As published in the CattleMax October 2026 Newsletter.
Fall brings plenty of decisions on the ranch. From preg checking and evaluating cows to selecting replacements and preparing for breeding season, now is a good time to look back at the records you’ve collected throughout the year and put that information to work as you plan what comes next.
RANCHING SMARTER
Put Your Records to Work This Fall
Fall herd work brings a lot of information together. Preg check results, weaning weights, calf performance, health history, and breeding records can all help give you a better picture of where your herd stands.
As you decide which cows to keep or cull and which heifers to retain as replacements, use the records you’ve collected to look beyond what you see on processing day. Past performance, production history, pedigree, health records, and notes can add context to those decisions.
It’s also a good time to update pregnancy status, expected calving information, and other herd records as you head into breeding season.
This fall, review:
• Cow & calf performance
• Keep/cull decisions
• Replacement heifers
• Pregnancy status
• Breeding records
CATTLEMAX TIP
Adding a Large Group of Calves?
You don’t have to enter each one individually. CattleMax has tools to make adding multiple animals faster and more efficient.
New Animal Spreadsheet Import
Already have your calf records in a spreadsheet? Use the New Animal Spreadsheet template to add your animal information, then upload the completed file to CattleMax from the Import Spreadsheet area on the Cattle page.
Bulk Add Animals
Prefer to enter records directly in CattleMax? The Bulk Add Animals feature lets you add multiple animals without creating each record individually.
CLASSES & EVENTS
Get More from CattleMax
Join upcoming classes, explore on-demand training, and connect with the CattleMax team at industry events.
CATTLEMAX COMMUNITY
Team Member Ken is Retired
Ken Lyon, one of the first rancher-customer service team members for CattleMax, has retired after 19 years on the team and 25 years using CattleMax.
Ken has provided exceptional support to ranchers worldwide, from answering calls and emails to testing new features, researching complex issues, and much more.
During his tenure, he has seen CattleMax evolve from a desktop program to the online software that is now the most widely used cattle software in North America.
Ken's last day was Thursday, October 22. He and his wife, Becky, plan to drive, cruise, and fly on adventures around the world in this next chapter. Please join us in thanking Ken for his tremendous dedication to CattleMax, ranchers, and the industry. Feel free to email your stories, thanks, and well wishes to howdy@cattlemax.com, addressed to his attention, and he will personally read them.
RESOURCE SPOTLIGHT
Understanding 205-Day Adjusted Weaning Weight
Calves aren’t always the same age when they’re weaned, so comparing actual weaning weights alone doesn’t always tell the whole story.
A 205-day adjusted weaning weight accounts for a calf’s actual age at weaning and adjusts the weight to a common age of 205 days. This gives you another piece of information to use when comparing performance across your calf crop.
When weights are recorded in CattleMax, adjusted weaning weight is automatically calculated, giving you a standardized way to compare calf performance.
Calculate 205-Day Adjusted Weaning Weight
Use CattleMax’s free online calculator to quickly determine a calf’s 205-day adjusted weaning weight. Enter the calf’s birth and weaning information, along with the requested animal information, and the calculator will do the math for you.
CATTLEMAX COMMUNITY
Meet Our Newest Team Members
Kara grew up on her grandparents’ Jersey dairy farm in Southern Indiana. Although recordkeeping looked a lot different back then, her grandpa’s pen-scratched calendar of expected calving dates and calving records, hung on a nail in the milk barn, taught her the importance of keeping good records from an early age. Today, Kara lives in Southern Indiana with her family, where they are involved in hay production and a small cattle operation.
“I began using CattleMax while working for a ranch in Utah and fell in love with the simplicity of the software and how quickly I could provide reports to help the owner make business decisions. The amount of data CattleMax can track and record goes far beyond an Excel sheet. Whenever I needed help, customer service was always quick to assist and genuinely happy to do so. That experience led me to apply as soon as a position opened. I’m excited to join the CattleMax team and help grow a product I’ve experienced firsthand as a user.”
Susie’s family owns Heart X Ranch, which was started in the 1950s in southern New Mexico and later moved to Central Texas. Heart X originally operated as a Hereford, Beefmaster, and Charolais cross cow/calf operation before transitioning primarily to registered Charolais. Growing up, Susie showed registered heifers, commercial heifers, and steers. She was also the Central Texas Quarter Horse Sweetheart for a year in high school.
“I always knew I wanted to be a rancher and a mom above all else. Today, my husband, Doug, and I, along with our son, Brody, and daughter, Jessie, help keep the family ranch growing. We were like everyone else, using pen and paper to keep up with records. It was a game-changer when my mother found CattleMax. It's been a great tool for documenting our operational expenses, income, vaccinations, and registrations. I was ecstatic when I was offered a position with CattleMax and truly enjoy being part of a company whose motto is ‘Ranchers Helping Ranchers.'"
Kennedy grew up in a small agricultural community in Northeast Florida, where her family owns and operates a sod farm. Her family previously ran a commercial cattle herd and now raises Registered Brangus cattle. After living out of state for a decade, Kennedy recently returned to Florida to work with the family operation and has enjoyed getting more involved with their Registered Brangus herd.
BEHIND THE SCENES
Our team recently got together in person for our annual CattleMax company meetup! It’s always a great opportunity to spend time together, share ideas, reflect on the past year, and plan for what’s ahead.
Most importantly, it gives us time to work together on how we can continue making CattleMax better for the ranchers who rely on it every day. We left the meetup with new ideas, fresh perspectives, and plenty to look forward to!