Rob Thomas

For more than five decades, the Thomas family has raised registered Angus cattle near Baker City, Oregon. What began with Rob Thomas’ parents in the early 1960s has grown into one of the West Coast’s premier seedstock operations, focused on producing high-quality, performance-driven bulls and females for commercial producers.

“We’re 100% AI or embryo transplant,” Rob explains. “We run three different breeding seasons to serve multiple markets and to keep the freshest genetics in our herd. We’ve always tried to be early adopters of technology, whether that was embryo transfer in the 1970s or digital tools today.”

That same mindset led them to adopt Performance Beef – a decision Rob says has changed the way they feed and manage cattle.

Technology that transforms daily operations

Before Performance Beef, Thomas Angus Ranch relied on handwritten notes and spreadsheets to track feed and costs. “We were using things like Google Sheets,” Rob says. “But we couldn’t verify exactly what was being loaded every day. Our bunks weren’t as consistent, and we didn’t have the visibility we needed.”

Now, with cattle software, the team tracks every load, ration and group in real time. The software ensures employees have clear directions and accurate targets every morning.

“It’s right there on the tablet,” Rob says. “The guys loading feed can see exactly what each group needs. They like it, it’s easy to use and it’s one less thing for them to worry about. Happy employees are more productive, and we’ve got 100% buy-in from our crew.”

Consistency has improved across the board, even feed intake patterns have stabilized. “Other than weather, we don’t see big swings anymore,” Rob says. “Our rations are exactly the same every day, and the guys take pride in hitting their targets. It’s almost become a competition.”

Real results, less waste 

Thomas Angus Ranch manages multiple classes of cattle from recipients to developing heifers, each with its own ration. Performance Beef helps precisely track ingredient usage, inventory levels and feed costs.

“When a load of feed comes in, we know how long it’ll last and when we’ll need to reorder,” Rob says. “It’s really changed the way we manage feed and has made a noticeable difference in efficiency.”

For Rob, the biggest value lies in the simplicity. “It’s very user friendly,” he says. “It’s taken the guesswork out of feeding. The people loading feed love it, and it gives us a clear picture of what’s happening every day.”

From hesitant to convinced 

Like many ranchers, Rob admits he was cautious at first. 

“I’d tell anyone who’s on the fence, don’t hesitate,” he says. “The only thing I regret is waiting as long as we did to get on board. Once we started using Performance Beef, we realized how much time and money we were probably wasting before. It’s been a tremendous tool for us.”

From pen consistency to cost tracking, Performance Beef has helped Thomas Angus Ranch continue its long tradition of combining strong genetics with smart management.

“It’s made a big difference,” Rob says. “It’s efficient, it’s accurate and it fits right in with the way we run cattle today.”