For more information on the Herdwatch Partnership click here
To check your current version go to Help and About within Cattle Manager.
Before you start the installation process check that your licence is up to date and that you have taken a backup of your data. You will also need to make sure the program has been closed.
Windows 10 and Windows 11 operating systems only*
*Please note – Windows 7 and 8 and Windows Server 2008 and Server 2012 are no longer supported by Microsoft, and as such, pose a security risk. This version of Cattle Manager will not install onto machines still using these operating systems. Please contact Farmplan to discuss upgrading your PC if this is applicable.
When to Backup will depend on the volume of data that is being entered and individual circumstances. However it is recommended that a portable copy is made frequently and kept away from the computer.
Additional copying will depend on the user – perhaps make a hard disk copy every hour and a web backup or portable copy at the end of the day. But do not overwrite these copies immediately; rotate a series of at least 3 backups always overwriting the most out of date copy.
It is extremely important to label each copy clearly with the exact details of what is on it – the dataset name, date/time and, for example, some details that remind you of the last entry made.
Breeding
Entering PD/Scan results
Adding a twin after the first calving is saved
Open the Dams record card and select the Breeding tab
Now select the Previous births tab and then highlight the 1 Live calf already entered and click Edit calving
Now select New from the right hand side and enter the details as required of the twin, Update and Save. This will create 2 lives calves against the dam and ping up another birth to be registered on the home page for you.
The previous births will then show as follows: 2 live calves.
Assign Dam and Sire
Double-click the calf then select the ‘Parents and Progeny’ tab. Click on the small browse button against the Birth Dam (and / or Genetic Dam, Foster Dam, Sire) and select the required animal then click ‘OK’.
Import Dam and Sire details from BCMS
Click here for more details about importing missing Dam and Sire details.
Entering a stillborn animal
To record the birth of a non-viable calf against the cow:
Open the Dams’ animal record card and select the ‘Breeding’ tab
Click ‘New Calving’ and enter the calving date
From the drop down list available select a number for ‘Stillborn’ or ‘Died before identified’
Both the ‘Current Calves’ report and the ‘Calving History’ report will include non-viable births.
Linking a cow to a calf
This can be done when recording the purchase.
Create a new purchase record and enter the details of the cow and her calf
Click ‘Next’ to move to the ‘Enter Dam and Sire Details’ window
Click on the calf’s record at the top of the window
In the bottom half of the window, click on the square box with 3 dots to the right of the ‘Birth dam:’ line
In the ‘Search Options’ at the top left of the next window, make sure you select ‘Search this purchase only’. This window will now only list the cows purchased with the calf
Select the dams’ record and click ‘OK’
Continue recording the purchase as usual.
Dam not showing
Cows that calve must be in the Breeding Heifers or Cows category. If they are shown as calves or Store/Finishing animals they must be transferred to the correct category.
Click the ‘Entries’ drop down menu select ‘Actions’ followed by ‘Cattle Transfers’
Alternatively, click ‘Actions’ on the List Bar on the left of the main screen, then select ‘Cattle Transfers’
Click ‘New’ and enter the transfer.
IMPORTANT Ensure the Transfer date is at least one day before the animal calved.
CTS
CTS Cross Check
CTS update
EID
Compatible stick readers
The below stick readers are compatible with Farmplan (please note this may not include all models):
Agrident stick reader (including AWR100)
Allflex stick reader (including RS340 and RS420)
Farmplan virtual stick (Psion/Workabout Pro)
Gallagher stick reader (including HR3 but not the HR5)
Shearwell stick reader (including SDL 400 and SDL 440)
Syscan stick reader
Trutest stick reader (including XRS, XRS2 and SRS2)
To select which stick reader you are importing tag records from please go to Tools, Options and Stick reader from within your program.
If you are looking to purchase a new stick reader and it is not listed above then please contact Farmplan prior to purchase.
Check that you have selected the correct model of stick reader within Tools > Options.
You can then read from the stick reader within the Select Animal screen when entering a movement/treatment/action by clicking Stick Reader and then Read Stick.
Please refer to this guide for full instructions on how to complete the Herdwatch Transfer Wizard.
Import
Import weights from a compatible CSV file
To import weighings from a File:
Select Import/Export Wizard from the File menu and select Weighings from the category list.
Highlight Import Cattle/Sheep Weighings from a compatible CSV file.
Click on Next.
Click on the box with three dots located at the top of the screen next to specify the name and location of the file that you want to use.
Click on the drop down arrows in the look in box and navigate to where you have stored the file.
Click on the Read button.
After checking that the list is correct click on Next to continue.
If you are having difficulties importing please check the file format shows with the columns Date (DD/MM/YYYY), IDTag (with either the official tag of EID number) and Weight.
To view a video about importing kill data click here.
To view a video about food chain information click here.
Morrisons
If you have sold animals to Morrisons make sure that you tick the ‘Sold for Slaughter’ box and have picked the correct MLC classification grid in the Sale record.
Create a new folder in a known location on your PC called ‘Morrisons downloads’ or similar
Choose the Beef Carcass Sheet Report and choose to Download CSV
Save the beefcarcasssheetreport.csv file to your ‘Morrisons Downloads’ folder or similar
Within the Farmplan program go to File – Import and pick Morrisons from the list on the left.
Browse to the file at the top of the screen and click on Read. This will populate any carcass classification grades, the dead weight and prices.
To view a video about importing kill data click here.
To view a video about food chain information click here.
Tag bucket
Save the tag bucket into a folder on your PC and make a note of this location
Go into the program and go to File – Import/Export Wizard
Select Electronic Tags under category
Select Import Cattle Electronic Tags and press next
Select the 3 small dots to browse to the saved tag bucket
This will open a screen where you will need to navigate to your tag bucket
When you find the file double click so you can see the path to the left of the 3 dots
Click the Read button, this will bring a list of tags into the empty box
Click Import (you should get a message saying they have been imported successfully)
This should then link the tags contained in the tag bucket
Dovecote Park
Create a new folder in a known location on your PC called ‘Dovecote downloads’ or similar
Log onto the Dovecote Park website & click on ‘Classification Documents’
Choose the date of the sale you wish to extract data for & click on View Farmplan Report. Each sale has its own file so you may wish to download more than one at this stage.
Scroll to the bottom of the list of animals, there is an option to save the details as a csv file, save this into the folder you created earlier on your PC.
Within the program the sale needs to have been entered with a tick against the ‘sold for slaughter’ box and the ‘15 point classification grid’ option selected.
Go to Import via File> Import Export wizard > Dovecote Park > next
Browse to the file at the top of the screen and click on Read. This will populate any carcase classification grades and prices.
To view a video about importing kill data click here.
To view a video about food chain information click here.
ABP
If you have sold animals to ABP make sure that you tick the ‘Sold for Slaughter’ box and have picked the correct VIA conformation classification grid in the Sale record.
Create a new folder in a known location on your PC called ‘ABP downloads’ or similar
Select the Dashboard go to the Full Remittance Report and Export Data.
Save the lot-details.csv file to your PC. A good idea is to already have created a folder for this purpose to a known location before you start, called ‘ABP slaughter files’ or similar.
Within the Farmplan program go to File – Import and pick ABP from the list on the left.
Browse to the file at the top of the screen and click on Read. This will populate any carcase classification grades and prices. If you have entered the live weight of each animal in the sale record it can also calculate the Killing Out %
To view a video about importing kill data click here.
To view a video about food chain information click here.
Installation and logging on
Operating systems
All our desktop programs must be installed within a current Windows operating environment (Windows 10 and Windows 11). With your device running an up-to-date antivirus product.
For more information about our recommended computer specs and advice on computer security click here.
Please contact Farmplan’s Hardware team if you have any further queries on 01594 545033 or email farmplanpcsupport@proagrica.com.
Licencing
Licencing your livestock software (video)
Licencing Farmplan software
Your software can be licenced by going to File and selecting Licence.
You will be given a new screen where you will have your details entered. Providing your Web Access Code has been entered, you can click Get Key followed by Register.
Your licence will then be updated. To allow Farmplan to update using this method you will need to be connected to the internet.
If you do not have a Web Access Code or internet connection please contact Farmplan.
Movements
Entering a death
Entering a sale
Remove notifications (video)
If your homepage says there are Cattle Movements that need to be notified, but BCMS have already been notified, you can clear these manually. Watch the video below for more information.
Entering a purchase/sale without a movement
Purchase and Sale entry windows both have a tick box, at the top left of the first window, to record Moved at the time of sale. Remove the tick from this box if a movement did not take place at the time of purchase/sale. No movement notification will be generated, but the animal(s) will show as no longer being owned by you.
In the case of Purchases, this option can only be used for existing not owned animals.
If an animal is not moved at the time of Sale, you must remember to enter a Movement between Holdingswhen they leave your holding, otherwise they will continue to be shown as on farm.
Wrong animal moved
I’ve recorded an on or off movement against the wrong animal. How can I change this?
Firstly, telephone BCMS and tell them of your mistake and give them the correct details.
You cannot correct your Cattle Manager record
Telephone Farmplan software support on 01594 545022 with details of the error
Backup your current data and email the backup file to farmplansupport@proagrica.com with your customer number and full details of the movement and ear tag number to be altered
The amendment will be made and your data backed up and returned to you as quickly as possible.
Hire bull
If this is the first time the bull has come onto your holding, do the following:
From the Entries drop down menu select Animal Movements followed by Create Not Owned Animals
Alternatively, click on Animal Movements on the List Bar on the left of the main screen, then select Create Not Owned Animals
Click on New on the main Toolbar at the top of the Cattle Manager screen to open the data entry window
Click on New on the toolbar of the data entry window that opens
Complete the details of the date the animal moved onto your holding and the details of the location it came from
Click on Enter Animals at the bottom left of the window
Enter the record for the animal coming onto your holding
Continue through the data entry windows clicking on Next to proceed to the next window and Finish to create the entry. The bull can be viewed by clicking on the link to Breeding Bulls, either from your Homepage or from the Cattle Inspector on the left of your main screen. Make sure the drop down list on the main screen toolbar is selected to show On my holding only. The status of the animal will be showing as Not owned by me and on my holding. Record a Movement Between Holdings to return the bull to it’s home location when it leaves your holding.
If the hire bull has been on your holding before:
Simply record a Movement Between Holdings to bring him back onto your holding.
Reference animals
Remove reference animals
Click on Setup on the List Bar on the left of the main screen, then select Reference Cattle
Double click on a Reference animal to open its record card
Click on Edit on the Toolbar of the record card
Take the tick from the box by Active animal at the top right of the next window
Click on Save
Repeat as necessary.
Select Active reference cattle only on the main screen Toolbar to see only your active reference animals or select All reference cattle to view all reference animals ever used in your records, should you need to reactivate any.
Reports
Excluding or filtering reports
If you are looking to run a report but you want to filter by a group of animals or you want to exclude a group of animals you can do this by following the below steps:
1. Open the report library 2. Select your report 3. Select the required information, for example Sort by: Official tag or DOB 4. Select the group of animals you want. This can be done by ticking the required filter on the right
5. If you would like to select all animals except animals in a particular filter you can right click on the heading and select Exclude. Once ticked, these animals will then not be shown in the report.
Report on homebred animals only
To report on homebred animals only select the required report then click ‘Next’. Now within the ‘Animal Filters’ area right click the word ‘Purchases’ then select ‘Exclude’.
The screen now shows ‘(Ex) Purchases’ rather then the normal ‘Purchases’.
Setup
Management groups (batches)
Category transfer
Management groups (herds)
My program is showing Demonstration Data, how do I access my data?
If your program is showing Demonstration Data you will need to go to File > Select Dataset within the program and click the drop down arrow (shown below in red) and select your own business before pressing Ok. This will then take you into your business.
New breed codes (Video)
Version number
To establish which version of Cattle Manager is in use:
Go to the Help menu
Click on About Cattle Manager
The program version and your Farmplan customer number will be displayed.
From the List Bar on the left side of the Homepage, select Setup and click on Cattle (or Sheep) Batches
Double click on the Batch to be deleted to view the animals in it
To find the linked animal:
Double click on an animal in the Batch to open its Animal Record Card
Select the Life History Tab
Double click on the line recording the Sale of this animal to open the Sale Record
Click Edit Animals
Click on the animal in the sale
At the bottom left of the screen there is a drop down list headed Batch, make sure this says <No batch>
Click on Update to save any changes
Once all sold animals in the sale are not linked to a batch, the batch can be deleted by clicking the ‘Delete’ button.
Treatments
Recording a treatment for a not-owned animal
It is possible to enter a treament for animals which are on your holding but not owned by you.
Open a treatment record card and record the date, product used etc in the usual way. Click ‘Select Animals’ and in the ‘Show’ box at the top change the selection displayed from ‘My animals only’ to ‘On my holdings only’. This will allow you to select not-owned animals for a treatment.
Treatments with different rates
Record the treatment as usual and select the animals that were treated.
On the right hand side of the entry screen, ensure that neither of the two options ‘Enter total quantity used’ or ‘Use same quantity for all’ are selected.
Click ‘Enter Quantities’, select the animal(s) and enter the amount in the ‘Quantity used per animal’ box.
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