Herd records - Options

The Options page allows the characterisation of the production system followed by the herd.

Assume start of lactation: In dairy and dual purpose systems the days after calving when milk is assumed to start. If not checked, the start milking date would have to be entered in to the animal record.

Assume weaning of offspring: If the calves are routinely weaned at a specific age, this can be checked and the age (in days) entered in the associated text box. If weaning is not assumed the wean event must be entered in to the individual animal records.

Assume end of lactation on date of weaning: This should be unchecked if milk is taken from an animal after its calf is weaned.

Assume non-breeding males castrated: If non-breeding male calves (Br:O) are routinely castrated this can be checked.

Calculate conception rates on services x days before present date: Sets the standard interval between service events and pregnancy diagnosis. Hence, if cows are routinely pregnancy diagnosed by 50 days after a service, any service that occurred more than 50 days ago can be included in calculations of conception rates, because the outcome of all services (conceived / not conceived) that occurred before that date will be known.

Normal minimum period between calving and first service: The user will be warned if any service is recorded for an animal before within the stated value.

- in seasonal breeding herds the non-breeding periods should be entered in the grid. No breeding events will  be anticipated by the program in action lists during the non-breeding period.