Herd Records and Their Use in Monitoring and Improving Herd Productivity

Abstract

When requests are made to veterinarians as herd health-management professionals by cow-calf producers for comprehensive programs many thoughts come to mind. The most important area involves the current level of production in the clients business and our ability to improve it. Is the outfit a "productive, efficient, market driven, risk-management operation"? Although this combination of frequently used words is somewhat overwhelming at first thought, it defines the direction of thinking in today's agribusiness oriented livestock enterprise. ¹ The demand for consultation and direction in food animal production is increasing.^{2 3 4 5 6 7 10} How is a ranching enterprise evaluated and what is the basis for making recommendations for improvements where deficiencies are found? Herd records. Information reflecting unique situations in each herd provide facts and give direction. Records are necessary for an objective business-like approach to the cow-calf enterprise.