Lessons learned from the pandemic marketing year suggest a decision structure built on gathering the most relevant data while minimizing the noise of the uncontrollable.
Some of the greatest benefits to feeding a cow herd have little to do with nutrition. Even the smallest amount of feed simplifies gathering, moving, and checking cows with the sound of the feed truck.
Even for those who enjoyed timely summer rains, the marginal economics of the cattle business and rising feed costs continue to cause nearly everyone to search for ways to do more with less.
Whether you are looking to market spring-born calves, yearlings off grass or buying the next turn, everyone is looking to capture the value added by their management.
As technology advances, our ability to monitor behavior in a normal feeding environment will help determine if efficiency causes the behavior or the behavior makes cattle more efficient.
Cattlemen may someday use technology such as drones to digitize pasture management addressing variable pasture conditions and labor needed to develop actionable data-driven grazing management plans.
The advancements in technology and handling of data privacy we are currently witnessing provide a useful structure to look at options for a traceable beef product.
