20 Nebraska Cattleman August 2023 The bunk management system offers a customized alert system that notifies the user when bunks are going off course. The alerts can be customized to each operation to ensure that the feedlot is targeting specific goals and intervening when those goals are not being met. The bunk management system helps feedlots save money by conserving labor, improving feed intake and enabling the user to make decisions with more information. In the near future, Precision Livestock Technologies will be adding cattle performance and herd health monitoring to their platform. It will allow managers to monitor performance and weight, and predict outcomes with predicted weight, weight distribution and pricing-grid analysis. It will also identify outliers in the pen and will offer individual tracking to target sick animals sooner. It aims to help streamline the treatment process by eliminating unnecessary treatments and improve meat quality. In turn, this will increase feed efficiency and encourage higher profits for producers. Measuring Feed Efficiency One of the biggest ways that feedlot managers and producers can increase their profits is by selecting for feed efficiency. Residual feed intake (RFI) is the difference between the animal’s actual intake and the expected intake and is a measurement of inherent, biological feed efficiency. Vytelle, an integrated technology platform, combined forces with long-standing, industry standard GrowSafe Systems in 2020 and is now a leading authority in feed efficiency testing and tools. Vytelle recommends a 49-day trial with a 10- to 14-day warm-up period if producers or feedlots opt to use their technology. Vytelle offers a beef marketing program to feedlots to help them increase their profitability. It optimizes marketing and assists managers with accurately predicting weights to keep pens uniform. The Vytelle Feed Intake Nodes record feed intake, and the In-Pen Weighing Positions measure weight gain to help feedlot managers and producers calculate RFI. Through this data, feedlot managers can identify poor-performing cattle and reduce variation. It also helps when making ration decisions for each pen, which can save money in the long run. Beef Quality Assurance Program This nationally coordinated, state-implemented program helps producers and consumers combine commonsense practices with scientific knowledge to raise cattle in the best way. Jesse Fulton, director of Nebraska Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) and beef systems educator for the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Nebraska Extension, says the mission of Nebraska BQA is to help every part of the beef supply chain. “The mission of BQA is to guide producers toward continuous improvement using science-based production practices that assure cattle well-being, quality beef and consumer confidence in the beef we produce,” Fulton says. While most people think about becoming BQA certified, they believe it’s only for cow-calf producers. However, stockers and feedlots can become BQA certified as well. There are specific courses for each segment of the cattle industry. “BQA teaches about pen maintenance to make sure that cattle are comfortable during their stay,” Fulton says. “The Whisper On Arrival is a technology that consists of data collection devices and an algorithm. INCREASING FEEDLOT EFFICIENCY • CONTINUED FROM PAGE 18 CONTINUED ON PAGE 22 Precision Livestock Technologies offers an automated solution that simplifies herd monitoring for cattle performance, bunk management and herd health.
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