STOCKTON, Mo. – “Recordkeeping is important to make management decisions for optimum cattle operation productivity and profitability,” says Patrick Davis, University of Missouri Extension livestock field specialist. Davis urges cattle producers to consider purchasing the 2025 pocket-size “Redbook” to aid in their recordkeeping. The books are available at county MU Extension centers for $8 per copy.

“Cattle producers can store all types of information in these books,” says Davis. The calf information section contains 10 boxes to enter cow identification, calf ID, birth date, birth weight, calf sex, calving ease, etc. There is space for around 425 head of entries. It has a calendar section so that it can be used as a planner. Cattle producers can also store data such as pasture usage, artificial insemination records and herd health records.

“These books also can be used as an educational tool to cattle producers,” says Davis. The Redbooks have information on calving-ease scores, body condition scores, calf death loss scores, international year/letter code for animal ID, Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) best practices, gestation table and more.

“Cattle producers should not use this book as their sole recordkeeping system,” says Davis. To use the information collected in the book, cattle producers should transfer the information into an Excel spreadsheet or other format that allow for analysis of the information. In addition, entering the information into an electronic format improves the likelihood that it will not be damaged or lost.

These books are produced by the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and distributed to MU Extension centers for sale through cooperation with University of Missouri, MU Extension and the Show-Me-Select Replacement Heifer Program. Supplies are limited, so if you are interested, contact your local MU Extension center to purchase a book.