Using this app in the field can help with quick decisions and treatment calculations
Ranchers may soon be leaving the cattle scales behind. Thanks to new smartphone apps, producers can now snap a photo of their cows and receive instant estimates of weight and market value.
Several companies are developing these tools, which use artificial intelligence to analyze photos and calculate live cattle data. In addition to weight and price, these apps can track rate of gain, show changes over time and even help determine accurate medical dosages by assessing weight.
“This technology enables ranchers to track rate of gain and accurately estimate medical doses. It’s a game-changer for herd management,” said Dr. Tara Barnhardt, a large animal specialized, feedyard veterinarian.
One app currently on the market already, Cattle Worth, yields a high accuracy with weight and pricing estimates and uses real-time market data through the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) pricing.
The apps are designed for anyone working with cattle who needs quick answers but doesn’t have time to run animals through a chute. That could include ranchers getting calves ready for market, veterinarians in the field or crews at sale barns.
Traditional cattle scales can be costly and stressful for both livestock and handlers. With mobile apps, ranchers can compare lots without leaving the pasture and efficiently make informed decisions on when to sell.
These apps are designed to complement the scale, rather than replace it entirely. Many ranchers are using this in the field for quick decisions and treatment calculations.
“This is about making better decisions faster,” Barnhardt said. “If you know the numbers before you haul, you can plan better, dose accurately and ultimately sell smarter.”
These apps reflect a broader trend of agriculture embracing digital tools to increase efficiency. While the apps are still being refined, many ranchers already see them as a step toward more precise and less stressful herd management.
