Working Ranch Magazine March/April 2025

Ahead of the Curve are better to feed and who not, while a stocker or feeder, for example, could be informed about which calves would be best to buy and — to a certain amount — even how to manage them. During the pilot program of the Igenity Feeder test, where Neogen worked with True Ranches, DNA results proved very accurate. Results allowed the steers to be separated by predicted feeding need — those who would finish early, those who would need additional feed, and those in between — and maxi mize their potential.

right product. Having this informa tion can help producers find the cus tomers and build those relationships, with trustworthy data. The precision technology that these types of basic testing represent and the information they provide are becoming increasingly critical to suc cess in the beef business today. More and more beef producers are becom ing scientists right on the ranch or farm, building relationships not only with customers but as partners in the genetic improvement of the entire beef industry. Together, producers and sci entists are using something as simple — and complex — as blood and tissue sampling to make impactful discov eries that ultimately inform decisions, improve management, and lead to the most effective marketing.

Like with the blood testing for pregnancy, the earlier decisions can be made — predictive, rather than reactive — the better chance for a positive impact on your bottom line in terms of efficiency and saving on inputs. Given the fluctuation in feed and input costs means that reliable prediction helps these tests balance out — if not increase the profit — com pared to the investment to do them. Similarly, DNA information like this is useful for sales, as more often buyers are looking for as much DNA and other information to come along with purchases, and getting the best calves into the most profitable mar kets. Like many products in today’s world, the issue isn’t that the right product or customer exists, it’s about matching the right customer to the

TERRI CAGE / ADOBE

72 I MARCH 2025 WORKING RANCH audited readers run 21 million head of beef cattle.