Florida Beef Cattle 
Ranch Record Book

This Record Book was developed by Doug Mayo, Jackson County Extension to enhance beef cattle ranch management, meet pesticide application record requirements, meet the recommendations for Country-of-Origin Labeling records, and to compliment the Florida Cattlemen’s Association’s Water Quality Best Management Practice Manual.

About this Record Book  

The record book was designed for field use (kept in truck), to record beef cattle and pasture records.  The record sheets were designed for use in a loose-leaf binder, which can be customized to each individual operation.  There are record sheets for pastures, individual cow and herd production, breeding, feeding, herd health, income and expenses.  The pasture record sheets allow for recording planting, harvesting, soil test, fertilization, pesticide application and grazing duration.  If cattle are individually identified, there sheets that allow for a production history for each cow.  There are record sheets for AI breeding, pregnancy testing, feeding by herd,  vaccination, sick cattle treatment, bull breeding soundness exams, and retained ownership.  The income and expense record sheets allow provide a place for simple entry of transactions, so all the information is in one place.  There are even two sheets to be filled out at the end of each year for simple ranch performance and profit analysis. This record book does not take the place of business accounting and was not intended as a complete record list for tax preparation or loan application.  

The standard record book comes with enough sheets to keep records on up to 12 fields and 100 cows.  If additional fields are needed, simply print or copy all four pasture record sheets (pages 10-13) for each additional field.  If an operation has more than 100 cows and heifers, additional copies of the individual cow production history sheet (page 58) should be added for each cow.  The breeding and pregnancy testing sheets allow for 25 cows per sheet, so copies should be made for each additional 25 cows over the standard 100 head (pages 161 & 165). You can download the entire record book at no charge, but be prepared this record book contains 211 pages.  In order to save ink from your computer printer, you can download the individual record sheets and simply make copies for the number of fields and cows that you have. 

The individual cow production and pasture record sheets were developed to keep for multiple years.  All other sheets may need to be replaced for the next year.  Any record sheets that do not apply for an operation can simply be removed.  Additional record sheets can be developed based on the needs of each operation.  If individual animal records are not maintained, then there is no need for printing off the cow production history sheets. You still may want to at least keep a calving record sheet that totals the number and sex of calves bor each month.

One final suggestion, record keeping is most valuable when used for decision making such as business analysis or cattle selection.  In order to get the most value from the records kept in this book, profitability and herd performance measures should be developed for the year.  However, with regulation and animal trace back, having a good set of records is becoming more and more important.  So keep the records to be able to prove what you have done, but also use the records to analyze performance and profitability, to make your operation more efficient over the long haul.

Record Book Downloads
You will need Acrobat Reader to view and print these files.

Download the Entire Record Book

Single or Replacement Sheets
You can select only the ones you need and make copies

Cover Sheet

Introduction

Planning Calendar

Rainfall Record Sheet

Individual Cow Sheet