Commercial Cowherd Data Management Available through AGA Source: AGA - by Angela Vesco Smart Select Service (SSS) has been accessible for a year and a half and is gaining popularity amongst commercial cattlemen and women. Currently, this American Gelbvieh Association (AGA) program has 27 participants with just over 1,800 head of cattle enrolled. Smart Select Service is a program that gives commercial producers the insight into their cowherd that they may have not of otherwise had. Users of Smart Select Service can track the data of their cowherd to assist them in making selection decisions with the goal of retaining the best females possible. At just $1 annual fee per head with no breed restrictions, it’s a cost-effective way to better understand and track the performance of individual animals and on a herd basis. The objective of Smart Select Service is to help commercial herds become more efficient and successful. MBCSept2014c.qxp_Layout 1 9/24/14 11:08 AM Page 65 Efficiency is becoming more important and crucial to the success of any cattle operation. Inefficiencies are identified by taking measurements and then utilizing the
data, and Smart Select Service identifies that. Managing data can sound intimidating at times, but that is where the AGA comes in to help. The program does the data management, and the AGA staff is there to discuss the data and understand it. Value-added programs and genetic technology are management tools that tend to get overlooked by producers because of the added labor and cost. However, when markets are lower, and selection decisions are even more important, management tools can help separate the quality from the quantity and garner premiums. There is always more than meets the eye when it comes to evaluating livestock. Rancher Scott Hamilton of Hitchcock, South Dakota believes that it is crucial to understand the data that you collect. “A program like SSS is needed in the beef industry because it’s a program that makes it easier to understand your data= and to let the AGA manage the data for you.” Hamilton plans on using SSS to take the next step in managing his cattle. “I need to track the cows that are producing the most efficient, high dollar calves for me. Ultimately, when times are tough, and the herd needs to be culled because of drought or other conditions, I need to have the data to back up the management decisions.” Smart Select Service recently merged with the AGA registry. Previously, the Smart Select program was separate but built in the same format. The merge was made to make it more convenient for the users.
Marketing Cattle Weekly for Cattlemen
JULY 2017
“Across Missouri”
26
“Sales each TUESDAY” “Sales each FRIDAY” O:660-882-7413 O:573-324-2295 www.movalleylivestock.com www.emcclivestock.com Justin Angell Mike VanMaanen Jon Angell 573-819-8000 573-881-0402 573-682-4656