Heat detection a hot topicSeveral producers cite heat detection systems as a top management fencepostdriver change. Richard Schaefer, Evansville, Illinois, recently purchased Heat-Watch, a computerized heat detection system, to monitor his dairy herd. "It really saves me a lot of time, because I no longer have to visually catch the cows in heat," he says.James Reed, Esbon, Kansas, writes that the HeatWatch Estrus detection system and the Real McCoy Ultrasound scanner "have vastly improved my reproduction program."Keep ''em movin''Good animal husbandry isn''t possible without good products to handle and move livestock. Twenty-two brands of trailers are cited by producers in their product reviews, making this the category with the most number of brands mentioned. The top six are listed on page 34. New cattle-handling equipment can be a real time and labor saver, ranchers say.

"Changing from conventional to an intensive grazing operation," is the biggest management change for Robert Cessac of Higbee, Missouri. "This has saved on hay and feed costs by 75%," he says. "I feed hay only from February 1 to maybe mid-March, depending on snowfall. And the cattle handle much easier and are more gentle. I can handle my cattle mostly by myself now." Even relatively low-tech grazing systems depend on good technology. High-tensile electric fence, polywire, and solar electric fencers all get mention in the survey.Kim Klocke of Arlington, Iowa, likes his IntelliShock solar electric fencer made by Premier. fencepostdriver He has had it four years and says it operates without a hitch. Klocke runs 75 stock cows and 80 ewes on 260 acres of grass and pasture.

"We bought a For-Most squeeze chute this winter, and it has completely changed our operation," says Chad Sullivan, Campbellsville, Kentucky. "We actually look forward to working cattle."Randy and Minda Witt, Lamar, Colorado, say a recently installed livestock handling facility with sorting tub and chute "has made our life much easier and is safer and faster for everyone involved.""I recently purchased a new Prifert squeeze chute and sweep gate system and 20 canal gates, which helps me better care for my dairy and beef cattle," writes Mike Murphy, Mt. fencepostdriver Sterling, Kentucky.Fence ''em inProducts tied to fencing systems, especially those related to management intensive grazing, are popular with survey respondents. Changes in grazing management are among those most-mentioned by producers as a way to improve their business.