Ranchers discuss how use of information improves profit

By MONETTE TAYLOR | South Central Texas

August 2, 2001 -- At the recent meeting of the Beef Improvement Federation in San Antonio, a panel consisting of four producers presented a program concerning what they have learned from the use of data in their herds.

The panel included Tom Woodward of the Boseco Ranch in Decatur, Texas, Butch Schuler from Schuler Red Angus in Bridgeport, Nebraska, Mark Williams of the Triple W Farm in Marian, Kentucky and Tommy Brown of Auburn University in Marion Junction, Alabama.

After hearing experts describe the correct use of data, these producers discussed how the processing of the data affected them as individual producers and others in their areas.

"I've always said that perception is reality, but in this whole process...you have to be careful what you perceive, sometimes," said Woodward.

"Some of the things I've learned over the years is to be careful taking just one set of cattle and drawing great conclusions from that group."

He said there needs to be a benchmark in place to compare your individual herds with in order to get to the truth in data collection.

All of the panelists agreed that the ranchers need a systematic approach to analysis in order to make the best breeding decisions, and information gathered from the correct data should provide the producers insight in deciding which direction to go with their herds.

"It's very important to be part of a system or an alliance of some group that can help you in this process of collecting data, being sure you get good data all the way through the system, and then in the process of a that data," said Woodward.

Schuler said, "We've got to make things simpler. We've got to make it where the customer can understand.

"We think about increasing the value of the carcass, and to me, there's about three ways to approach this.

"The first is genetics...the second is management...and the last is technology."

"We started looking at the total value of the carcass, and the first thing we noticed was that the biggest carcass sells for the most money," said Schuler.

He said that keeping the line of communications open from the consumer to the producer is very important to the future of production. Also, that accepting new ideas isn't hard, but letting go of old ideas is the hardest part for many producers.

Williams said that the "kiss" formula worked best for him. "Keep it simple, stupid," tended not to "overload" producers when trying to develop data banks for general use.

He believes that predictions from data give producers power.

"It's got to be on individual operations needs. One of the most important things we can do is use the data for culling decisions," he said.

Data can be used to identify superior animals as well as those that should be culled from herds he said.

"Producers have to be willing to make the changes. Gathering all this data and looking at this stuff doesn't do any good, unless they take it and use it and put in into action," said Williams.

"I think that's one thing we need to look at...take the extremes out," added Brown.

He advocated using ultra-sound on animals to help determine the extremes on each end of the spectrum.

All panelists agreed that the data being received needs to be more standardized in order to allow producers to maximize end profits.

"I think at the end of the day, the most important thing and the only thing I'm really interested in is earned profit dollars. It's cash I can put in my pocket...that's the thing I've got to focus on," said Woodward.