How do I create animal records?

The most appropriate method for creating animal records will vary with the situation.

  1. Entering small numbers of animals the Animal records option is the most complete method for data entry. Animals records are created then completed for each animal in turn. While it is the most complete process, it is slower than the other methods which are ideal for getting basic data in rapidly. The quicker entry methods, however, all rely on Animal records to enter greater detail about animals.
  2. Registering a herd in InterBeef: In a situation where you need to enter details of all the animals off paper records or passports in to InterBeef: Use Batch data …. Add or amend basic data as a quick method of registering animals with the basic data required. Greater detail can then be entered when convenient through the Animal Record (see 4).
  3. Importing data from another herd management package where the animal data are already available in computer records: Use File … Import to import the data. Discuss with your distributor concerning the procedure that is appropriate.
  4. Entering details of a batch of purchased or incoming animals:  Use  Batch data … Group purchase whhic allows the entry of purchase values and weights as well as the basic registration data. Greater detail can then be entered when convenient through the Animal Record (see 4).

New animal via Animal Records form

If you are entering only a few animals (or editing the data of animals entered via the other commands described above) the most complete method is via the individual animal form

To create a new animal record click the button which appears next to the dropdown box of animal IDs. The Identity details tab is then presented for a new animal:

Enter as much detail as you have/require. Name and number are essential (if you only use numbers then repeat the number as the name). It is also highly recommended to enter a birth date, date of first registration and the sex/type (see below)

Birth date: Enter the actual or estimated birth date for the animal.

First registration: The first registration date refers to the date from which you consider the data for the animal is reliable. If you have full details of the animal then this will be the birth date. Note: For cows where you do not have very detailed data it is normal to set the first registration date to the date of the latest calving. If you put the same date in birth and first registration, it is assumed that you have full details of the calvings and will be entering these via the Parity data and events tab.

Sex and type: The sex and type defines the animal in to one of four classes of animals: Fe:Br - breeding female (or calf that may be a future breeding animal), Fe:Ot - (female:other) a female that will not be used for breeding, Ma:Br - breeding male (or potential future breeding male), Ma:Ot - non-breeding male.

Other details including the herdbook number, breed and colour can be entered if available. The animal record is finally registered when the button is pressed.

If you have entered details of a breeding female with different birth and first registration dates, the Incomplete animal record form will appear as above. You will normally enter the details of the latest calving date and the parity (lactation) number. If you leave these values blank then it will be assumed that the animal is a heifer. Note that you can enter the calving details for as many calvings as you know for the animal at any time via Parity data and events.

 

  1. Batch data : Add or amend basic data
  2. Add or amend basic animal details is ideal for registering a large number of animals (if registering purchased animals see Group purchase)

    This displays the Add or amend basic animal details form:

    Enter the data relating to each animal directly in to the grid. Note that you must enter Animal name and Animal number for every animal. If your animal has a management number (eg plastic eartag or freeze brand) but no name then enter the number as the name as well.

    Eartag, herdbook number and colour are optional values. Herdbook number commonly refers to the statutory identification for the animal so may be long. You can come back and enter these values at a later date when you have more time.

    Birth date is important to indicate the age of the animal. If you do not have the exact date then enter an approximate date of birth. So an animal that you estimate was born in 1995 might be given a birth date of 1/6/95.

    First registration date is required to indicate how reliable the data are for the animal. It indicates the date from when you believe the data are reliable. If you have all records for the animal since its birth then the first registration date would be the birth date. A purchased animal with no history of its former productivity would have the first registration date set at the date of purchase.

    Breed indicates the breed of the animal. The breed is selected from the breeds offered. If an animal is a cross-bred, select the constituent breed and the approximate percentage that each breed contributes to the genetic make-up.

    Sex/type indicates the class of animal. There are two types for each sex:

    Fe:Br indicates the animal is a breeding female. This includes calves that may enter the breeding herd once mature. It is possible to change the class at any time so if an young female might enter the breeding herd then classify her as a breeding female.

    Fe:Ot indicates a non-breeding female (female: other). The animal will not be used for breeding so may be fattened for meat

    Ma:Br indicates a breeding male. This includes calves that may be used for breeding at maturity. This class distinguishes breeding from non-breeding males which may follow very different management strategies.

    Ma:Ot indicates a non-breeding male (male : other) which is consequently being managed for fattening to market weight.

    Present parity: For breeding females it is also important to define the number of the current parity (number of calvings) of the animal. For heifers, where the animal has not yet calved, the present parity is zero. If you are uncertain how many times the animal has calved then estimate the value. Note that this is the parity number of the animal not the number of parities recorded. For an animal that has calved 3 times, the number is 3, irrespective of whether you have details of the earlier calvings.

    Last calving date: For cows, enter the date (or an estimate) of the most recent calving.

    Adding an animal to the grid creates a new record. Note that it is possible to use the Add or amend basic animal details form to amend the values recorded in the eartag, herdbook number and colour fields.

    To view the animal record and to add further details, select Animal records from the InterBeef menu.

  3. Importing data from another package: If you are importing data from another herd management package you should contact your distributor for details of the procedure.

 

Batch data … Group purchase:

When creating records for a batch of purchased animals select Group purchase.

Complete the values in the purchase details group so the appropriate number of animal records can be displayed in the grid below:

Purchase date: The date when the animals were purchased.

Animal ID format: If the animal id is sequential enter the first value. When you enter the number of animals a grid will appear with the appropriate number of records. 

No.animals: The number of animals that are in the batch of purchased animals. As soon as a value is entered, that number of records will appear in the grid.

Sex:type:. The sex : type of the majority of the animals (Fe:Br, Fe:Ot, Ma:Br or Ma:Ot)

Next enter more details regarding the batch of animals in the Origin, Destination and Defaults groups at the top of the form.

Origin: The origin refers to the market or farm from where the animals were purchased (see Origins and destinations). The first time that you specify any origin of animals it will be necessary to define it. Click in the Origin box then select Define New from the options offered. This displays the Origins and destinations form. Enter a code to refer to the place of origin and further details as required

To herd: In the destination group select the code referring to the herd that the animals have joined (WHITE in this case). Lots and groups within the herd can also be specified if required.

Defaults: In the defaults group enter any details that are common to all the purchased animals. The default value will appear automatically in the grid below where it can be edited if required.

Once you are happy with the details in the grid, click the button. The records are then created for the animals in the grid.