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Northeast Iowa cattle producer says feed efficiency is his top concern
A northeast Iowa cattle producer says he uses technology to improve profitability as margins tighten.
Matt Hoeft of Charles City tells Brownfield feed efficiency is his top concern right now. “We use a software program when I’m feeding as far as controlling our rations and tracking all of that,” Hoeft says. “Keeping everything going in at the appropriate amount and keeping track of that. For the last few years, that’s been a big help for us.”
Hoeft says growing their own corn for feed helps lower their input costs, but it also prevents them from selling it. “It’s tough on us as feeders because we sit here with a lot of corn on hand but we’re feeding instead of being able to sell it at the prices that we’ve seen in recent weeks,” he says. “That’s a little tough to get that all to work out.”
He says he’s hopeful the cattle market will rebound by the fall.
