Ryan Vos

For six generations, cattle have been at the center of the Vos family operation. What started in 1876 with land purchased from the railroad has grown into a multigenerational family business driven by data, technology and a commitment to continue this legacy.

“Cattle have always been a huge part of our operation,” Ryan says. “My dad grew the operation, and now it’s on us to keep that going for the next generation.”

Today, Ryan and his family feed roughly 3,000 head of cattle per year, balancing cattle feeding with grain farming, cow-calf and hog operations, and off-farm responsibilities at Vos Cattle Co. near Hadley, Minnesota. For Ryan, who works a morning radio job before heading to the feedlot, efficiency isn’t optional and technology is essential to keep everything running smoothly.

Finding the Value in Hands-on Cattle Feeding

Ryan prefers cattle over crops for one main reason: control.

“With cattle, it's hands-on every single day. The feed and management decisions I make directly impact the outcome,” he explains. “When you see your breakeven and you’re above it, you know you did it right.”

That connection between decisions and outcomes pushed Ryan to look for better tools to manage data and improve profitability. 

From Paper Records to Real-Time Data

Before adopting Performance Beef, recordkeeping was manual and time-consuming.

“It was atrocious,” Ryan admits. “I had notes everywhere, and at the end I had to add everything up by hand. One closeout would take three hours and I’d still have something wrong.”

That inefficiency cost more than time. Ryan found himself missing opportunities and sacrificing family time just to crunch numbers.

Switching to Performance Beef changed everything.

“Now a closeout takes a few minutes instead of three hours,” he says.

Like many family operations, the Vos farm spans multiple generations and comfort levels with technology. Ryan’s father embraced the change quickly. Even their hired hand who still uses a flip phone adapted with ease.

Making Better Decisions, Faster

With the right data at his fingertips, Ryan can adjust feed rations, track costs and monitor performance from his phone whether he’s at the radio station, in the field or on vacation.

“If my hired guy calls and says a bunk is cleaned up, I can make adjustments right from my phone,” he explains. “I’m catching problems as they happen instead of after the cattle are gone.”

When it comes to Performance Beef, managing animal health is just as important as nutrition. Proper health management allows producers to make informed decisions, monitor treatment history, avoid drug interactions and track withdrawal dates of an animal.

“I think utilizing the health side of Performance Beef is super, super important," Ryan says. “I can look back and see that tag number 146 had these shots and you can save a calf's life.” With real-time data on performance and health, Ryan can make smarter marketing decisions.

“You can see exactly what you need to sell cattle at or better than breakeven,” Ryan says. “If you’re in the green, the banker’s happy.”

In today’s volatile market, guessing isn’t an option.

“If you’re guessing, you’re wrong,” Ryan says. “You need good information in (Performance Beef) to get good information out.”

With accurate closeouts and easy to use cattle management software, Ryan can bid more aggressively on high-performing cattle, identify underperforming groups and protect margins. 

A Tool and a Lifeline

For Ryan, Performance Beef is more than software. It’s a core part of the operation.

“This tool becomes more than just a tool, it becomes a lifeline,” he says. “It helps you protect your breakevens and make smart marketing decisions.”

He also values the support behind the platform.

“When you call, you talk to a real person,” he says. “They’re looking at your account, diagnosing the problem and helping you get back to work immediately.”