Ranch Smart: A 140-Year-Old Texas Ranch Finds a Modern Edge

At WTO Ranch in Westhoff, Texas, nearly 150 years of ranching history now sit alongside modern record keeping. Today, ranch manager Mike Diehl uses a livestock management app to track cattle performance, manage pasture movements, and keep accurate records right from the field.

Founded in the 1880s, the ranch carries the 746 brand in honor of its original founder, born in July 1846. Over the generations, the operation has adapted to major changes in Texas agriculture while keeping its ranching roots firmly intact.

WTO Ranch combines a long ranching legacy with modern livestock record keeping.

A working Texas ranch built on tradition

WTO Ranch runs a Brangus cow-calf herd of around 150 to 200 head. The cattle are managed in a practical system built around pasture, herd health, and careful observation.

While much of daily ranch life still depends on instinct, experience, and routine, Mike needed a better way to capture important information while he was actually out working cattle.

From the desktop to the pasture

Before switching, Mike relied on herd software that only worked from a desktop computer. That meant making notes in the field and entering them later, often after a long day.

With Herdwatch, that changed immediately. Instead of waiting until he got back to the house, he could record calvings, treatments, pasture moves, and body condition scores in real time.

That shift gave the ranch faster, more accurate records and reduced the risk of missing important details.

Managing through drought with better information

In a region dealing with three straight years of drought, timing and detail matter. Herdwatch gives Mike quick access to information that helps him make better decisions around feed, pasture use, and herd condition.

He can review body condition scores from previous checks, see when cattle were last moved, and track how grazing decisions are affecting herd performance.

Real-time records help Mike manage pasture, body condition, and herd health more effectively.

Health records ready when needed

WTO Ranch works cattle twice a year. In March, cows are run through for fly control and pour-on wormer, while calves are vaccinated and bull calves are castrated.

Because Mike records everything directly on his phone, he always has a full health and performance history available for every animal.

That makes herd management smoother and ensures records are ready whenever needed.

Recording information in the pasture helps keep cattle records accurate and up to date.

Built for modern ranching

For Mike, the biggest advantage is simple: the information is always with him. He does not need to wait until the end of the day or head back to a desktop computer.

On a ranch founded in the era of cattle drives, technology now plays a practical role in keeping the business efficient, accurate, and ready for the future.

With better records and faster access to information, WTO Ranch is blending tradition with the kind of tools modern ranchers actually need.