Consulting Services
Production records:
Cow-calf
Using in-house computerized production records, we are able to help producers monitor their herd’s performance and provide reports to allow them to make more informed decisions. Reports are focused around key management activities: calving, weaning, pregnancy exams, heifer development, and bull breeding soundness. Based on these reports, our analysis and recommendations will provide you with even more information so that you can make decisions that best fit your operation.
Stocker
Every stocker operation is unique in terms of the class of cattle they handle, their goals, and where their focus lies to maintain profitability. We use in-house computerized production records to monitor the health and performance of your cattle. Recommendations based on customized reports allow you to track the parameters that are important to you, make informed decisions, and monitor the effects of those decisions.
Nutrition:
Cow-calf
Nutrition is the largest non-fixed cost of raising beef cattle, which makes it one of the most important areas that determine the financial success of a herd. Over or under feeding can have dramatic effects on a herd. We can help you assess and manage the condition of your cow herd at critical points of the production cycle so that you can optimize herd performance and strategically utilize feed resources.
Stocker
Many stocker operations choose to make money is by utilizing alternative feed resources to reduce costs of gain. Computerized nutrition programs and our knowledge of feeding stockers can help producers evaluate their current feeding strategy and provide insight on any changes the producer may be considering.
Herd Health Protocols:
Cow-calf
We tailor annual health programs to meet the needs of each individual operation. While standardized protocols have their place, they may not match the needs of your operation. That is why we customize a complete herd health program for each operation.
Stocker
There are many different classes of cattle that stocker operations manage. One program will not work for every operation; therefore we can help design a receiving protocol to match the class of calves your operation handles.
Treatment protocols
There are a variety of options to treat the numerous diseases of cattle. With all of these choices it can be difficult to decide which treatment choice is best for your operation. We can help you develop treatment protocols and monitor health over time, allowing us to make adjustments when indicated.
Biosecurity/Biocontainment
Another important aspect of a complete herd health program is biosecurity and biocontainment. Biosecurity is any practice that prevents the introduction of a disease into a group, while biocontainment reduces the spread of a disease within a group. We can help producers evaluate and modify their biosecurity and biocontainment plans to help prevent the introduction or spread of different cattle diseases. While no plan is 100% protective, we can help with realistic and practical options.
Production Management Consulting
Optimize Performance
We can provide information on a variety of issues that relate to the performance of your herd. We help you to optimize your herd’s production to meet your goals, whether that is through maximum performance or the most cost-effective strategies.
Estrus Synchronization
There are numerous estrus synchronization protocols out there, but which one is right for your operation? That depends on a number of factors including costs, expected conception rates, and the method of breeding (artificial insemination, timed-AI, or natural mating with bulls). We can help design an estrus synchronization protocol to match your goals and expectations.
Stocker Business
We have the tools and knowledge to help stockers of all sizes evaluate their business plan and modify it, if needed.
Comprehensive Approach
When making recommendations regarding your herd, we strive to consider the overall impact it will have on your operation. We combine our knowledge of the cattle business with the information specific to your herd to help provide you with usable information to meet the goals of your operation.
Traditional Veterinary Services
Herd Managment Events
We help with the processing of cattle during major herd management events. These events include, but are not limited to, processing at pre-breeding/turn-out, pre-weaning/weaning, pregnancy examinations, heifer development (growth monitoring, reproductive tract scoring and pelvic measuring), and bull breeding soundness exams. We also have an ultrasound, which can provide early pregnancy detection (especially useful for heifers) and fetal sexing.
Outbreak Investigations
If you are going to be in the cattle business, you will eventually have a disease outbreak. When this inevitable event happens, we will be there to help. With our knowledge and the help of outside laboratories, we will do our best to find the cause of the outbreak and develop/modify strategies to prevent another one.
Individual Animal Care
While we realize the value in the ability to manage a herd as a unit, we do not forget the importance of each individual animal. We still provide for and direct the care and management of individual animals when they become ill.
Timely Topics
Continuing Education
We pride ourselves on the ability to be up-to-date with the most current information and recent advances in beef cattle production and health. We accomplish this through continuing education meetings, shared knowledge from contacts throughout the cattle industry, and the insight we learn by working with progressive cattle producers. If we are unable to provide you with the information about a topic you desire, we have the resources to find this information if it exists. Then, we can learn it together and provide you with the most accurate information available.