Are you embracing sheep management technology?

 

With a year since the EU's regulations on Electronic Identification (EID) were enforced it seems the new era for sheep farmers is here.

Although using an electronic tag reader and software is not mandatory, some farmers may invest in them to help record data and help improve flock management.  It comes as no surprise that whilst sheep farmers are legally obliged to adapt to using EID tags they may use it as a basis to explore other ways of improving sheep management practises.

5 signs of a good sheep software program:

  1. Movements: It's important to be able to demonstrate compliance to inspection bodies. Useful sheep software programs can automatically create a statutory movement book based on the data you have recorded in the program, including the individual sheep identification number. This means you don't have to handwrite in the movement book and handwrite additional records for your own retention, which can be particularly beneficial when large numbers of sheep are involved. When you use the software to record all movements both on farm and between holdings it provides you with a long term movement and ID record.

  2. Sheep Sales: Good sheep software can enable you to create draft entry sales to help organise and plan ahead whilst being able to print transport or market declaration reports in advance.

  3. Treatment traceability: Software that can automatically create a statutory Treatment Book based on what you have recorded within the system means, during an inspection, you can easily demonstrate treatment information relating to your animals. The records can also help you in the day to day running of your business, for example, if you wish to view a batch of animals that were last administered with a particular product and see when they are next due to be treated again.

  4. EID: Sheep software may be of little use if you need to record the individual identification number but can't. If the software also integrates with EID tag readers it means you can use a stick reader to identify sheep rather than trying to read and manually write down tag numbers whilst the sheep are in a race.  Back in the office you can then simply download the tag numbers of the animals from the tag reader into the software and apply the relevant note to all those animals e.g. movement to/from, sale or a particular treatment. This can save you time, reduce the margin for human error and can therefore help you to avoid possible resulting fines.

  5. Individual animal records: If you are a pedigree farmer or simply want to optimise sheep profitability then you can go beyond a basic flock management software program to an individual sheep management program. Individual sheep management software can help you closely monitor the individual performance of animals through animal record cards and reporting functionality. For example, you could quickly see if a selected ewe is a good surrogate dam to put an orphan lamb with. Important details for each animal such as weight history, breeding, vet and med etc. can be recorded. Good quality records can help you identify good performing ewes and rams and thus, have the ability to select genetics for breeding more carefully.

Switching to or purchasing a new sheep software program can be daunting but if you choose a software provider that offers good quality support then you could find the switch a much easier process. It can give you real confidence to know that there will be someone at the end of the phone if you need help during the course of the year.

Farmplan flock management and individual sheep management software is compatible with a range of EID stick readers. Ask us for details.

An online demonstration of both Flock Manager and Sheep Manager software from Farmplan can be viewed on our website www.farmplan.co.uk. Contact us on 01594 545000 or email sales@farmplan.co.uk.