Working Ranch April/May 2025

handling, sorting & scales BY TIFFANY SELCHOW Weigh Day Is your operation ready to scale up? Producers can be proactive by recording more data using a scale,

which can increase overall performance.

RICE LAKE

hile profit margins continue to decrease, any extra ex penditure on a cattle operation is weighed heavily on the potential return on investment. A scale is one such ex penditure but should only be added to an operation after the foundation of proper working facilities is established.

Health, Tech Serv. Zoetis notes, “We genuinely cannot manage what we don’t measure.” Dr. Beard also says the eye can be misleading, meaning even the most experienced ranchers can miscalculate, causing a potential reputation misalignment. “A scale provides you with two types of data: insurance that the animal you are measuring is truly of that weight, but it also contributes to your reputation. Instead of guessing your calves are six weights, you can give an accurate An area of expertise for Dr. Mulliniks is nutrition, who often receives calls from producers asking for help with a ration to feed their cows. Current nutritional management is a tough road to follow if the road map isn’t available for weight and growth. “To make correct nutritional manage ment decisions, the animal’s weight group average,” she concludes. HELP THOSE HELPING YOU

Without the ability to get cattle to the scale, it might not be worth the money. Still, with the appropriate setup up, there are many reasons a scale will work to increase the bottom line while increasing productivity, management decisions, and safety.

MORE DATA = MORE INFORMED DECISIONS

proves challenging compared to our dairy counterparts. “Having scales gives producers the next level of ability to make decisions, allowing an operation to understand better where their cows are in their productive life and how much more growing calves might need to do. This data leads to more ability to make more educated decisions, including culling and performance,” stated Dr. Mulliniks. Dr. Joslyn Beard of Precision Animal

Ever the unique endeavor, raising beef cattle requires a different meth odology for each situation. Dr. Travis Mulliniks, Glenn & Mildred Harvey Associate Professor and Associate Department Head of Animal and Rangeland Sciences at Oregon State University, quickly points out that lack of ability to make day-to-day decisions while raising beef cattle

42 I APRIL / MAY 2025 WORKING RANCH audited readers run 21 million head of beef cattle.