Performance Management

At C-Lock Inc., we provide advanced performance management tools designed to help you make informed, data-driven decisions for both livestock and dairy operations. Our systems deliver precise intake and output measurements, animal analytics, and insights that empower producers to optimize efficiency, productivity, and return on investment. Whether you’re managing a feedlot or a dairy herd, C-Lock’s tools translate complex data into clear strategies that drive increased performance and profitability.

How C-Lock’s Tech Functions Across Species

Tool Livestock Functionality Dairy Functionality
SmartFeed Tracks per-animal feed intake during bull tests, feedlot trials, or pasture trials Tracks DMI across full lactation; supports ration tuning and healthmonitoring
SmartFeed Pro Allows selective feeding or supplement delivery on pasture Less commonly used because of confined dairy
SmartScale Records weight trends to calculate
FCR (Feed Conversion Ratio) and gain
Monitors body weight changes through lactation or transition periods
SmartWater Records daily water intake to assess hydration, heat stress, and feed efficiency correlations Tracks water consumption patterns to monitor health, detect illness early, and optimize milk production under varying conditions
GreenFeed Measures CH₄ and CO₂ to verify mitigation strategies (e.g., 3-NOP) or select low-emission sires Measures CH₄/CO₂ and supports EBV development, LCA (Life Cycle Assessment), and Scope 3 tracking
SimpleScan Used for screening emissions in large grazing animals Occasionally used for benchmarking when full GreenFeed deployment isn't feasible

C-Lock Use in Livestock vs. Dairy Operations

FeatureLivestock ProducersDairy Producers
Key ObjectiveMaximize growth & reduce cost per lb of gainOptimize DMI relative to milk output
Genetic ApplicationBull selection for RFI & methane intensitySelection of high-efficiency, low-CH₄ cows
Environment TypeFeedlot, backgrounding, or pasture systemsConfined dairies and controlled TMR environments
Efficiency MetricGain per kg of feed (FCR, RFI)Milk per kg of feed (Feed-to-Milk Efficiency, RFI)
Emission MetricCH₄ per kg of liveweight gainCH₄ per liter of milk
Trial Duration70–120 days (feedlot or bull tests)305-day lactation periods (ongoing)
Carbon StrategyCarbon credits (e.g., Verra VM0041)Scope 3 compliance for processors & brands

Select Your Operation

Boost Animal Efficiency and Profitability With C-Lock

Maximizing gain per unit of feed is central to profitability in beef production. With feed costs representing the largest input expense, accurate feed efficiency measurement is critical. The best baseline for testing your herds feed conversion is doing a Feed Conversion Ration (FCR) Assessment.

 

A FCR Assessment tracks each animal’s feed intake and growth over time, the assessment calculates the pounds of feed required per pound of gain. This helps producers identify high-efficiency animals, optimize rations, and lower feed costs while improving overall herd performance.

SmartLine Product Combo’s Built for Producers

  • Individual Feed Intake Monitoring with SmartFeed
    • Each animal is identified by RFID and monitored in real time.
    • Feed disappearance is recorded with gram-level accuracy.
    • The system captures both total intake and feeding behavior patterns.
  • Individual Water Intake with SmartWater
    • SmartWater gives daily water intake per individual animal
    • Early detection of low water intake can help identify potential health issues
  • Daily Weight Tracking with SmartScale
    • SmartScale collects partial body weight (pBW) at frequent intervals, typically at water points or choke points.
    • C-Lock research shows >96% correlation between pBW and full BW, enabling accurate estimation of Average Daily Gain (ADG).
  • Automated FCR Reporting
    • FCR is calculated as the amount of feed consumed per unit of weight gained.
    • Reports can be configured over custom intervals (e.g., daily, 28-day, or full trial periods).
    • Enables producers to rank animals by feed efficiency to support culling, breeding, and marketing decisions.

Why It Matters

  • Precision Genetic Selection
    Data from SmartFeed systems is being used in feed efficiency trials across the U.S. and Canada to support genomic selection of more efficient sires and dams, improving herd-level sustainability.
  • Feedlot Profit Optimization
    Identifying low-efficiency animals early enables feedlot operators to minimize cost per pound of gain, improving margins.
  • Research-Grade Accuracy in Commercial Settings
    Validated across multiple peer-reviewed studies and university trials, SmartFeed enables research-level intake measurement on commercial ranches.

Additional Insights

  • Intake Behavior Can Vary Widely​
    Research shows high inter-animal variation in supplement and protein intake onpasture, especially in self-fed systems. SmartFeed captures this variation, allowing for precision supplementation.
  • ​ FCR as a Sustainability Metric​
    Efficient animals not only consume less but often emit less methane per unit of gain. Integration with GreenFeed enables researchers to correlate FCR with methane intensity for full environmental impact profilin

Optional Add-On Systems

  • SmartFeed Pro
    Enables controlled access feeding, ideal for selective supplementation or experimental ration treatments.
  • SmartWater Pro
    Enables controlled access watering, ideal for selective or experimental intake treatments
  • SmartFeed ULTRA
    Supports multiple simultaneous animals in extensive systems, ideal for grazing studies or large-scale trials.

 

SmartFeed + SmartWater + SmartScale is a proven, scalable tool for tracking feed efficiency at the individual animal level. Whether used for genetics, nutrition, or economics, it delivers the high-resolution data needed to drive better decisions on-farm and in research environments.

Precision Feed Ration Optimization for Dairies

Feeding lactating cows efficiently is one of the biggest opportunities to improve both milk yield and farm profitability. With feed making up over 50% of total production costs, SmartFeed gives producers the tools to track, manage, and optimize feeding—cow by cow.

  • Track Individual Dry Matter Intake (DMI) with Precision

    SmartFeed combines RFID ear tag ID with load-cell bin scales to measure:

    • Exact feed intake per animal, per visit
    • Daily DMI trends across cows, diets, and weather
    • Behavioral patterns that can flag palatability, health, or ration issues

    This level of detail enables early intervention when a cow starts eating less than expected—before it impacts production.

  • Feed the Right Ration, at the Right Time

    Lactating cows have changing nutritional needs. SmartFeed helps you adjust feedings based on:

    • Stage of lactation
    • Milk production levels
    • Parity (1st vs. mature lactation)
    • Breeding status

    Using SmartFeed data, you can:

    • Modify energy/protein levels to support peak production
    • Implement transition cow protocols with confidence
    • Reduce risks of issues like ketosis or rumen acidosis

    This is precision nutrition that adapts to each cow—not one-size-fits-all.

  • Identify and Fix Feed Efficiency Gaps

    SmartFeed allows you to calculate milk yield per kg of DMI. This makes it easy to:

    • Spot cows with poor feed conversion
    • Detect hidden underperformers (high intake, low yield)
    • Decide when to reformulate rations or check for health concerns

    These insights let you:

    • Fine-tune your feeding strategy
    • Maximize milk per kg of feed
    • Improve herd-wide efficiency and margins

Real-World Applications Backed by Research

  • GreenFeed + SmartFeed combinations are now being used to estimate feed efficiency without weighing feed—by using gas exchange data as a proxy for energy use.
  • SmartFeed-enabled trials have shown strong repeatability in efficiency traits,crucial for both genetic selection and management decisions.
  • Precision feeding with SmartFeed supports modern dairy goals: greater efficiency, less waste, better animal health, and more profitable milk production.

The Bottom Line

SmartFeed transforms ration management from guesswork to data-driven feeding.

Producers gain:

  • Clear insight into what each cow is eating
  • Tools to adjust feed based on real needs
  • A path to more milk per mouthful, every day

C-Lock in Livestock Systems: Growth, Genetics, Carbon Value

­Beef operations use C-Lock tools to track feed & water intake, monitor methane emissions, and evaluate weight gain—all essential for maximizing feedlot profitability or identifying superior genetics.

Typical Use Cases:

  • Feedlot feed efficiency trials
  • Bull performance and RFI testing
  • GHG (Greenhouse Gas) reduction verification for carbon credit programs
  • Pasture-based supplementation using SmartFeed ULTRA

Core Outcomes for Beef Producers:

  • Reduced feed cost per unit of gain
  • Quantified methane emissions per lb of beef
  • Carbon credit eligibility via GreenFeed + VM0041 (Verra Methodology 0041)
  • Genetic ranking of bulls based on RFI and CH₄ intensity

C-Lock in Dairy Systems:
Feed-to-Milk Efficiency & Climate Smart Herds

Dairy operations use C-Lock tools to measure individual Dry Matter Intake (DMI), track milkyield relative to feed, and benchmark methane per liter of milk—providing insights that inform nutrition, reproduction, and breeding.

Typical Use Cases: 

  • RFI evaluations across lactation cycles
  • Testing TMR (Total Mixed Ration) formulations
  • Detecting transition cow disorders
  • Benchmarking CH₄ per liter of milk for low-emission dairy branding

Core Outcomes for Dairy Producers:

  • Improved feed-to-milk conversion efficiency
  • Methane benchmarking for Scope 1 & 3 reporting
  • Integration into low-carbon milk supply chains
  • Foundation for sustainability labeling and ESG programs

Product Gallery

GreenFeed

GreenFeed is C-Lock’s flagship system for measuring Methane (CH₄), Carbon Dioxide (CO₂), and optionally Oxygen (O₂) and Hydrogen (H₂) from individual animals. Recognized worldwide as the global standard in enteric methane measurement, GreenFeed provides real-time, research-grade data for both scientists and producers.

Using a small amount of pelleted bait, animals are naturally enticed to visit multiple times per day, allowing GreenFeed to capture and analyze breath samples automatically. The system then processes this data into precise emission flux reports—making it easy to track, compare, and manage emissions.

SmartFeed

SmartFeed is C-Lock’s automated feeding and data collection system designed to measure and manage individual animal intake. Using electronic identification, SmartFeed delivers precise feed portions to each animal, monitors consumption in real time, and records detailed intake data for analysis.

SmartWater

SmartWater is C-Lock’s automated system for tracking individual animal water intake and behavior. Using RFID technology, it records precise drinking events, frequency, and duration—providing valuable insights into animal health, hydration, and performance.

SmartScale

SmartScale is C-Lock’s advanced weighing system designed to automatically capture individual animal weights with precision and minimal stress. Using RFID technology, animals are identified and weighed as they pass over the scale, allowing for continuous, hands-free data collection.

Acronym Glossary

AcronymDefinition
ADGAverage Daily Gain – how much weight an animal gains per day
CH₄Methane – a greenhouse gas produced via enteric fermentation in ruminants
CO₂Carbon Dioxide – another key GHG used in metabolic monitoring
DMIDry Matter Intake – total feed consumed, excluding moisture
EBVEstimated Breeding Value – a genetic prediction tool
FCRFeed Conversion Ratio – kg of feed per kg of weight gain
GHGGreenhouse Gases – includes CH₄, CO₂, and N₂O
IPCCIntergovernmental Panel on Climate Change – sets global GHG protocols
LCALife Cycle Assessment – quantifies environmental impact of a product
MRVMeasurement, Reporting, and Verification – frameworks for validating GHG data
RFIResidual Feed Intake – a measure of feed efficiency independent of growth
Scope 1 & 3Direct and indirect GHG emissions (Scope 1: owned farms; Scope 3: suppliers)
TMRTotal Mixed Ration – common dairy feeding strategy
UNFCCCUnited Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change – international climate treaty
USDA ARSUnited States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service
VM0041Verra’s official carbon credit methodology for enteric methane reduction