Using Data to Drive Profitability: How C-Lock Products & Tech Help Producers Make Better Decisions

Posted on February 23, 2026February 23, 2026 by Jessica Graham

C-Lock Branded Content – Using Data to Drive Profitability: How C-Lock Products & Tech Help Producers Make Better Decisions

Using Data to Drive Profitability: How C-Lock Products & Tech Help Producers Make Better Decisions

Every producer is focused on the same goal: getting more return from the resources they already have. Feed, water, genetics, labor, and time all come at a cost, and the difference between an average operation and a highly profitable one often comes down to how well those inputs are managed.

The challenge is that many of the most important decisions in cattle production are still made with limited information. Producers often rely on averages, visual appraisal, or infrequent measurements to judge performance. While experience and intuition matter, they don’t always reveal what is truly happening at the individual animal level.

C-Lock’s lineup of products—GreenFeed, SmartFeed, SmartScale, and SmartWater—was developed to change that.

Outcomes Producers Can Expect with C-Lock

C-Lock’s GreenFeed and SmartLine products are designed to turn everyday animal behavior into insight producers can use to improve efficiency, reduce costs, and make more confident management decisions. By measuring intake, weight, water use, and emissions at the individual animal level, decisions are backed by data, not guesswork.

Key outcomes producers see withC-Lock tech:

Improved feed efficiency

Identify animals that gain more on less feed and better understand how nutrition and supplementation strategies are performing.

Reduced feed and input costs

Eliminate wasted feed, evaluate supplement return on investment, and focus resources where they deliver the greatest return.

Identification of top-performing cattle

Clearly see which animals are the most efficient, consistent, and productive over time.

Data-driven decision-making

Replace assumptions and averages with accurate, individual animal performance data.

Earlier detection of performance or health issues

Changes in intake, weight gain, or water use often appear before problems are visually apparent.

C-Locks Product Suite – Built for More Profitable Cattle Production

SmartFeed: Understanding Intake and Feed Efficiency

Feed is one of the largest costs in any cattle operation. SmartFeed provides a clear picture of how that feed is being used by measuring individual intake through automated feeding units and RFID identification.

SmartFeed tracks feeding behavior and consumption around the clock without disrupting normal routines. This allows producers to:

Identify animals that convert feed more efficiently
Compare intake across sire groups, management groups, or classes of cattle
Evaluate supplement programs and ration performance
Understand how intake patterns change over time

Producers are often surprised by the level of variation SmartFeed reveals. Animals that appear similar in performance can differ substantially in how much feed they consume. Once intake is measured, it becomes possible to identify which animals are adding value—and which ones are consuming more than they return.

For seedstock and research programs, SmartFeed supports selection for feed efficiency. For commercial operations, it provides practical insight into nutrition and supplementation strategies that directly impact the bottom line.

SmartScale: Frequent Weights Without Added Labor

Body weight is one of the most important performance indicators, but frequent weighing is often impractical due to labor, time constraints, and animal stress. SmartScale addresses this challenge by collecting weights automatically as animals walk across a platform, typically placed near water.

There is no need for gathering or chute work. Weights are collected passively and frequently, providing a much clearer picture of growth trends over time.

SmartScale helps producers:

Monitor performance without added labor
Identify changes in gain earlier
Evaluate responses to nutrition or management adjustments
Reduce handling stress on cattle

When SmartScale data is combined with SmartFeed intake data, producers can calculate true feed efficiency on an individual animal basis. Instead of estimating performance, they are measuring it.

SmartWater: The Missing Piece of the Performance Puzzle

Water intake plays a critical role in feed intake, health, and overall performance, yet it is often overlooked. SmartWater monitors water consumption and usage patterns in real time, providing another layer of insight into herd behavior and performance.

Changes in water intake are often one of the earliest indicators that something is wrong. A drop in consumption can signal health challenges, water access issues, or management problems before they are visible through observation alone.

SmartWater allows producers to:

Monitor water intake trends across groups or individuals
Detect potential health issues earlier
Identify problems with water systems or access
Improve overall herd management with minimal effort

When used alongside SmartFeed and SmartScale, SmartWater helps complete the picture of how animals use resources and how those resources influence performance.

GreenFeed: Measuring Emissions and Efficiency

GreenFeed measures methane, carbon dioxide, and other emissions from individual animals as they visit the unit for a small feed reward. In just a few minutes per visit, the system collects accurate emissions data, closing the loop between feed intake and outcome.

This type of information was once limited to controlled research environments. GreenFeed makes it practical to measure emissions under real-world conditions.

For producers and industry professionals, GreenFeed provides insight into:

Differences in emissions between animals
The relationship between feed intake, performance, and emissions
The impact of nutrition, genetics, and management strategies

GreenFeed data can support genetic selection, feed additive evaluation, and sustainability initiatives while maintaining a focus on productivity. Measuring emissions alongside intake and gain helps ensure that efficiency improvements align with broader industry goals.

The Value of a Connected System

Each C-Lock product delivers value on its own, but the real advantage comes from using them together. SmartFeed, SmartScale, and SmartWater provide a comprehensive view of intake, growth, and water use. GreenFeed adds another dimension by measuring emissions and environmental efficiency.

Together, these systems allow producers to:

Identify the most efficient animals in the herd
Make more informed breeding and culling decisions
Optimize nutrition and supplementation strategies
Reduce labor and animal handling
Improve long-term profitability and sustainability

This level of insight was once limited to large research programs. Today, it is available in a practical, field-ready format designed for real operations.

Data That Works in the Real World

Technology alone does not improve profitability. What matters is whether that technology delivers accurate, usable information that supports better decisions.

C-Lock products were developed with that goal in mind. They are designed to operate with minimal disruption, integrate into existing management systems, and provide data producers can act on.

As the cattle industry continues to evolve, operations that understand their herds at a deeper level will be better positioned to manage risk, improve efficiency, and remain competitive.

Because when it comes to improving performance and profitability, the numbers tell the story—if you have the tools to measure them.

The Right Calving Tools Put the Odds in Your Favor

Posted on February 18, 2026 by A.Miller-Cattle-Admin

The Right Calving Tools Put the Odds in Your Favor

Calving season is the epitome of “hope for the best, prepare for the worst.” You do all you can to prepare through sound nutrition and herd management. And when challenges arise, that preparation is what allows you to respond quickly and effectively.

Having the right tools, monitoring systems and veterinary resources in place before calving can go a long way to shifting the odds in your favor. A solid calving toolbox and management strategy can help you (or anyone handling calf checks) respond promptly, and protect both cow and calf when challenges arise.

Calving Monitoring

As everyone knows, ideal calving management doesn’t begin when labor starts. It actually begins the day gestation does. Managing cows throughout pregnancy plays into calving ease, calf vigor and recovery. The usual metrics of body condition, balanced nutrition and proactive health programs all influence how smoothly a cow calves and how well a calf transitions after birth.

Monitoring for impending calving used to be only possible with manual calf checks trekking out to the barn, on an ATV or horseback. But nowadays it looks different. Technology is increasingly playing a role here. Calving sensors, cameras and even activity monitors can help reduce labor demands while improving response time.

Barn and pasture cameras

Remote camera systems allow producers to visually monitor cows without physically entering the calving area. These systems are commonly installed in barns, lots or heavily trafficked calving areas and can be accessed via smartphone or computer.

Tail head and vaginal sensors

Calving sensors are designed to alert when calving has begun or is imminent. Tail head sensors detect changes in tail position and movement patterns associated with labor and send notices to your device. Vaginal sensors are expelled when the water bag breaks, triggering an alert.

Activity monitoring systems

While they are more common in dairy cattle, activity monitors track changes in movement, lying time and restlessness. While commonly used for heat detection, some systems are now able to incorporate calving alerts.

Location and geofencing monitors

For those calving on pasture, the GPS-based monitoring systems (ear tags and collars) may be an attractive option. Some systems allow geofencing to alert when cows isolate themselves. At the very least, these can be used to create customized locations to keep close up calves confined to an easily accessible area when they are close to calving.

While these tools are not a replacement for stockmanship, they can serve as an additional layer of support during a critical window.

Building the calving toolbox

When dealing with dystocia, prompt response may very much be the difference between a dead or live calf on the ground. With that kind of pressure, the last roadblock you want is to be searching for your tools and supplies.

A fully stocked, easily accessible calving kit should be in every barn or farm truck – and everyone involved should know where it is. It should be assembled and checked well before the season begins to ensure everything is clean, functional and on hand when needed.

While there is room for customization according to the products and tools that work best for your operation, there are some general guidelines for barebones that should not be overlooked. These include obstetrical chains with handles (a calf puller is ideal too, but not essential), lubricant, arm length disposable gloves and some type of disinfectant (even dish soap and warm water works in a pinch).

Organization is Key

Keeping tools clean and organized is almost as important as what’s in the kit itself along with knowing how and when to use them. Training, refreshers with a veterinarian, and clear protocols for intervention help ensure tools are used effectively and only when appropriate.

Speaking of your veterinarian, be sure to have his or her contact information physically written somewhere in case of emergency so that anyone responding to calving has easy access.

After a rough delivery, having good post-calving supplies on hand will save a lot of additional stress or last minute trips to the feedstore. Naval dips, frozen colostrum or replacer, warming blankets or straw will all help at-risk calves get off to a better start.

Successful calf care doesn’t start in the calving pen or pasture. It starts with good management and care of the cowherd. While calving management will vary from operation to operation, the underlying principles are relatively the same. These are basic preparation, observation and access to the right tools and resources.

By investing time ahead of the season to assemble calving kits, evaluate monitoring strategies, and coordinate veterinary support, you can approach the calving season with greater confidence and control.

March 2026

By Jaclyn Krymowski for American Cattlemen

Home – American Cattlemen

Bought the Bull, Now What?

Posted on February 18, 2026February 18, 2026 by A.Miller-Cattle-Admin

Introduction

Bull sale season brings producers and cattle enthusiasts together across the nation at various sales rain or shine. While everyone has their own set of criteria to follow, they all are looking for their perfect bull. When the gavel strikes, and ownership is transferred, excitement and happiness is soon to follow for the respective buyer. The bull may stay at the breeder’s operation for further development with a later pick up date or it may be able to be trailered up that same day to come home. No matter when the bull makes it to their new home and herd, being prepared to give this new herd member the proper welcome is imperative for future success.

Get prepared.

It is always best to be prepared rather than playing catch up for anything, and the addition of a new herd bull is no exception. Is there a proper housing area available? Is there time and space available for quarantine? What is the nutrition plan? Is the waterer working? Is a vet check necessary? This is a short compilation of questions producers should ask themselves as they prepare to bring this new animal into their herd.

Bulls require space to exercise with solid fence lines. Ensuring fences are in good repair with no holes, broken posts, or damaged lines will reduce incidences of animals that get out. Decide where the new bull will be housed and walk the fence line to ensure there are little to no repairs needed. Examine feed bunks and water fountains for damage and ensure water fountains are working correctly. If the waterer is dirty, be sure to clean it shortly before bringing the bull home. Cattle prefer fresh and clean water, and a clean water source will ensure the animal will stay hydrated during this move to a new environment.

Many bulls come with a health guarantee or certificate from the seller or consignor, but it is good practice to have your veterinarian conduct a full health exam on any new animal being introduced to the herd. This can help spot problems early before they develop into larger concerns. Also, this allows you to gain familiarity with your new bull to spot behavioral changes in the future. If there is a health concern found during this exam, treatment can be received immediately.

All new animals entering a herd should experience a quarantine time of a minimum of 30 days, but ideally up to 60 days. This allows any illnesses not visually present at first arrival to present themselves and any shedding of pathogens to cease. Additionally, during this time there should be no contact with the existing herd. Whether it be through nose-to-nose contact or through manure, feed, or water.

Acclimation and Nutritional Changes

Integrating a new herd bull into a preexisting group of bulls can be a daunting task. Bulls form social hierarchies, and adding a new member to the mix disrupts the previously formed rankings. “Breakdown” sometimes occurs before bulls are turned out to pasture, and this can be due to fighting. New bulls should not be turned into a pen of established bulls, they should be allowed time to acclimate to minimize risk of injury.

Extra caution should be taken when combining yearling and mature bulls. Yearlings can become overpowered by mature bulls, and injuries can occur. If possible, run bulls alongside each other with secure fencing for a period of time before running them together. When joined, fighting may still occur, but it should be less severe. If it is not possible to run bulls alongside each other, join them together in a large field or pen with ample space to escape from fights and to keep distance among themselves.

As buyers, you do not want to see bulls lose condition rapidly after being turned out on pasture. This loss of condition can negatively impact bull fertility and breeding performance. Providing a nutrition adjustment can help prepare these young bulls for pasture turn out. Bulls are typically developed on an energy-dense diet to achieve a high rate of gain and greater growth performance. Gradually adjusting bulls back to a forage-based diet before turning out to pasture will allow bulls to better maintain condition.

This gradual change in nutrition is important for sperm development, or spermatogenesis. This process occurs over 60-day periods, so sperm produced during a nutritional imbalance can impact breeding success 2 months later. A goal average daily gain for yearling bulls prior to breeding should be 1.5 to 2 pounds per day with a diet containing 10 to 11% crude protein. This allows these animals to meet requirements for growth and reproduction. Given this, bulls should ideally have a body condition score (abbreviated as BCS) of 6 prior to breeding season. Naturally, bulls can lose 100 to 200 pounds during breeding season, so giving them some extra condition allows bulls to lose some weight without negatively impacting sperm quality.

March 2026

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