Flexibility
A few
or many of the variables presented in this record system may
be used for a specific herd. Most variables are optional
and some can be customized to a individual herd specification.
It is possible to begin using this program with minimal herd
data and add to it as the information grows.
Just
as cows are the heart of a good cow-calf enterprise, the records
are the core of the CowCalf5 program. The cow record is
divided into four categories: Permanent Dam, Yearling
(Replacement) Heifer, Yearly Production, and Developmental Calf
(Replacement Heifer, Feedlot, Bull Development).
The
Permanent Dam records are cow variables, most of which
don't change from year to year. Some of the variables
contained in the Permanent Dam information are dam ID, dam birth
date, breed, pedigree, number of calves, average value of calves
weaned, EPD's and accuracies, and dam MPPA (Most Probable Producing
Ability). Additional optional fields are also available
to be customized for permanent data you wish to collect.
The
Yearling (Replacement) Heifer variables can be collected
on heifers following weaning. This record contains information
collected while the heifer calf is being developed and bred
to become a cow. Some of the variables contained in the
Yearly Dam information are breeding, pregnancy information,
next calving date, and dam weights, condition scores, and health.
The Heifer record also has optional fields that can be customized
for individual herd requirements.
The
Production Record is a yearly record where data that is
collected yearly on the cow and the calf she has that year.
Each year the cow is in the herd, she gets a new production
record regardless if she has a calf or not. Some production
information you should think about collecting is things like
breeding, pregnancy check data, weights, and calving data.
Each
of the dam's calves are easily accessible and can be compared
with her previous calves. Some of the calf variables available
are calf tag, birth date, sex, birth weight, sire, health, weaning
information, and value of calf at weaning.
If the
calf is retained in the herd following weaning, then the calf
can be promoted to either a Feedlot, Replacement Heifer,
or Bull Development area. Once promoted, additional
fields become available to collect things like additional weights
and measurements, and breeding data in the case of replacement
heifers.
CowCalf5
also manages bull records. Permanent,
yearly, and development variables are available including bull
ID, birth date, birth weight, number of progeny, calving ease,
progeny birth and weaning weight averages, scrotal circumference,
EPD and accuracies, and sperm data. There are many bull
variables which can be adapted for individual ranch needs.
Individual
records can be stored. Some of the variables include ADG,
DOF, cost of gain, feed conversion, and carcass data.
CowCalf5 supports everything from grafting and twins, to artificial
insemination and embryo transfer.