You can utilize the best technology when running your dairy farm by using dairy business software. But as with any piece of software, it is imperative to stay up-to-date with any changes in its numerous facets. If there is an update to a specific area of the program, then you need to know about it, especially if it can help your dairy business be more efficient.

If you own a large herd of cows, then it's best to use dairy record software programs, as it can help keep track of every aspect about each bovine. Consider the following when investigating dairy software education and training options:

1. Look for dairy industry software that offers tutorials or manuals online.

2. Further your education by attending training sessions on dairy herd management software.

3. Attend seminars to learn more about what type of milk software programs are available.

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

Seek out tutorials or manuals for dairy farm software

Numerous software makers want your business to use its product to the best of its ability. By becoming properly trained in all that the dairy cattle software has to offer, you can learn about the basic and advanced features. Search the Internet to find thorough tutorials, demonstrations or user manuals to further assist with the software applications.

I recommend: MISTRO offers a manual for its Shed software, which focuses on the dairy industry. Read through the steps and instructions to educate yourself on all the cow software program features. The University of Wisconsin-Madison provides an online tutorial for those learning about dairy-based futures and options.

Locate training sessions that focus on dairy management software

Training sessions allow you to ask questions and interact with others using the same dairy management software. By conversing with the makers of the software, who know what changes and modifications have been made, it allows you, the user, to take advantage with up-to-the-minute information.

I recommend: Red Wing Software produces agricultural-specific software, including ones that focus on accounting and production. The company offers training sessions all over the country, so you can find a time that works best for your location and schedule. VetCheck is a dairy herd management software program that features production, health and reproduction assessments of each bovine. It offers three types of classes and encourages users to contact its offices for a list of scheduled training sessions.

Visit seminars or conferences to learn about changes to dairy computer systems

Seminars and conferences are usually hosted by prestigious associations and organizations associated with the industry. In this case, the dairy software industry has its best of the best attend some of the country's top agricultural conferences. By attending these, you can learn about features of the software that can benefit your business.

I recommend: The World Ag Expo began in 1968 and currently occurs annually. At this event, you can visit the best in the agricultural industry, including those in the dairy business software business. The National Dairy Leaders Conference allows visitors a chance to mingle with others in the industry and talk with dairy cattle software producers.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  You could also check out universities and colleges to see if they offer classes on dairy industry software. Some of the larger schools that offer dairy science degrees might even feature online classes so you can learn about software from the comforts of home.

Keep track of the many facets of your dairy business with dairy industry software. It is imperative to organize dates, times, schedules, and deliveries when in the dairy farm business and dairy cattle software can improve your efficiency by having all the data easily accessible and in one location.

Dairy software offers quite a few benefits, including the accessibility by more than one person to see if all details for dairy farm management have been addressed. Dairy herd management software can be accessible via Web, desktop or laptop, or by a handheld unit.

1. Dairy farm software improves farm profitability by organizing information and providing reports for decision making.

2. Handheld, or pocket, units loaded with dairy cattle software makes scanning cows fast and accurate.

3. Human error can be significantly reduced by using dairy management software to keep track of large amounts of data.

Action Steps
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Test drive dairy software before purchasing

It always pays to shop around, so if you can try any dairy industry software packages to see what options are available it will give you valuable insight. All software will have similarities, but it's the differences which will matter most. Find what fits your dairy farm management needs and keep in mind that demo software generally doesn't have all options activated.

I recommend: Download a free trail of Vampp Dairy Management Software to see if this software fulfills all your dairy management needs. Farmworks Software offers a variety of downloadable demos for you to try on for size.

Increase profits with dairy management, free downloads or free trial use software

The features required in any milk software or cow software can depend on the size of your dairy farm. A small operation might not need web-based software because all business is local. A large operation which includes several farms may find online access beneficial.

I recommend: The Dairy Cattle Software section of the Maryland Dairy Decision Support System Software Collection lists links to various software resources for dairy producers. Herd-Pro Software offers a free 60-day fully-functioning demo via download or CD, with the option to use a freeware edition longterm for no fee.

Round 'em up with dairy herd management software

Every dairy is managed differently, so you need to find dairy management software that fulfills or adapts to your particular requirements. Finding dairy business software developed by professionals in the dairy or agriculture field will be most useful.

I recommend: DairyCOMP 305, offered by Valley Ag Software, keeps track of all cow information including reproduction and health. DairyQuest is friendly and affordable modern technology for your dairy herd management needs.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Dairy record software, like most software, will change and grow over time. Keep upgrade options in mind when shopping and consider whether you want to pay for the first version of a brand new product, or if you'd rather have the latest version of a product that has been around for many years.

Keeping tabs on every aspect of dairy farming can be a challenging task. There are large quantities of information to compile, keep track of and update daily. From keeping track of the amount of milk that each cow produces to determining the quantity of feed required to make the business cost-effective, software can help your dairy farm run more smoothly. So before you plunk down hundreds of dollars on new software, you should know some common dairy software lingo.

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Automated Milk Recording System

The Automated Milk Recording System contains milk meters to capture the weight of the milk taken from cows while in the parlor. These systems often work in correlation with dairy software programs.

I recommend: Learn what typical dairy software works well with the Automated Milk Recording System at the Vermont DHIA.

PCDART

PCDART is short for Personal Computer Direct Access to Records by Telephone. This piece of software was designed by Dairy Records Management Systems to help keep track of individual and herd records. This is used by dairy consultants, DHIA technicians and dairy producers.

I recommend: Learn more about the benefits of using the PCDART at the Lancaster DHIA.

Pocket Diary

This is a pocket-sized herd management software developed by Dairy Records Management Systems. Used with handheld organizers, this software is comparable to PCDART, but it also offers extra features.

I recommend: Learn more about the Pocket Diary at NC State University and its Perspectives On Line magazine.

Ration or feed formulation software

In addition to keeping track of the milk supply, dairy software can keep tabs on the amount of feed given to cattle. This is effective in knowing exactly how much you need to spend to provide an adequate amount of grain.

I recommend: Learn more about feed-formulated software at Central Valley Nutritional Associates.

Heifer management software

In addition to keeping track of milk output and feed provisions, you should know the status of your heifers. When should they produce their first offspring, when are they due for vaccinations or what are their current weights and heights?

I recommend: Learn more about heifer management software at ProfitSource.

Dairy Records Processing Center (DRPC)

The Dairy Records Processing Center creates a compiled report for you, the dairy provider, based on test-day data from your dairy software. You should make sure that the software you purchase works well with the DRPC. The reports produced can show averages or other records for individual cows or the entire herd.

I recommend: Visit the Dairy Records Management Systems site, and click on the "Background" tab to learn more about the DRPC.

Dairy management software can help you manage your farm more efficiently, whether you need to streamline your accounting practices, monitor your animals' health and reproduction, track dairy production and sales, or all of the above. The program you choose should ultimately depend on your farm's needs — in other words, the "best" dairy management software will be the one that helps you earn more profit.

The software you pick should also be relatively easy for you to use, and should possibly let you export data to the other software programs you use to manage your operations. There are many resources for farmers who are new to software, or who are ready for an upgrade. Reliable dairy software advice and ratings include information from:

1. University extensions that offer advice on choosing software, as well as some free programs.

2. Trade magazines for dairy farmers that report on new developments in cow software and milk software.

3. The dairy business software developers themselves — request a proposal to find out what a program can do for your farm.

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

Visit university extensions for advice on choosing and using dairy cattle software

Many state universities offer resources on livestock production to the public, free of charge. In addition to information on choosing a dairy program, many university extension services have developed spreadsheets and calculators based on the school's research.

I recommend: Penn State has an article on what to look for in farm management software, as well as advice on choosing a recordkeeping system. Montana State University has a number of downloads for dairy farmers that can help them budget costs, including the cost of wintering animals, the cost of grass feeding, and hay costs that affect cow calf profitability. Washington State University also has risk assessment and budgeting tools for dairy farmers.

Read industry publications to find out more about dairy industry software

As you read trade mags for dairy farmers, you'll get a good idea of what dairy software is capable of and its limitations. You might also find some information on the drawbacks of using a particular software title.

I recommend: AgricultureOnline has a product gallery of some popular dairy herd management software programs, with screenshots of the programs and short reviews. The publication also reports on new developments in dairy software, and sometimes interviews the farmers who use it. Dairy Today reviews new and innovative software products. Dairy Herd Management has advice on choosing accounting software.

Request information from dairy business software vendors

Implementing new software is a big deal. In addition to purchase and setup costs, software will also change how you do business day to day. No matter what a review says, research the product, get a software demo, talk to a representative, and review the program yourself before you make any decisions.

I recommend: Forbes has a directory of over 100 farm management software programs. It allows users to filter the listings by feature, and has a feature that lets buyers submit information requests to multiple vendors. Farm Net Services, a web resource for the ag industry, maintains a dairy software directory, as does AgSites.com.