The Internet is a tremendous source of information about nearly anything unfortunately, it can sometimes overwhelm the faint hearted or inexperienced. Searches turn up hundreds of thousands of pages of "matches," but sometimes you can't sort through it to find what you want. And most of the time, what is there is just an electronic copy of a printed fact sheet or catalog.
However, there are some pretty interesting things on the Internet that you can't get in a printed fact sheet. The Noble Research Institute has several and many other Web sites do as well. I'll review a few of my favorites.
eCattlelog
www.noble.org/WebApps/WebListings/eCattleLog/Index.aspx
On the eCattlelog, you can list and search for cattle for sale or for contract grazing. You can also list and search for hay for sale or pasture for lease.
NF Feed Library
www.noble.org/ag/FeedLib/
On the Noble Research Institute's Feed Library, you can research feed ingredients you are considering using in your operation. Nutritional information, physical properties, descriptions and pictures are available for several hundred feeds.
NF Protein Calculator
www.noble.org/Ag/Livestock/ProteinCalculator/index.htm
This template allows you to compare protein supplement options and determine which one is most economical in your specific situation. Bring the feed tags and prices, and the template does the calculations.
NF Plant Image Gallery
www.noble.org/WebApps/PlantImageGallery/index.aspx
Don't know what buffalograss looks like? Check here. This is the most popular page on the Foundation's Web site.
Sire Summary Searches
With these tools, you can find bulls that meet your EPD specifications.
Angus - http://www.angussiresearch.com/
Brangus - http://www.int-brangus.org/ (Click on EPD Search Form)
Charolais - http://search.charolaisusa.com/default.aspx
Gelbvieh - http://www.gelbvieh.org/search/
Hereford - http://www.hereford.org/ (Click on "Pedigree and EPD Search")
Limousin - http://www.nalf.org
Red Angus - http://www.redangus.org
Mesonet
http://www.agweather.mesonet.org/
On the Mesonet, you can get all kinds of Oklahoma weather data related to agriculture, including a map that shows current heat and cold stress levels for beef cattle (one-time download required).
Beef Stocker USA calculators
http://beefstockerusa.org/calc.htm
These online calculators allow you to determine the break-even purchase or sale price for a group of stocker calves.
Add these sites to your bookmarks and use them in managing your operation. They are quick, easy and provide information that is difficult or impossible to obtain from other formats. If you have ideas for other tools that would be helpful, e-mail me with your thoughts.
"People don't want to buy a quarter-inch drill bit. They want a quarter-inch hole." - Theodore Levitt, Harvard Business School
