Current Report0502 Rev. - CowCalf

1 Of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources Oklahoma State UniversityWCR-32790502 ReportCow-Calf Production Record SoftwareJohn L. EvansDerrick DaviesExtension Beef Cattle Breeding SpecialistExtension AssistantProducers who have home computers frequently askabout the availability of software programs to handle cow-calfproduction records. Before purchasing a software program,it is important to analyze the value of such a system to makingbetter management decisions. Producers should evaluatetheir existing records to determine the types of informationdesired from a software program. Are inventory recordsimportant? Are summary reports of primary interest? Byconsidering specific record needs, the producer is betterequipped to choose an appropriate software package.

2 Thehardest steps to valuable recordkeeping are (1) making timefor recordkeeping, (2) determining the herd information that iseconomically feasible to collect, and (3) summarizing the herddata for use in the decision-making the cow-calf operator is not currently keeping anyrecords on herd performance, a good starting point may besome basic calf crop records, cow information (if individualidentification is used), calving and weaning percentages,inventory figures, number of females exposed to the bull(s),etc. Seedstock and commercial cow-calf producers havedifferent needs. Also, herd size can influence the degree ofdetail that a producer is willing or able to assemble on cow-calf records may be handwritten or com-puterized.

3 Monthly calendars, journals, and IRM Redbooksare a few examples of handwritten record systems. Thechoice of programs, features, and cost of software are the fine-tuning portion of recordkeeping. In the following summary of7 commercially available cow-calf software packages, thefeatures are described under six headings: Cow Information Sire Information Calf Information Herd Information Computer Requirements Additional ConsiderationsThe program purchase costs range from $100 to $ software companies offer program demonstration cop-ies for free. Programs have various computer requirementssuch as minimum RAM, Windows operating system, hard diskspace, monitor needs, etc. Most programs provide compre-hensive cow, calf, and sire data entry fields, as well as herdproduction of the programs accommodate both commercialand seedstock cattle needs.

4 Seedstock producers shouldcheck with their breed association for software packageavailability and recommendations prior to purchasing soft-ware for registered cattle purchasing any software, determine the level andcost of software support that will be provided by the addition, some programs have specific cattle informationthat is required before the program will work. Sorting applica-tions and the type of reports generated may vary, but in manycases producers have the opportunity to customize reports tomeet specific needs. Every cow-calf operator must determinethe amount of time available to devote to practicalrecordkeeping and weigh this commitment against softwarecosts, data entry features, and desired summary provided about the following programs wastaken from a questionnaire completed by a software companyrepresentative.

5 The summary does not cover all availablepackages or individual program features. Programs mayhave other capabilities which are not described in the sum-mary. Producers should contact the respective companies forpurchase information, details on features, and specific hard-ware want to recognize Dr. Sally L. Dolezal whoauthored previous versions of the extension also wish to acknowledge assistance provided byTexas Agricultural Extension Service and The Samuel Rob-erts Noble Foundation, Ardmore, Oklahoma. In addition,authors appreciated formatting suggestions from Tim Daviswith Midwest MicroSystems, Calf ( commercial and Production)Red Wing Business Systems491 Hwy 19, ( Box 19)Red Wing, MN 55066 Phone: 800-732-9464 Fax: 651-388-7950E-mail: Tom BalowCow Calf 5 University of NebraskaGreat Plains Veterinary Ed.

6 Box 148 State Spur 18 DClay Center, NE 68933-0148 Phone: 402-762-4357 Fax: 402-762-4509E-mail: Site: : Dr. Gary Rupp and Steve JohnsonFarm StockFarm Works SoftwareCTN Data Service Software, O. Box 250 Hamilton, IN 46742-0250 Phone: 800-225-2848 Fax: 219-488-3737E-mail: Tony BowersCow Sense Midwest MicroSystems, P. Street, Suite 302 Lincoln, NE 68508-1510 Phone: 800-584-0040 / 402-323-6969 Fax: Site: : Larry Hafer, Sales ManagerCattleMaxCattlesoft, Box 2647 College Station, TX 77841 Phone: 877-454-COWSE-mail: Site: : Terrell MillerTHE Beef Cattle fIRMU niversity of TennesseeAgricultural Economics Service1026 Golf LaneMurfreesboro, TN 37129 Phone: 615-898-7710 Fax: 615-898-7999E-Mail: Site: ~ageconContact: Kevin FergusonCattle Pro 2002-Prime+Choice+Select+StandardBowman Farm Systems, Hendricks LaneCynthinana, KY 41031 Phone: 859-234-2002 / 800-204-2002 Fax: 859-234-2002E-mail: Site: : Harold BowmanPrime-Purebred; Choice-Large commercial .

7 Select-Small INFORMATIONl = yes 8 = no Redwing CowCalfCowCowCattleMaxCommercialProducti on Calf 5 Farm Stock SenseBasicCommercial SeedstockTHE fIRMC attle Pro 2002 Individual ID, Namelll l llll llBreed Compositionlllll8llllBreed Registration #8llll88lllTattoo/Brand Number/Eartag8ll l llll llPurchased/Raised, Cost and Datellllllll8lBirth Datelll l llll llBirth Weightllllllll8lPedigree8llll88lllWeanin g Weight/205-day Weight and Ratiosllllllll8lYearling Weight/365-day/Weight and Ratioslllll8ll8lAdditional Weightslllll8ll8lCow Weight/Weigh Dateslllll8llllCondition Scorelllll8llllHip Heightlllll8ll8lAgelll l llll llColorlll l llll llHorned/Polled/Scurredllllllll8lTempera ment Scorelllll8llllMPPA Scorelll l llll llManagement Codelll l llll llNo.

8 Calves Born, Weanedlll l llll llNo. Calves Held as Yearlingsllllllll8lCalving Intervallll l llll llDate of Last Calflll l llll llProjected Calving Datelll l llll llDays Openllllllll8lAvg. Calf Performance Weights (Birth, Weaning, Yearling)lll l llll llAvg. Adj. Calf Performance l llll llAvg. Calf Performance Ratioslll l llll llAvg. Daily Gain of Calveslllll8llllHeat Detection Information888ll8888lBreeding Informationlll l llll llPregnancy Statuslll l llll llPregnancy Check Datelll l llll llPelvic Area Measurementslllll8ll8lHealth/Vaccination Recordsllllllll8lDeath/Disposal Cause/Datelll l llll llSold To/Pricellllllll8lPasture/Locationlll l llll llEmbryo Transferslllll88l8lAverage Calving Ease Scorel8lll8llllNumber of User Defined Entries12128unlimitedunlimitedunlimitedu nlimited unlimited0unlimited(NA indicates that no response was provided)

9 INFORMATIONl = yes 8 = noRedwing CowCalfCowCowCattleMaxCommercialProducti on Calf 5 Farm Stock SenseBasicCommercial SeedstockTHE fIRMC attle Pro 2002 Individual ID, Namelll l llll llBreed Compositionlllll8llllPercentage Fullblood/Purebredlllll8ll8lBreed Registration #8llll88lllPurchased/Raised, Cost and Datelll l llll llBirth Datelll l llll llBirth Weightlll l llll llPedigree8llll88lllWeaning Weight/205-day Weight and Ratioslll l llll llYearling Weight/365-day Weight and Ratioslll l llll llCentral Bull Testing Informationlllll8llllOn-Farm Bull Testing Informationlllll8llllHealth/Vaccination Recordsllllllll8lPercent Pregnancy Ratellllllll8lCondition Scorellllllll8lHip Heightlllll8llllColorlll l llll llHorned/Polled/Scurredllllllll8lContemp erary Grouplllll8ll8lBreeder of Bull88llllll8lPelvic Area Measurementslllll8ll8lManagement Codellllllll8lNo.

10 Of Calves Siredlll l llll llNo. of Calves Sired Weanedlll l llll llNo. of Calves Sired Yearlingsllllllll8lAvg. Calf Performance Weights (Birth, Weaning, Yearling)lllll8llllAvg. Adj. Calf Performance ADG of Calveslllll8llllAvg. WDA of Calveslllll8llllSemen Inventory8llll8ll8lList of Sireslll l llll llDeath/Disposal Causelll l llll llPurchase/Sale Pricelll l llll llNo. of User Defined Entries12128unlimitedunlimitedunlimitedu nlimited unlimited0unlimitedExpected Progeny DifferenceslllNAllll llBreeding Soundness ExamslllNAllll 8l(NA indicates that no response was provided) INFORMATIONl = yes 8 = noRedwing CowCalfCowCowCattleMaxCommercialProducti on Calf 5 Farm Stock SenseBasicCommercial SeedstockTHE fIRMC attle Pro 2002 Individual ID, Namelll l llll llBreed Compositionlllll8llllBreed Registration #8llll88l8lTattoo/Brand Number/Ear Tag8ll l llll llPedigree8llll88l8lSexlll l llll llDam IDlll l llll llSire IDlll l llll llBirth Datelll l llll llBirth Weightlll l llll llCalving Ease Scorelll l llll llCalving Periodlll l llll llAge of Dam at Birthlll l llll llManagement Code ( creep)