Working Ranch April/May 2025

is essential,” Dr. Mulliniks discussed. This information allows experts like Dr. Mulliniks to formulate the cor rection ration and ensure producers aren’t spending money on unneeded ingredients or nutrients. Dr. Beard, who has extensive experi ence with large-range producers in the southwest United States, agrees and adds, “When we start thinking about folks on large ranches with extensive pastures, it is a good idea to bring your cows in and measure a few times. A pro ducer might look at a pasture and think there’s a substantial amount of feed, but it may lack quality, and a rancher would see that in the data from gath ering weights after the cattle had been on the pasture for some time. This data allows us to understand how the ani mals truly utilize that pasture and what we can do as pasture managers. This information could tell us we need to diversify the grazing area, what types of forage our cattle best utilize, and even what condition our range is in.” FULFILL CONTRACTS AND SAFETY Contracts and fulfilling prom ised weights are another reason Dr. Mulliniks recommends investing in a scale. Producers might enter into a contract for 500-weight calves in good weather conditions and then get hit by a drought. Without the data a scale pro vides, it isn’t easy to know if your calves are making weight and, if they aren’t, how to quickly remedy the situation. Dr. Beard also emphasizes the safety aspect of a scale when talking about transportation, “Even in the best case scenario where a producer under-prom ises and over-delivers a scale allows you to follow BQA safety protocols properly loading on the cattle truck.” Another critical recommenda tion from Terrell Miller, founder of AgriCommerce, which operates CattleScales.com and other online livestock supply stores, is ensur ing you have a correct weight when treating cattle. “If you overmedi cate a cow, you are wasting medicine and valuable dollars with poten tially worse risk factors, and if you’re

ADOBE/TORTUGA

your calves to see how calves are per forming in the current group and how they perform year over year. In years when weaning weights might be down, a producer can track individual calves who are far and above the average.” ARE THEY READY? Breeding first-time heifers can prove challenging, with many follow ing the adage of developing heifers to 55% of their mature body weight before attempting. While this infor mation can prove helpful, especially in cases where artificial insemination is being used, Dr. Beard notes that management and genetic potential are more significant factors in con sidering this element while using a scale, “Using a scale and recording weights on heifers can help you track when heifers hit maturity in terms of management as well as some of the genetic potential of those females, coming back to the idea that this can be especially beneficial in the harsher climates. You can compare your herd, noting they were all in the same envi ronment, but some were able to grow more efficiently.” Dr. Beard also says that keeping track of weights after calving can show a producer how well a heifer took to being a cow under physiologic stress, considering calv ing and lactation.

undermedicating, you’re not getting that effective dose,” Miller explains. OFFENSE WINS Instead of playing defense, Dr. Mulliniks suggests focusing on the offense. “Reacting to unexpected circumstances is part of raising beef cattle, but if we can be proactive by recording more data using a scale, we can increase performance.” Dealing with harsh environments such as the arid southwest going through extreme drought or Nebraska during a bomb cyclone are situations in which scales prove especially ben eficial. “Taking weights and keeping accurate data before and after extreme and unique conditions in your area can allow you to see how an animal reacts to the environment and tell you about their efficiency in times of high stress,” Dr. Beard notes. This allows you to make more accurate culling decisions and influence future breeding choices. Miller agrees and expands on the idea, “A producer can keep track of the weaning weight, and when using a program like CattleMax or an advanced spreadsheet, they can adjust that weight to a 205 adjusted wean ing weight to normalize calves born early versus late. Once you have those weights adjusted, a producer can define their contemporary groups and ration

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