Cattle management software?

Trying2Prepare · #1 02/19/15, 10:25 PM

Just hoping to get people to give any advice / ratings / reviews on cattle software programs they have used, or have experimented with.
Also, please state what kind of cattle operation you run as well (example- cow calfs, Bulls, feeder cows, etc...) & maybe a rough head count?

Thanks

Awnry Abe · #2 02/19/15, 11:30 PM

Cow-calf. 40-ish cows. Cattlemax. I started using it when when it was a stand-alone PC application. Now it is all web-based. Works great for me. With my lack of organization, I'd never get by with paper. Having the ability to make record changes out on the field using my phone is tremendously enabling.

(Actually, 39 cows. Just checked. I had a few mentally counted as cows, but are still heifers)

carltonkaye · #3 02/20/15, 02:43 AM

Ranch Manager by Lion Edge. I like it a lot! Have it on my phone and computer, you can keep them synced together. It does more than what I need. I have a cow/calf operation. 25 cows of my own and board several others. I believe they offer a free trial to check it out.

Gravytrain · #4 02/20/15, 06:58 AM

Multi-page spreadsheets with macros. The only real downside is there is no mobile device support for out on the range. My spiral notebook works as a stand-in for a mobile device until I get back to the office and record the data.

I've checked into other software. Ranch manager has no Android support, Cattleworks is pretty low tech and outdated, and Cattlemax is minimum $60/year...every year you use it, and that's without calving and breeding data support (isn't that the point of the software anyway?). With calving/breeding data it's nearly double that. If I was a bigger operator this wouldn't matter much.

As a technophile, I'd like to find a more high tech, cloud based method...but with less than 50 cows I can't justify the cost.

Awnry Abe · #5 02/20/15, 10:37 AM

Gravytrain, what are your thoughts on using "google" docs and storing the spreadsheet on their servers? The "with macros" part makes it sound like it probably wouldn't work, but I am not 100% up to speed on goog's spreadsheet apps.

Gravytrain · #6 02/20/15, 12:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Awnry Abe

Gravytrain, what are your thoughts on using "google" docs and storing the spreadsheet on their servers? The "with macros" part makes it sound like it probably wouldn't work, but I am not 100% up to speed on goog's spreadsheet apps.

That would be functional, but I hate manipulating spreadsheets on a touch device. However, I could probably create a macro that is more of a data entry UI or algorithm that prompts you for needed data.

In reality, I think probably it is easier using a good old fashioned #2 pencil and a notebook and then entering data when I get back to the office. If I ever get to the point where I have enough cattle (or pigs for that matter) that a spreadsheet is tedious, then the cost of software would be much more easily justified.

Trying2Prepare · #7 02/20/15, 11:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Awnry Abe

Cow-calf. 40-ish cows. Cattlemax. I started using it when when it was a stand-alone PC application. Now it is all web-based. Works great for me. With my lack of organization, I'd never get by with paper. Having the ability to make record changes out on the field using my phone is tremendously enabling.

(Actually, 39 cows. Just checked. I had a few mentally counted as cows, but are still heifers)

How much does your cattlemax run you a year, Abe?

Awnry Abe · #8 02/21/15, 07:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trying2Prepare

How much does your cattlemax run you a year, Abe?

Cattlemax.com has the editions and pricing. I do the 100-cow commercial edition for $9/mo. I've only paid twice. The first time was when I started with the PC standalone version. It was an application that they developed using MS Access. They already had the cloud-based version at the time, but it was optional. Not too long after, they dropped the PC version. I could still use it forever and pay no more, but as a software developer myself I knew its days were numbered. So I took advantage of their very generous offer to apply 100% of the purchase price of the software to monthly fees. That was close to 2 years worth, I think. I just recently had to re- up. They don't keep my data captive, so I can move elsewhere if needed. What would prompt me to do so would be software with the same basic fee structure but that supports multiple species/herds.

itscipher · #9 02/24/15, 04:09 PM

Keep a open mind.....I have a fully custom job management software that I'm going to release to the masses in the next couple months for a monthly fee of $9.99 to $19.99. It has been primarily been used for service type work. Plumbers, Electricians, Land Surveyors Etc for the last few years. But now I have made it completely custom for all service jobs. Anyway back to ranch stuff. We also use it for our ranch to keep track of feed prices, cows, pigs even send out invoices when we sell live stock with it. But I never thought other people would want to have something like this to run there ranch too. It is based on servers so you can access it anywhere that has internet on phones tablets computers etc. But If you want or anyone else wants I would be interested in working together and get some ideas and beta testing going and build a nice ranch management version too. In exchange you can have free access to the software for a year or so? Anyways If anyone is interested let me know. It would be a fun challenge if there is a demand for something like this.....

randiliana · #10 02/25/15, 05:13 PM

double post...

randiliana · #11 02/25/15, 05:30 PM

First off, we run about 200 cows, and all the replacements, bulls and baby calves that goes with that.

I use, Ranch Manager, a program called BioTrack and spreadsheets.

Ranch Manager, I have had since shortly after it came out. It is pretty awesome, although it does have some holes. Pro- relatively cheap, AWESOME tech support, covers almost all of the basics, really nice user interface, great for sorting through the herd, and keeping track of a lot of stuff on an individual basis. Con- doesn't have a lot of whole herd analysis, not mobile unless you use Iphone or Ipad. All data entry is done one by one into the program, so it can be a bit slow to start up and update depending on the number of animals you are dealing with.

BioTrack is a Canadian run online program. I just started with it a couple years ago. Pros- Very indepth as far as individual analysis, will create EPD's for commercial cattle, AWESOME Tech support, has mobile access available to any mobile device that can open a browser window, data may be added on an individual basis (same as Ranch Manager) or you can create spreadsheets and upload via CSV, which is really quick and can tie into any spreadsheets you keep anyways. Cons- a little on the pricey side, but then again you are getting a lot of bang for your buck. But once again, it doesn't do a lot of the whole herd analysis that I want.

Spreadsheets, I have been using them forever, I am becoming much more knowledgeable about creating formulas and evaluating my own data. Pros- about as cheap as you will find, you can evaluate any and everything you might want. Great for keeping 'paper' records. Cons- you need some knowledge of how to create formulas, and some formulas get pretty involved.

I like all 3 programs that I use, and probably will continue to use them. They all have their place, and depending on what you are wanting them to do any one of them may be suitable.