Fargo Companies’ New Merger Will Streamline Cattle Registry and Management
In the Fall of 2024, 701x announced its acquisition of DigitalBeef LLC, a cattle registry platform based in San Antonio, TX. As an autonomous ranching tool, 701x, paired with the technology of DigitalBeef, will significantly streamline data flow and cattle management for ranchers. We had the privilege of sitting down with 701x VP of Marketing Sam Fisher to learn more.
701x’s Relationship To DigitalBeef Before Acquisition
Before the discussion of an acquisition came about, 701x was looking for partnerships with cattle registry platforms, a popular request among 701x users. “The motivation for us reaching out to DigitalBeef in the first place ties back to our motto of connecting the customer and using that to steer product innovation,” Fisher said. This feedback sparked the initial conversation with DigitalBeef, and 701x quickly realized the value of how the two systems would complement one another. Mr O Casino Review Australia is an exciting online gaming platform that caters to Aussie players with a diverse selection of games and generous bonuses. With a user-friendly interface, the site ensures an enjoyable experience for both beginners and seasoned gamers. Players can choose from a plethora of slots, table games, and live dealer options, all powered by top-notch software providers. In addition to the vast game library, Mr O Casino offers competitive promotions and a rewarding loyalty program. Players can expect excellent customer support and various banking options for easy deposits and withdrawals. For those interested in exploring more gaming options and offers, visit this link: https://marykay.co.nz/. All in all, Mr O Casino stands out as a reliable choice for Australian players seeking thrilling online gambling experiences. Whether you’re hunting for big wins or simply want to enjoy casual gaming, Mr O has you covered.
As a registry system for 17 breed associations, DigitalBeef collects data from producers and transforms it into predictive tools, allowing buyers to determine if a bull would be beneficial for their operation. “DigitalBeef has established an excellent reputation within the livestock industry and among breed associations—a foundation 701x aims to build upon,” Fisher said.
In contrast, as an autonomous ranching tool, 701x focuses on herd management, helping producers gather data and information on their animals. “We help producers collect the data that they would then submit to DigitalBeef to run calculations with their breed association,” Fisher said. This separation of functions created a gap between herd management and breed registry that was often cumbersome for producers—so the 701x team sought to bridge the gap. Roby Online Casino has quickly gained popularity among avid players seeking both excitement and rewards. With a sleek interface and a vast selection of games, including slots, table games, and live dealer options, Roby caters to all preferences. The platform offers competitive bonuses and promotions, making it an appealing choice for newcomers and seasoned gamblers alike. One of the standout features of Roby is its user-friendly layout, allowing players to navigate effortlessly. Their customer support is also commendable, ensuring that any issues are addressed promptly. For those looking to dive into the gaming experience, you can easily access the platform through the roby casino login. Overall, Roby Online Casino combines entertainment with reliability, making it a must-try for anyone interested in online gaming. Whether you’re in it for fun or to win big, Roby has something for everyone.
The 701x team flew down to DigitalBeef’s headquarters in San Antonio, TX, to discuss how the two companies’ systems could work together. However, it was during these discussions that Dr. Joe Massey, the CEO of DigitalBeef at the time, learned more about 701x’s vision.
“Dr. Massey was very excited, and said, ‘You know what, I’m actually ready to pass this baton, you guys can acquire us and take [DigitalBeef] into the future.’ So that’s where the acquisition took place,” Fisher said.
How This New Marriage of Software Will Benefit Users
The acquisition aims to address the inefficiencies between herd records and breed registry by providing a seamless integration between these functions. Previously, producers had to manually convert data from paper calving books, Excel spreadsheets, or other sources into DigitalBeef. Now with the integration of DigitalBeef’s registry platform into 701x’s herd management solutions, producers can collect data once in the herd management app and easily transfer it to the registry, saving significant time and reducing errors.
In addition to herd records, 701x offers various wearable devices, such as smart ear tags that provide GPS health alerts and other information on the animals. For bulls, the tags offer GPS health alerts and mounting detection, while for cows, they offer similar GPS health alerts, along with estrus detection and upcoming calving detection. As technology continues to evolve, integrating sensor data from these tags will help build new predictive indexes for commercial cattlemen, giving them valuable insights when buying seed stock animals.
With the growing innovation in AI and automation in the ag industry, 701x sees the current and future value of following suit. “Our full name is 701x Autonomous Rancher, and where we’re seeing the beef industry going is where the row crop industry has already been,” Fisher said. “Operations need to get larger and produce more from the land—they have to stay in the game and make it sustainable for generations. So in comes John Deere and all these other companies with precision planters, auto steer, all these tools for efficiency and automation—we at 701x are bringing that to the beef industry.”
Expectations for Current Users Moving Forward
Moving forward, users from both 701x and DigitalBeef can expect to see virtually no change or disruption in the user experience or customer service. “As we head into the future, we’re working on this seamless marriage between the two companies because the flow of data back and forth is what everybody’s craving and asking for,” he said. “If you are a seed stock producer using DigitalBeef as your registry, and there are 17 associations that do that, you’re going to see the same herd management app and 701x that you may have been using. The key differentiator now is that you’re no longer playing with spreadsheets to get the data to the registry and then get the data back. That’s all going to happen automatically.”
Fisher also mentioned that many DigitalBeef users are not yet on the 701x platform. “We are now going to offer that option where you can come into 701x, use your herd records, and do it in the most straightforward way,” Fisher said. “No one else has been able to connect a herd registry seamlessly through an API to the herd management app, and that will be a key offering for consumers and users.”
Acceleration of New Features and Innovations
Looking ahead, 701x believes the acquisition will accelerate the development of new features and innovations—both within 701x and across the cattle industry. By tying sensor data to the registry, producers gain detailed insights into animal health, productivity, and genetics, enabling more informed decision-making and improved productivity. “I think there’s a lot of partnerships and work that we can do together,” Fisher said. One area of interest is tying sensor data points to the registry, providing detailed information about the cattle, including a cow’s gestation period, productivity of the bull, how often the cattle are getting sick, and more.
By tying all these data points back to genomics, Fisher believes they can develop new predictive index tools that do not yet exist today. “These tools will provide unprecedented insights for producers, helping them make more informed decisions and improve productivity,” he said.
Did You Know?
Located in downtown Fargo, 701x designs, manufactures, and ships all of its products in-house.
Positioning in the Broader Cattle and Livestock Management Industry
701x also believes the acquisition positions itself uniquely within the broader cattle and livestock management industry. “The key differentiator this will allow is that we now have a whole ecosystem of products under one roof, one interface, for the user,” Fisher said. “There are a lot of other systems out there that might have just a herd management software, but they don’t have any tags that integrate with it. Or, they might have tags, but there’s no herd management software to go with it.” By providing everything ranchers need under one roof, 701x believes they are poised for strong success moving forward.
Looking Ahead: Plans for Expansion to New Markets and Regions
“The next decade promises to be an exciting time for cattle producers, with innovative advancements on the horizon,” Dr. Massey, who will transition into chief scientific officer at 701x said.
Following the acquisition, 701x has outlined plans for expansion and projected the company’s evolution in the coming years. Currently, 701x services the continental 48 United States. However, in 2025, the company plans to introduce a satellite tag that will enable global communication, creating opportunities for growth beyond the U.S. market. This advancement aims to address increasing demand from international markets, including South Africa, Brazil, Canada, and Mexico.
How the acquisition addresses rancher challenges
According to 70lx, one of the largest challenges facing cow-calf producers today is dealing with open cows (cows that did not conceive during the breeding season), which is often considered the biggest expense in a cow-calf operation.
With the added power of DigtialBeef, 70lx can better address this challenge through products like its xTpro tag, which offers features to ensure that bulls are healthy, active, in the right pasture, and breeding (along with all of the previously mentioned features). By improving bull monitoring, producers are more likely to get more cows bred and have more calves on the ground, later making the registry seamless.
To learn more about 701x and the powerful tools they offer to ranchers, visit 701x.com, scan the QR code or stop in for a tour of their headquarters in downtown Fargo to see how their products are made.
