There are two steps before you are able to record any data relating to an animal:
Step 1: Create a data file
Step 2: Register details of the herd that the animal is in.
If you are importing existing data from another herd management package then ask your distributor for appropriate instructions as it may well be possible to import the data automatically. Otherwise, this section provides a step-by-step description of setting up a new herd in InterBeef.
From the Interbeef menu select File…New from the menu items.
This displays the Create New Database form.
(Note: It is good practice to store your data in a separate folder from the program and demonstration data files. Experienced computer users may wish to create a new folder off C: called "InterBeef data" and store the new file in this folder.)
Next enter the name that you want your data file to have in the
text box. In this example the herd data file will be called MyHerd. (Note that
InterBeef data files are given the extension edb so the resulting data file will
be MyHerd.edb)
Click the button. The Select
template form is displayed:
A template file contains various important components that will be replicated
in your new data file. These include event definitions, grid layouts etc which
can vary to suit the needs of different users and production systems. Your
distributor may have provided special templates for your use. In this example
there are three templates to choose from. Select the required file or type its
name in the text box. This
template is then used as the as the model for your new data file. Click the
button and your new data file is then created. The main menu will then re-appear
with
in the title bar at the
very top of the screen to indicate that this is the current data file.
You have now created an empty data file. Before any animal details can be entered it is first necessary to define one or more herds to which the animals will be assigned. Select Edit..Herds from the menu options:
This displays the Herd registration form:
Click the button to create a
new herd.
Fill in the identity details for the new herd. The "Data valid from" date is required. Data earlier than this date are considered unreliable in analysis and reports, so enter a date that is earlier than the birth date of the oldest cow in the herd.
It is necessary to save the herd identity details by clicking the
button on the toolbar before other pages of herd data can be selected from the
tabs. Once the details are saved the code appears in the
dropdown box. That code is used throughout InterBeef to identify this herd.
Once you are more acquainted with the program you may want to enter other data relating to the herd such as defining locations, lots or management groups that the animals are divided in to as well as target values for growth and fertility. These are all described in detail in the User Guide.
Click the button to return to
the InterBeef menu.