YOU CAN’T MANAGE WHAT YOU DON’T MEASURE!

The Value of Good Record Keeping in Beef Cattle Production

Accurate, consistent record keeping is one of the most powerful — and often under-utilized — management tools in a beef cattle operation. Good records do far more than document past events. They help producers make better decisions, support herd health and welfare, and ultimately improve productivity and profitability across the operation.

A Foundation for Better Herd Health Decisions

Health records allow producers and veterinarians to track disease trends, treatment outcomes, and vaccine responses over time. Recording details such as treatment dates, products used, dosages, withdrawal times, and individual animal IDs supports:

• More targeted herd health protocols

• Early identification of recurring problems

• Responsible antimicrobial stewardship

• Compliance with Beef Quality Assurance guidelines

When complete treatment histories are available, veterinarians can make more informed recommendations and reduce unnecessary or ineffective interventions.

Strengthening Reproductive and Production Performance

Reproductive efficiency is one of the strongest drivers of profitability in the cow–calf sector. Calving, breeding, and pregnancy records help identify cows that:

• Conceive late or fail to breed back

• Experience calving difficulty

• Produce lighter-weight calves year after year

With good records, underperforming females can be identified sooner, and replacement heifer selection can be guided by measurable results rather than visual impression alone.

Similarly, weaning weights, preconditioning performance, and growth data provide valuable feedback on genetics, nutrition, and management programs.

Supporting Genetic Progress and Marketing Value

Accurate identification and pedigree records are essential for genomic testing, EPD accuracy, and sire evaluation. Over time, this information helps producers:

• Build more uniform and predictable calf crops

• Align genetics with marketing goals

• Strengthen buyer confidence in the herd

Operations that maintain detailed performance and health histories are often better positioned to capture added value through retained ownership, specialty programs, or private-treaty marketing.

Enhancing Traceability and Risk Management

Good records also play a key role in animal traceability, regulatory compliance, and food safety documentation. When an issue arises — whether related to residue risk, illness, or animal movement — complete records protect both the operation and the beef supply chain.

Turning Information Into Action

Record keeping does not have to be complicated to be effective. Whether using a notebook, spreadsheet, or herd-management software, the most important qualities are:

• Consistency

• Accuracy

• Individual animal identification

• Timely entry of information

Even simple, well-maintained records can reveal meaningful performance trends and management opportunities when reviewed with a veterinarian or herd advisor.

Good record keeping is an investment in better decisions, healthier cattle, and a more resilient beef operation.

For help setting up or making the best use of herd records in cow–calf, backgrounding, or seedstock operations, contact Washington County Veterinary Service for guidance and support.