Customer Success Story: John H. Hendrix Corporation
Al Wright manages the 3000 breeding cows which are
the backbone of the John H. Hendrix Corporation
cow-calf operation in Southwest Arkansas.
“We market cattle where we can make the most money,” Wright said,
after mentioning several ways their commercial
cattle are handled post-weaning.
“Every calf that leaves here is pre-conditioned for 45 days after
weaning and vaccinations. We graze them on wheat
pasture, send some to the feedlot, and retain some
heifers,” he said.
Wright said he has been in the cattle business all his life.
“I was 14 when I bought my first cow, and I’ve owned them ever since,”
he said.
To complement their cattle operation, the Hendrix Corporation also
serves as a dealer for liquid feed which they
distribute to nearby ranches.
Wright said their herd downsized some due to recent drought, but they
are now retaining more heifers to build it up again,
and they expect to increase their herd size by 15 to
20% in the next few years.
As ranch manager, Wright has used the CattleMax software to help with
management decisions for the past two years, after
finding it at the National Cattlemen's Beef
Association (NCBA) trade show.
Wright said he finds the “Pasture MOOOver” feature, included under
Herd Update to be particularly helpful when he is
updating records, especially in his heifer herd.
When it comes to reporting, he said he usually creates custom reports
to include the specific information he is looking
for.
“I make reports that pick up comments, so when we’re working the cow
herd, it helps make better decisions at culling
time,” he said.
Wright said that he recommends CattleMax to other producers who are
concerned about their customer service needs when it
comes to software programs.
“When someone asks about it [the software], I tell them that it’s
awfully difficult to produce cattle that the market
demands without good records, and you can’t keep
good records on the back of an envelope,” he said.
For more information on the cattle at John H. Hendrix Corporation,
contact Al Wright at 870-832-5661.
