Why should you keep records?
“You cannot manage what you do not measure.” You cannot make sound decisions without knowing how much milk each animal produces, which cows are pregnant, whether vaccinations are up to date and whether the business is making a profit or a loss. Consistent records improve productivity, reduce losses and help you comply with official requirements.
What information should you record?
- Animal identity: ear tag number, breed, sex, date of birth, category and pedigree.
- Reproduction: heat, insemination, pregnancy check and calving dates.
- Health: vaccinations, treatments and illnesses.
- Milk: daily and periodic yield.
- Feeding: ration and feed records.
- Finances: income from milk and sales, and expenses such as feed, medicine and labour.
The limitations of paper records
A paper notebook is inexpensive, but it can be lost or damaged, is difficult to search, cannot provide reminders, makes historical analysis such as trends and comparisons almost impossible, and cannot be used by several people at the same time.
The advantages of digital tracking
- Automatic reminders: Never miss a vaccination, pregnancy check or insemination date.
- Quick search: Find an animal in seconds using the last 4 digits of its ear tag number.
- Reports: View milk trends, herd performance and income and expenses with a single tap.
- Secure and accessible: Your data stays in the cloud even if you lose your phone.
Leave the notebook behind and manage your herd from your phone
Alprivo-Herd Management brings all these records together in one place, sends reminders, generates reports and keeps your data secure.