cattle management software

For 15 years, Rose Hill Ranch in Pattison, Texas, has ran a successful Santa Gertrudis seedstock operation.

Their ranching enterprise is very diversified, selling show heifers, replacement heifers, herd sire bulls, bull calves to auction barns and processed beef. They have expanded this operation in the past 10 years, as technology has improved their means of marketing cattle.

Rosemary Gambino said, "At first, we did a lot of advertising and attended many shows and sales. Now, a lot of sales are based on reputation and word of mouth; we don't have to work as hard at advertising."

"The advent of technology has brought the availability of information on the Web to make good decisions about the operation. Now, we can view market prices and sales online."

Gambino said they have used CattleMax software to keep records on their cattle since 2001, after she met Terrell and Penny Miller at the Texas A&M Beef Cattle Short Course.

"I liked their attitude and helpfulness," she said, "I was new to technology and found CattleMax easy to use. Now I can't live without it."

She said that one of her favorite features in CattleMax is the breed association interfaces.

"I also like the cattle inventory by pasture," she said, "I think I use that every day; it's wonderful. It tells the age in months of the animal, the purchaser and any comments including dam, sire, palpation results and other various notes."

Gambino said that once a month, she prints and files a hard copy of this report.

"It's so great for us," she said, "We have seven pastures, and it tells us where every cow is and how long they've been there. We use it to make a decision with calves and keep all medical records."

She said they also use CattleMax as an integral part of their marketing process when they have a ranch visitor.

"When a buyer comes to the ranch, we ask them 'What are you interested in seeing?'" she said.

"I can then print a report that lists everything we have they are interested in, hand it on a clipboard to my husband, and they're off to look at cattle. I can even include an asking price in the report."

Gambino said that the ability to sort cattle in this manner is helpful in working with clients.

"There's no looking up everything," she said, "It's all just right there."

She said that Rose Hill has recommended the software to several friends, and they have all been happy with it.

"I get asked all the time, 'How long does it take to maintain cattle in the program?'" she said. "I don't do it every day. It can take as little as 30 minutes a week. When we work calves, I come in and input the information."

She said the program is not time consuming at all.

"Once you enter an animal, it moves through the program," Gambino said.

Even with all of these benefits, for Rosemary Gambino, it still comes down to ease of use.

"If I can use the program, anyone can," she said, "It's very user friendly."

For more on Rose Hill Ranch, or to view their registered Santa Gertrudis cattle, visit http://www.rosehillgerts.com