"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 rentpostpuller 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. 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.

Willis bought the Bobcat and attachments used from his local dealer for about $11,000. Money well spent, he says. He uses it to move pallets of feed, move calf huts, and clean the barn. The green box shown in the photo above is actually a hog hauler Willis picked up at a local auction. It will hold four calves on the front of the skid steer when it comes time to move them from huts to the barn for weaning and processing. His older barn has been remodeled, and the skid steer slides perfectly down the aisles and into the pens for cleaning. Anything bigger wouldn''t fit, says Willis.Some producers cite purchase of a skid steer as their best recent management change.

"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 rentpostpuller cattle," writes Mike Murphy, Mt. Sterling, Kentucky.Fence ''em inProducts tied to rentpostpuller fencing rentpostpuller 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.