The "Average" Trap in Feedlot Management
Imagine running a marathon where the fastest runner has to hold hands with the slowest runner. The fast runner gets frustrated, the slow runner gets exhausted, and nobody wins.
This is exactly what happens in a feedlot pen when you don't use Lot Sorting(called Lot Transfer in FLS Cloud).
In any group of cattle—even "uniform" loads—you have variation. Some gain weight like rocket ships; others lag behind. Some are ready for market today; others need 60 more days on feed. When you treat them all as one "average" group, you overfeed the heavy ones (wasting money) and underfeed the light ones (losing potential).
The solution? Precision Lot Sorting (also known as Lot Transfer).
We are excited to highlight the improved Lot Transfer feature in FLS Cloud. It’s not just a data entry screen; it’s a strategic tool designed to help you "un-mix" the pot and maximize profit on every head.
What is Lot Sorting / Lot Transfer?
Simply put, it is the process of splitting a group of cattle (a Lot) based on performance, weight, or health status, and moving them into new, separate Lots or Pens under the same ownership.
Why do it?
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Marketing Precision: Sell heavy cattle now to lock in profits, while keeping lighter cattle on feed to reach their potential.
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Cost Accuracy: Stop averaging your costs. Know exactly what it cost to feed the "leaders" vs. the "laggards."
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Better Rations: You can move sorted cattle onto different rations (e.g., a "finisher" for the heavy group and a "grower" for the lights).
How FLS Cloud Makes It Painless
Historically, sorting cattle meant a nightmare of spreadsheets. How much feed cost goes with them? What is their new breakeven? Did I mess up the head count?
FLS Cloud handles the heavy lifting for you. Here is the workflow:
1. Select Your Source & Destination
Navigate to Cattle > Lot Transfers.
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Choose your Source Lot (the group you are sorting from).
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Choose your Destination Lot (where the sorted animals are going).
2. Pick Your Cattle
This is where the magic happens. You don't have to guess.
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FLS Cloud shows you every individual animal in the pen.
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You can select animals by Electronic ID (EID), visual tag, or even weight class if you have scale data.
3. Preview the Economics
Before you commit, FLS Cloud gives you a "financial crystal ball."
The Preview Screen calculates the new reality for both groups:
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Head Count: Updated instantly.
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Weights: Total and Average weights are recalculated.
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Financials: Feed, Yardage, and Medical costs are proportionally transferred. You see the New Breakeven for both the source and destination lots immediately.
4. Confirm & Done
Click Submit. The system moves the animals, transfers their historical costs, and updates your inventory. Your financial reports are now razor-sharp accurate.
Why This Matters for Your Bottom Line
For the Manager: You get actionable data. You can see which genetics perform best and which feeding strategies yield the highest ROI.
For the Owner/Investor: Transparency. You aren't giving them a "guesstimate" on their cattle's performance; you're giving them precise, auditable data.
For the Cattle: Better welfare. Animals are fed according to their actual needs, reducing health issues from sub-optimal nutrition.
Ready to Sort for Success?
The Lot Transfer feature is fully live in FLS Cloud. Stop settling for "average" results. Log in today and start managing your cattle with the precision they deserve.
Not using FLS Cloud yet?
Feedlot Solutions offers the most robust, cloud-based management software for the modern beef producer. We turn complex data into simple decisions.
Click here to schedule a demo and see the Custom Report engine in action.
Keywords: Cattle lot sorting, feedlot management strategies, lot transfer software, precision livestock farming, cattle sorting criteria, FLS Cloud features.
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