or decrease the time required for a task is a huge benefit,” Blasi said. Other benefits include the ability to identify a problem earlier, allowing swift intervention, whether in cattle health or feed inventory. “Apps that enable better use of resources and the ability to understand intricate relationships that may not be readily apparent are valuable,” he said.

Blasi noted that the collected data could reveal connections between grazing density and weed infestations. Or data coupled with climate information, forecasted weather, and pasture forage data might enable herds to better utilize forage, allow for adequate forage recovery, or be moved days ahead of fire or flood dangers.

“The current emphasis is on developing algorithms that are predictive, able to predict behaviors, activity, and performance, which gives producers the ability to change or modify management practices if things are tracking as the software predicted,” Blasi said.

“Let’s not overlook the benefits of collecting data for marketing in value-based environments,” Blasi said. Having verified information for the next owner in the production chain translates into increased demand and higher-priced cattle.

Cattle feeders and finishers aren’t the only ones interested in verified data; consumers are increasingly interested in how cattle are raised and fed. With the push toward environmental sustainability, it is even more important to have access to all the information needed to raise cattle. “Being willing to share what we do, and showing what’s good for the animal and good for the environment, may sway public sentiment. Technology can help greatly in that regard,” he said.

Return On Your Investment

“On the front end, technology appears very costly while testing its reusability, and anything equipped with a battery has a definite lifespan,” Blasi said. When selecting an app, he suggests considering the initial cost, leasing rates, additional features that may increase the cost, and the availability of tech support. “The app’s features, options, simplicity, and usability are important to the overall return on your investment,” he said.

The industry has demonstrated that by feeding cattle for an additional 50 days and increasing carcass weights, we can produce enough beef even with several million cows removed from the national herd. However, we must be able to show and prove to consumers that we can manage livestock in a way that maintains their health and comfort, provides affordable, healthy protein, and benefits the environment. Blasi believes technology and data can help us achieve this.   

Technology Brings Insights

There are aspects of every part of cattle management that can be examined through technology. “The speed of business has escalated logarithmically,” he said, “But data is not a substitute for experienced hands and eyes on animals daily.”

However, anything that helps us gather and analyze information to quickly adjust our management practices and apply the insights gained to enhance cattle health and comfort will lead to more efficient and profitable cattle.

Cattle Management

1. Cattlytics helps streamline operations by tracking animal health, monitoring movement and track progress of tasks.
2. Ranchr simplifies cattle record keeping – records health history, treatments, and weight, and predicts calving dates. Producers can add pictures of cattle.
3. AgriWebb provides tools for recording data on livestock health, performance, and movements. The app can optimize grazing with insights into animal movement and pasture health with real-time farm mapping and it can monitor feed, medicine, and other farm supplies.
4. My Cattle Manager allows farmers to track not only health records but lineage, breeding history, and milk production. This app can analyze trends and generate reports on sales, farm expenses and overall cash flow.
5. Cattle Max helps manage cattle as well as operations. Keeping track of herd health, breeding, calving, weaning, as well as pasture management, equipment maintenance, financial records, tasks, and even rainfall.
6. Cattler enables cow-calf producers and feedlots to better manage feed, health, cattle inventory, and billing. The app helps producers and feeders make informed decisions on cost management, feeding efficiency, and herd performance with business management, reporting, and tracking capabilities.

Feedlot Management

1. Advanced Livestock Tracker software is available via desktop or mobile and is capable of creating daily and real-time reports, analysis of feeding, treatment, and pen performance with a breakeven calculator available to help determine prices, expenses, and costs per gain projections.
2. Accu-Trac and Perfect Pass are available via mobile or desktop app. Micro Technologies Accu-Trac Office is a real-time integrated feedyard management suite that allows farmers to track the moving costs of commodities based on inputs, numerous unique ingredients, and ration-pricing options. Perfect Pass helps feed truck drivers deliver the correct feed ration to the bunk via GPS verification.

Pasture Management

1. Pasture Map can assist with managing grazing herds. This app can assist with long-term grazing planning, pasture rest and growth cycles, carrying capacity, and track livestock movements and pasture conditions.
2. Field Area Measure is a land measurement tool able to provide accurate acreage, boundary measurement, mark features such as water sources, fences, obstacles, and plan layouts with export capabilities.

• View our Archives