XH Land and Cattle: Uncovering ranch profitability and productivity with data

Background
John Bucholz, a Wyoming cattle rancher operating at an elevation of 7,200 feet, has used AgriWebb for several years to revolutionize how he manages his herd.

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When John Bucholz returned to his family’s ranch in 2020, he had a clear vision for its future. However, one major obstacle stood in his way: the ranch’s traditional record keeping methods. For years, records were kept in notebooks to track animal weights, calving data, and grazing rotations.

It didn’t take long for John to see the lack of visibility pen and paper records provided. He struggled to identify which animals best fit his management style and which pastures supported his grazing methodology best.

It was clear the ranch’s record keeping practices needed an upgrade. After a frustrating trial with a web-only record keeping software, John found the perfect fit with AgriWebb’s offline-compatible livestock management software that also integrated seamlessly with the technology he used to weigh his animals.

“Since I became an AgriWebb user, I have never passed up on an opportunity to take accurate weight measures of anything that comes across our scale,” John said.  “It is simply too easy not to take advantage of the live session feature and Tru-Test compatibility.”

The shift to digital record-keeping wasn’t the only change on John’s ranch, his business strategy evolved, too. Before adopting AgriWebb, he focused primarily on key performance indicators (KPIs) like weaning weights, believing that bigger calves meant bigger profits.

However, after analyzing various reports in AgriWebb, he uncovered inefficiencies in his approach. With AgriWebb’s insights, John adjusted his management strategy, expanding his mature cow herd while reducing the average size of each animal to 1,200 lbs. He also introduced genetics aimed at producing smaller, more resource-efficient calves, achieving a 42% weaned calf weight relative to mature body weight. 

These changes, powered by better data and informed decision-making, allowed John to improve his herd’s efficiency, increase his calving success and optimize his resource allocation. The result? A more resilient operation with higher cash flow, leading to a more profitable ranch.

Key improvements

Maternal herd optimization:

• Teat and udder conformance: Using AgriWebb’s live session feature, John shares it’s easier than ever to score cows during calving season, prioritizing dam traits that promote calf survival in Wyoming’s harsh weather.
• Mature cow efficiency: By collecting weight data through AgriWebb’s Tru-Test integration, John was able to collect and analyze the data needed to reduce his herd’s average mature cow weight by 20 lbs between 2023 and 2024. The percentage of weaned calf weight relative to mature body weight currently sits at 42%, with John’s goal being closer to 50%.

Terminal herd development:

• Crossbreeding and calf performance: Across his ranch, John uses a combination of AgriWebb’s mapping, grazing features and animal insights to manage multiple breeding groups and pasture rotations simultaneously. John also introduced new genetics into his terminal herd, supporting his focus on more feed-efficient calves.
• Improved weaning weights: From 2022 to 2024, steer weaning weights improved by nearly 75 lbs.

Reduction in feed costs during winter grazing

• John harvested and fed 226 fewer bales between 2023 and 2024 after deciding to defer harvesting nearly 35% of the ranch’s hay meadows, and using them for grazing instead. This represented a 76% reduction in feed costs and a 62% reduction in harvest costs, significantly boosting cash flow. These decisions were made using AgriWebb’s operational cost reporting and feed on offer insights.

Notable Results

• Reduced average mature cow weight, with a goal of achieving 1,200 lbs.
• Increased calf crop efficiency, targeting higher $/lb returns by producing a higher quantity of smaller, more feed-efficient calves rather than fewer larger calves.
• Substantial improvements in terminal herd weaning weights and capacity, yielding three full loads of calves from herds historically producing one full load.

Tools driving success

John credits AgriWebb’s chute-side data collection feature as one of his favorite features because he can connect his EID scanner and scale head right into AgriWebb and collect animal data with ease. He also highlights that the feed allocation tools provide financial insights and his digital ranch map enables more effective herd and pasture management.

In the end, having all of his livestock, grazing, and team data in AgriWebb has helped John make data-driven decisions that have ultimately improved the productivity and profitability of his operation.

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Ready to see how AgriWebb can help you run a more productive and efficient operation, just like John? Click here to contact a member of our team.