Nagel''s wife, Cindy, and her sister-in-law, Angela Nagel (both pictured on page 34), are trained technicians who go on the road with the equipment, scanning more than 15,000 cattle a year for producers across the Midwest and West. Their business, Midwest Sonatech, Inc. (605/369-2628) works with Iowa State University (ISU) to analyze the data. Business is booming."Ultrasound body composition data is the greatest tool a seedstock producers can use to make automotive wire diagrams genetic improvement," says cindy. "customers are now demanding fence the data. ultrasound tools results can wire make or break a bull."the nagels use two aloka 500v machines to collect measurements on fat thickness, ribeye area and marbling, and rump fat. fence and tools the stored images are analyzed by isu with computer software. the nagels can scan 20 cattle an hour. they charge $14 a head, which includes $4 for image analysis.

* balers are the implement most often mentioned in the survey. producers also cite purchases of new feed grinders and mixers, as well as silage and haylage products. wire "we purchased a walder manufacturing hoop bagger last year, and our haylage is the best it can be. there''s no wait for hay to dry down -- better protein, better overall feed volume, writes frank e. grossmann, portage, wisconsin."digital scales on the feed grinder save time and feedstuffs," says monte thompson, zanesville, ohio, citing his top management change.housekeepinga number of products come into play when housing livestock, and producers point to several items that save them time, labor, and money. products listed in the survey include portable livestock shelters, scales, fans, and bulk feed bins and feeding systems.

the setup lets him cover about 100 acres a day, "if you really stay after it and the conditions are right."hay wraps save timehay wrapping fence equipment is mentioned by several producers tools as a top management change."a 12-foot discbine has reduced our cutting time in the hay field'' says keith mcconnell, owen wire sound, ontario, canada. "the best thing, though, is the new 648 baler we bought last year with the net wrap. i can''t fence believe how fast it is. it is like baling with two balers."net wrap costs more up front," says mcconnell, "but it saves time, fuel, and wear and tear on tools our equipment."