CALF_News_December_2021_January_2022

37 CALF News • December 2021 | January 2022 • www.calfnews.net effective ranch management to get better breeding and calving rates. “Good heifer record keeping is needed to improve breeding performance,” he said. “Partnerships with personal veteri- narians, Extension specialists and others can help producers improve manage- ment performance.” Confront External Forces Bevers contended that ranchers need to determine the “three Ps – position, performance and projections” when devising a ranch management plan. “We need to be proactive in determin- ing how to minimize the threat of an external force,” he said. “Ranch financials Virginia Tech’s Vitor Mercadante says good record keeping helps producers better manage their herd performance. Look for early breeding, calving ease and other performance qualities when selecting replacement females. and livestock inventory need to be man- aged closely.” Bevers said the overall ranch “position” serves as a baseline for livestock, inven- tory, natural resources and financials. He added that “performance” in produc- tion, financial and resource management should be measured for the past year,” he said. “And ask yourself, Do the ranch ‘projections’ show positive movement toward the ranch mission statement and vision for the next three years?” Measuring the three Ps calls for sound communication between ranch family members and the ranch manager and possibly other employees. “Communication between ranch generations is essential,” Bevers said. “Consider different scenarios. Plan for things that may come. What if the general manager wants more money and you’re not where you want the ranch to be? What if you need to cut the herd by 25 to 30 percent?” Price risk management should be considered through forward prices for calves, using U.S. Department of Agriculture Risk Management Agency (RMA) programs, or price protection through futures or options. Drought insurance has become a valuable tool offered by RMA. And with drought always just another dry spell away, “Until a heifer is pregnant within a desired breeding season, she is a candidate, not a replacement,” UM’s Jared Decker says. future “weather-management” consider- ations could provide finances for buying replacements for part of herd liquidation needs, Bevers said. He stated that producers should“be able to reconcile your inventories” to help maximize productivity. Decker added that investments into GE-EPDs should come with marketing for a premium. “If you use DNA testing, make sure you’re getting paid a premium for your calves,” he said. “It’s time as an industry to get on board and use genomic tools. The possibilities for improvements are much better. Operations that don’t use these tools will no longer be viable and sustainable.” And if a calf crop misses the mark for a $10 to $15/cwt. premium, the bottom line takes a big hit. In other words, there is not accountability until a crisis occurs. 