18 NEBRASKA CATTLEMAN August 2025 MICRO INGREDIENT SYSTEM BUY YOUR OWN SYSTEM CONTROL YOUR FEED BOOST YOUR SAVINGS PRECISION FEEDING FOR FEEDLOTS & DAIRIES OF ALL SIZES Precision Feeding: Enables ration flexibility, allowing high-producing groups to receive tailored nutrients. Ingredient Flexibility: Switch ingredients on demand based on supply, price, or nutritional guidance. Instant Adjustments: Ability to update rations quickly based on real-time needs. Supports Low-Inclusion Nutrients: Efficiently handles microbials, probiotics, antibiotics, and prebiotics. POTENTIAL SAVINGS OF $1-$2/HD/DAY FOR DAIRY & 5-10 CENTS/HD/DAY FOR FEEDLOTS AND MORE INFO@COMCOCONTROLS.COM | 800-225-4417 WWW.COMCOCONTROLS.COM • CUSTOMIZED BIN SIZES • FULLY CONFIGURABLE: 4 - 12 BINS • REAL-TIME INVENTORY • DURABLE STEEL SURFACE • ACCURATE VIBRATORY FEEDERS • 24/7 SUPPORT READY TO BUY OR UPGRADE YOUR MICRO SYSTEM? “Sometimes AI is a solution, sometimes it might be overkill for what you need,” Minarick clarifies. “AI has allowed a lot of teams like ours to rapidly develop technology much more quickly and cost effectively. We’re able to run incremental and rapid tests to determine potential performance improvements we can make.” BovEye is also helping ag businesses optimize their scarce labor resources. “A lot of businesses have spent time collecting quality data and understand AI has serious implications, but they might not want to hire a fulltime, expensive, machine-learning engineer,” Minarick says. “We can come in and help them on a project basis without the need for a long-term, fulltime commitment.” DATA-DRIVEN CATTLE MANAGEMENT Technology has worked its way into the hands of thousands of producers through Performance Livestock Analytics’ (PLA) flagship product, Performance Beef. Kory Lauridsen, PLA’s director of strategic sales, says Performance Beef helps producers track feed, financial and health data all in one cloud-based platform by using Bluetooth-enabled scales on the feed truck or cattle chute to collect data. “We’re helping producers automate data capture on their operations instead of having to keep track of handwritten records,” Lauridsen says. With real-time digital records, producers can make more accurate feed calls and health decisions on the go, which enhances labor efficiency and provides overall accuracy in their feeding and performance – two of the biggest expenses for a producer. “PLA is always trying to find new ways to add features and connect with upcoming technologies to help make the independent cattle producers more efficient,” Lauridsen says. Lauridsen highlighted the integration with Precision Livestock Technologies’ bunk reading system to improve feedlot operations. This integration with the Performance Beef platform utilizes cameras over the bunk line to predict cattle feed intake and provide feeding recommendations through AI and machine learning. PLA also developed the Cattle Krush app, which helps producers with cattle purchasing and profitability tracking. “I feel like now, with the competitive landscape in the livestock industry, we are understanding more about what challenges producers are facing,” Lauridsen says. “We’re about to come into the golden age of technology in the beef industry.” Beyond these examples, a wave of new and exciting ag technology is impacting and developing the cattle industry. Work continues in the private sector as well as at the university research level such as the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources, particularly the Feedlot Innovation Center. Prepare for the pace of innovation to accelerate! “We can be a leader in building animal technologies that really help producers raise cattle more efficiently, sustainably, productively and with better animal welfare,” Costello concludes. “I’m excited for the future in Nebraska, because there’s such a big opportunity and more has yet to be tapped into for its full potential.” ~NC~ BUILDING THE FUTURE OF BEEF CONTINUED FROM PAGE 17
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NTMxNTA5