In the cattle-feeding business, details matter. For operations like Lariat Feeders, a custom feedyard that’s been a Dodge City fixture since 2017, the drive to deliver exceptional results for customers is relentless.

Mike Miller, manager, and Cesar Hernandez, assistant manager, have discovered that competitive advantages aren’t about the latest fads or short-term gains. It’s about planning, discipline, and having access to innovations that enable better execution across every department – innovations such as Experior^® (lubebegron).

“As we started incorporating Experior into the feed for reduction of ammonia gas emissions, we also found it was a useful business management tool for our operation,” said Mike. “It helps us get organized and simplifies planning by first scheduling Experior duration and then working backward to plan and implement other management decisions. We’re always looking for how we can improve and deliver the best results for our customers.”

For Lariat, that commitment to progress takes many forms: new ways of thinking, emerging talent, and a technology like Experior that functions both as a way to share their sustainability story and as a business management tool.

Delivering Results Under Pressure

“We have to perform seven days a week, rain, snow, or shine,” said Miller. “We’re more dedicated than the mailman.”

That’s because custom feedyards like Lariat have one clear objective: deliver customer satisfaction. At Lariat, this means understanding cattle and markets deeply, as well as making the most of technologies, like Experior, to advance their stewardship efforts, while integrating seamlessly into their overall production management program.

Establishing the Experior duration schedule serves as a starting point to help inform crucial surrounding decisions within the feedyard – allowing the Lariat team to have a well-planned approach to labor scheduling, implant protocols, financial planning, pen occupancy, turnover, and more.   

When Planning Meets Performance

Lariat has been using Experior since February 2024. What started with some skepticism evolved into complete operational buy-in.

“At first, there was concern about the complexity with start and stop times,” said Mike. “But about six months in, we all became believers.”

The Lariat team discovered there was no reason to wait – especially with the flexible duration of the feeding label allowing them to dial in their feeding program targets.

“We look at every pen and establish a target out date based on what we’ve observed as reasonable in recent months,” said Mike. “We then back up to our Experior target days. We plug it in and manage against it.”

This structured approach forces discipline. Experior drives accountability across the entire operation. Lariat’s nutritionist is a critical partner in this process by helping to determine the optimal timing for Experior start dates to create seamless execution from day one.

The impact on Lariat has been substantial, particularly with beef-on-dairy cattle. Mike believes these animals are often abandoned too early, but Lariat discovered that Experior helps to manage this type of cattle, as well.

“In our business, if we didn’t use Experior, we’d look like we’re back in the 1990s,” said Mike. “We're surprised some operations still aren’t using Experior.”

Sustainability That's Real, Not Greenwashing

Located near commercial and residential areas of Dodge City, environmental stewardship isn’t optional at Lariat – it’s a business necessity.

“With our proximity to town, we have to be responsible to our neighbors,” said Mike. “It’s helped us quite a bit. We’re able to point to Experior as part of our sustainability story.”

Importantly, Experior reduces ammonia gas emissions without negatively impacting cattle performance.

“And, it’s a real story,” adds Cesar. “Being able to share how Experior helps us control our environmental footprint matters to our community relationships.”

Peace of Mind in an Anxious Market

The cattle-feeding business has never been more unpredictable. But Mike and Cesar have found unexpected peace of mind.

“We have enough anxieties about markets and weather,” said Mike. “But at least, I’m in control with Experior. It helps us stay on track and is a huge bonus for planning ahead.”

What Sets Lariat Apart: Organization as a Competitive Advantage

One of the most important benefits of Experior is how it organizes the entire operation – from product timing to accountability. By coordinating with their nutritionist in advance of cattle arrival, Lariat knows exactly when they’ll start Experior and when they’ll finish.

Additionally, Lariat is disciplined in execution. They invest in tools and planning, and they have a team led by Mike and Cesar that believes in continuous improvement. Experior didn’t create that culture, but it amplified it by forcing planning and organization of a range of production management decisions related to timing, capacity, staffing, and finances that all must be considered from the day cattle arrive on the feedlot through close out.

“With so many things out of our control, like the weather and markets, Experior helps improve predictability, and that ultimately means we can make better commitments to our customers,” said Cesar.

For feedlot managers looking to differentiate themselves, the lesson is clear: it’s not about having the newest tool. It’s about using every tool with discipline, planning, and genuine commitment to stewardship – for your cattle, your customers, and your community.

At Lariat, a well-executed plan makes all the difference.