We don’t have satellite or cable at our house and I just got a Smartphone a couple months ago.
Now with those two insights, you can probably deduce that I’m not necessarily an early adopter of technology. But I must note that I’m not against it.
No sir-ee! Anything that makes my life easier, enables multi-tasking or allows me to gain back a few precious minutes in my day is a friend of mine. (I’d like to personally thank the inventor of the dishwasher.)
I just am not one who is wired to embrace the new without looking it over and thinking about it, and that takes time. So, I’m personally not surprised to hear some of the statistics related to AI use, identification trends and marketing practices among cattle producers.
But I am always flabbergasted when somebody offers up this myth:
Myth—Cattlemen have already adopted all the technology they can possibly use.
Fact—From both personal conversations with ranchers and statistics, like those found in the USDA’s National Animal Health Monitoring System (NAHMS) reports, I think “adoption” is used very loosely in a lot of cases.
There’s certainly not widespread utilization of some key technologies that could improve bottom lines.
For example, the most recent survey notes that not even half the operations in the U.S. use individual calf ID. How do you know what you have unless you track it?
Less than 10% use artificial insemination (AI) and about half didn’t have a set breeding season. Study after study shows that uniformity is one of the best way to improve the price you fetch at the salebarn, plus it makes a host of management practices—from culling to vaccinations and weaning—much easier.
Related to that AI figure, Steve wasn’t convinced it was practical for a commercial man, either,until he started talking to some of the advocates and found a great custom breeder about 10 years ago. Now he’s hooked.
One reason is because AI is the only way he can use high-accuracy bulls for calving ease,caracass, growth and maternal traits. It also allows custom breeding certain cows to the bulls that best complement their genetics, reduces the number of clean-up bulls needed and helps keep calving season shorter. Study after study shows that the AI-sired calves are worth more, and the replacement heifers pass along more predictable genetics.
Check out these past posts to read about some of the benefits of AI or to learn why accuracy counts:
It’s technically artificial, but the benefits of AI are real
I’m sure somebody could point to lots of technology that’s cool, and effective, but is expensive, not widely available or just not practical.
But those aren’t even on my radar screen yet. I just think that proven strategies make my point that we could use a little more uptake of some of the most helpful, and economically beneficial, tools in our industry.
May your bottom line be filled with black ink,
~Miranda