‘Blue Print For Success’ (Continued from Page A4l) ketability. It also provides some liability protection. • “But I’ve gotten along just fine with my limited records all these years...” My response may sound harsh, but it’s the truth, “Times are changing and so is the beef in dustry.” To quote from Ken Jordan, di rector of auctions for Jordan Cattle Auction in Texas, “The train is leaving the station, we better get on board, or we will be left standing at the station.” • “So what kind of records should 1 keep, and for how long?” This is a frequently asked question. Most experts recom mend keeping records for at least two years after marketing your cattle. Cow-calf producers should keep them a bit longer. To keep accurate records, first of all, the cattle need to have ear tags for proper identification. Ei ther put your own in, or if your cattle come with tags, they can be used. Observation and sorting are easier and more precise when (j/San) GREENLAND SUPERFLOW FERTILIZER SPREAD AliZZn\ SUPERFLOW SEEDER Spreaders are the most accurate broadcast spreaders in the world. The unique pendulum action keeps the spread pattern close to the rear of the machine while at the same time providing a symmetrical pattern on both sides The pattern allows “back and forth” as wei and around” operation. The “truncated” pi inaccurate overlap problems, eliminating streaking Stop By Your Nearest Dealer and See First Hand Why They’re Worth The investment PENNSYLVANIA Clifford • North East Dist. & Equip. 570-222-9090 Conneautville • Andrew Farm 814-587-2450 Klingerstown • Stanleys Farm Service 570-648-2088 Leola ■ M.M. Weaver & Son 717-656-2321 New Berlmville • Erb & Henry Equipment 610-367-2169 CUMMINGS and BRICKER, Inc. £££££!£ mT I g 100 Stover Drive. Carlisle PA 17013 717/249-6720 Distributed By: you can identify a steer as the blue tagged #123, rather than the black, blaze-faced steer with the white spot on his left rear foot. Maybe descriptions work for you, but how are you going to re cord information about that steer by his description? Your record sheet will need to include the tag ID (in this case B 123), treatment date, withdraw al date, diagnosis, temperature, product used, route of adminis tration, dose, how many times treated, and treatment results. Your records should also include date placed on feed, incoming weight and health status, vacci nations, de-worming and im plant dates and information as noted above. If the packer calls and says there was a quality problem with one of your steers, and the hide is already off, how are you going to know which steer it was and more importantly, why you had the problem? You can’t even begin to tackle the problem with out records and identification. In most cases, the ear tag would provide the packer a way to identify the steer so you would I «p