February 2026 NEBRASKA CATTLEMAN 19 to inputting the amount of feed dropped into the bunks and monitoring how much feed is in stock to calculating feed invoices. This technology was designed with the intention of increasing accuracy by using real-time data to make informed decisions, while decreasing the amount of time and human error traditionally involved in these tasks. “These programs are great,” says Chris Swenson, a cattle feeder in northeastern South Dakota. “You enter how much feed you start with in stock, then every load that is fed out is weighed, so you have an accurate account of what feed is in stock, and it will let you know when you need to order more. “When we go read the bunks and input that information into the program, it automatically adjusts the rations for the next day, which saves us a lot of time.” The programs Swenson is referring to also allow you to input any sick calves and how they were doctored, or any death loss that may occur, compiling all of that recordkeeping into one location that can easily be exported. TALK TO THE BOT AI chatbots, such as ChatGPT, are large language model algorithms that are trained with billions of language examples. Chatbots can be downloaded as an app on your phone or accessed via a webpage. The algorithm learns how to mimic human writing, extract contextual information and the more that you interact with it personally, the more it can track context and, if you give your permission, can remember past conversations. Think of it as the person that you would turn to if you had a question, except it can be any question. The algorithm has already “learned” millions of market reports, Extension articles, manuals, books and conversations. The more information you give in your question, the more detailed the response can be. When you ask a question, the chatbot starts by breaking down the question, analyzing your conversation so far and determining what kind of answer you want (i.e., quick fix, checklist or explanation). It uses patterns from similar situations that it has learned from previously to build a step-bystep response. Chatbots can be helpful when seeking out quick explanations rather than having to research the answer yourself. They can assist with paperwork help such as recordkeeping or sending emails, and planning things such as grazing rotations, calving schedules or drought plans. It is almost like having a virtual assistant. Chatbots can be used in a multitude of creative ways. For example, say your vehicle is not working right, and you assume the transmission went out. You can ask your chatbot to act like an auto mechanic and ask you questions about why and how your vehicle is not working. For Steve Miller, an educator who recently taught a community-interest class on AI, that is exactly what happened. Programs such as Performance Beef and Cattler have been designed to streamline the process of feeding cattle by calculating feed rations and inventory, and centralizing recordkeeping. CONTINUED ON PAGE 20
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