Local cattle producers looking to streamline their herd management can now preorder the 2027 "Redbook" through the Howell County Extension Center.
The pocket-sized record books cost $8 each and must be ordered before Aug. 21. The books are expected to arrive at the extension office for pickup around the second week of November.
Produced by the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, the Redbook allows producers to securely store vital herd information while out in the field. The calf information section provides space for about 425 entries, with dedicated boxes for cow identification, calf ID, birth date, birth weight, sex and calving ease.
The book also includes a calendar section so it can be used as a daily planner, along with designated spaces to track pasture usage, artificial insemination breeding records, and herd health and treatment records.
Beyond daily data storage, the Redbook serves as a quick educational reference tool. It includes guides for calving ease scores, body condition scores, calf death loss scores, international year/letter codes for animal ID, Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) best practices and a gestation table.
While the Redbook is a convenient tool for the pasture, MU Extension specialists advise against using it as a standalone recordkeeping system. Producers are highly encouraged to regularly transfer their collected data into an Excel spreadsheet or another electronic format. This allows for deeper herd analysis and prevents total data loss if the physical book is damaged or misplaced.
The books are distributed to MU Extension centers through a partnership between the University of Missouri and the Missouri Show-Me Select Replacement Heifer Program.
Supplies are limited. To pre-order a 2027 Redbook, contact the Howell County Extension Center at 417-274-1662 before Aug. 21.
