Use technology to your advantage when deciding among all the cattle management software programs. You want something compatible with your current systems, but you want software that can give you an added advantage over your competition.

Once you purchase your livestock software program, know that your work isn't done. Since technology is ever-changing, any changes made to the software are just as important as choosing the best fit. When sorting through information regarding livestock software news and trends, consider the following:

1. Log on to livestock management software blogs and websites.

2. Subscribe to cattle management software publications.

3. Maintain contact with organizations that provide updates to software for cattle management.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Share information with others who use cattle management software programs

With technology ever-expanding, blogs are quickly becoming the way small business owners seek out updates with other like-minded professionals. Search for a blog or website that provides trustworthy information on software for cattle management and contains quality posting participants.

I recommend: For software dealing with Texas longhorn cattle, look to a discussion forum created by LonghornMax, a branch of the Cattlesoft company. Cattle Today has its own forum and discussion boards where you can talk about problems, concerns or questions you have regarding livestock software applications.

Seek out publications based on livestock software

Pick a few of the best publications that focus on livestock software programs either online or in hard-copy versions. Some of these providers may offer e-newsletters to receive in your e-mail box. This can keep you current to any changes that may happen between publications.

I recommend: Delta Farm Press, from Penton Media, features a wide range of agriculture-based topics, including information regarding cattle management software. Drovers, from Vance Publishing, provides an electronic newsletter called Drovers Alert. Sent every week, oftentimes there's information regarding updates to business management tools including beef cattle software.

Maintain contact with national-based organizations dealing with livestock record keeping software

Leaders in the cattle industry are an ideal source for any changes in livestock software news and trends. Maintained by a professional staff, such leading organizations receive the latest updates about anything software-related. Stay in touch with these informational associations to ensure you know what's going on with any changes.

I recommend: The National Agri-Marketing Association is the largest professional association for professionals in marketing and agricultural business. Check out its e-news where you can receive updates or search through its list of important dates. The National Cattlemen's Beef Association is the place to go for all things relating to the bovine industry. Pay attention to upcoming events; you can learn about software updates at some of these conventions. Look to the National Livestock Producers Association for previous issues; you can also sign up to receive updates sent to your e-mail box every Wednesday.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Go straight to the source, and look at the website from the supplier of livestock software that you already own. Oftentimes these websites can provide an e-newsletter registration where you will receive updates to the software.

Modern livestock software programs provide a way to interface non-meat animal production, commercial livestock production and ranch management endeavors in a way that can make life much easier for livestock producers at any level. Whether your primary concern is the breeding of homozygous polled cattle, tracking the fiber quality yield of your finewools or keeping a close watch on rangeland grazing limits, you can find a livestock software application that integrates all the modules you need in one package.

As you begin to wade through your options, keep the following considerations in mind:

1. The diversity of your operation

2. The non-animal data you will need to track

3. Your need for mobile livestock software applications.

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Explore livestock software applications for multi-species operations

Some livestock record keeping software applications have modules specific to certain species, which is important if you're breeding for homozygous traits or other non-meat animal products. In addition, if you grow your own feed crops, you'll need software modules that address crop yield, nutrient and fertilizer mixes.

I recommend: Visit the Farm Files downloads page to find the livestock management software best suited to your operation. HerdLogic can handle husbandry programs for llamas, alpacas, sheep and cattle.

Purchase cattle management software from industry leaders and researchers

You can find software for cattle management that has been on the front lines for years. The complexity of cattle management software programs depends upon what you're tracking and the size of your breeding operation. Many agribusiness schools have developed ultra-specific spreadsheets and databases for producer use.

I recommend: CattleMax sells the top beef cattle software in the industry. Also, try Cattleworks Herd Management Software for beef, dairy and purebred operations. Ask your local USDA office for recommendations on university freeware.

Find ranch livestock management software with rangeland management features

Most any supplier of livestock software these days will cater to large-scale ranching operations with options to manage livestock grazing land. Rangeland management software is bundled with ranch management software, which also features breeding management, logistics and accounting modules.

I recommend: Navigate to the Farm Works demo page specific to ranch management livestock software. Contact Lion Edge Technologies for a free trial of Ranch Manager Livestock Edition. Specify which species you produce for a customized trial CD.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Pair your livestock record keeping software with a foolproof animal identification system. If you haven't already, register your farm with the USDA's National Animal Identification Plan to be assigned a location PIN and start a herd micro-chipping program.
• •  Bring your accountant into the mix to help you find the best livestock software programs for your financial planning and tax record-keeping needs. Some programs include complete accounting modules, while others do not take expenditures, animal depreciation or productivity costs into consideration. You'll have to track those in a separate accounting program.

Livestock software is a great product that farmers and ranchers can use to manage their day to day operations. Owners will want to look into livestock software education and training as a way to determine how to track livestock, keep production reports, update health records and more on the system.

Suppliers of livestock software will typically offer training on their systems. Training may include downloading user manuals, contacting a support team or having a specialist provide one on one instruction.

1. Begin livestock software program education. You will want to attend courses that teach you about different programs you can use on your property.

2. Learn how to use cattle management software. Get the training materials you need in order to operate livestock software applications.

3. Contact technical support if you have a problem during the training and implementation process. Your supplier of livestock software should provide free support to customers.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Start your livestock software education

Before you can begin training on livestock software programs, you'll want to further your education by taking courses that deal with different aspects of managing livestock through computer-based software.

I recommend: Through the Certified Livestock Manager Training correspondence program at the University of Illinois, you will not only learn how to manage your property's livestock, but also the basics of livestock software application. Candidates looking for certification can go through the Ohio Department of Agriculture in order to get training on managing operations and learning livestock record keeping software.

Download support information for livestock record keeping software

Most software programs are easy enough to use that you should not require an extensive training period in order to learn the basic operations. Most providers of livestock software will give you free downloads in order to get up and running on the program.

I recommend: Lion Edge Technologies has multiple editions of its livestock management software. Besides downloading user guides from their website, you can also submit a support ticket for any additional assistance. Herd-Pro has a freeware version of their software available for download as well as support information.

Get individual training for livestock management software

For more complex programs with multiple interfaces, you may want to receive professional training before using the software for actual operations. Individual training can help you to utilize the program the best way for your particular farm or ranch.

I recommend: Farm Works has numerous individual training and consultation options open to clients. You can choose to hire a consultant to work on-site, over the phone or attend one of their classroom sessions to learn how to use their software. Longhorn Max also has live support and training options, like video tutorials open to users.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Remember to set up training for all staff members that will be using the livestock software to ensure implementation goes smoothly.

Livestock software terminology can be overwhelming, especially if you're starting a career in the livestock industry or switching from one specific software company to another. Most livestock software manufacturers use similar terminology while offering different package options. Whether you wish to track your animals' production or need to keep tabs on your accounting books, you must familiarize yourself with common words.

Action Steps
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Hotsync

If you wish to upload your livestock software to a handheld device, then you should make sure the software comes with a hotsync feature. You can quickly and effectively transmit all your data from the computer to a PDA, allowing you to carry the information with you to the field or barn.

I recommend: Learn what type of connection you need for your computer to properly submit the data with a hotsync feature at NP Central.

Expected progeny difference

Expected progeny difference (EPD) can indicate the genetic value of an animal as compared to another of the same breed, regardless of age or location of the herd. Purebred breeders report this information to the National Herd Improvement Program to contribute to the breed's database.

I recommend: Learn more about expected progeny difference at the University of Kentucky and its College of Agriculture.

Radio frequency ID (RFID)

A radio frequency ID (RFID) is used to identify and track cattle. Each animal has its own specific lifetime ID number, which can be used for production purposes, to track diseases or to learn more about the animal's history.

I recommend: Learn more about how RFID technology works at GAO RFID.

Lactation curves

If you're tracking milk production, you will probably use lactation curves to plot the animal's milk statistics. Certain programs allow you to plot one animal's statistics over others in order to compare and contrast. You can also monitor previous lactation cycles to see patterns.

I recommend: Check out Herd-Pro Software to see an example of lactation curves.

Single-entry accounting

Accounting features can be an important part of the livestock software that you select for your business. Single-entry accounting requires you to record day-to-day expenses and income. Double-entry accounting has specific spots for debits and credits of the same entry, ensuring that your books are balanced.

I recommend: Determine which type of accounting, single-entry or double-entry, is best suited for your company by learning more about the differences at the Business Owner's Toolkit.

Accrual accounting

Accrual accounting reflects when transactions are incurred and recognized, regardless of when the money is received or paid.

I recommend: Visit Nolo to learn more about accrual accounting and how it differs from keeping track of cash transactions.