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A brand new data-recording app permits sheep farmers to doc lambing particulars, weights and drugs utilization instantly into their cellphone, at no cost.
The sheep factor is the most recent addition to precision livestock community Breedr’s Livestock app – and sits alongside present beef and dairy modules.
See additionally: Tech Discuss: Breedr – the precision livestock instrument
Farmer centered
The brand new characteristic has been designed with the assistance of Steve Prentice, a sheep farmer from Pembrokeshire.
“There are quite a lot of software program programmes for managing cattle, however there are variations in how sheep farmers assume and work – the worth of cows is considerably extra, they usually don’t have triplets on a regular basis,” he says.
“There are additionally variations in necessities for pedigree flocks, the place every part is recorded, and the extra business flocks the place particular person genetics are much less necessary however general lambing efficiency and weight achieve are key. Breedr can have a look at each.”
With record-keeping shifting to a extra digital format, Mr Prentice says the app can substitute the Defra drugs guide by recording medicines, batch numbers and therapy, for each animal.
He’s utilizing it in his personal enterprise to document and add new lamb knowledge. This consists of particulars on the dam and sire, the start weight and date and information of any vaccinations or therapies given.
In the long run, Mr Prentice says he’s seeking to make higher data-driven selections to optimise flock efficiency. “With restricted land we have to determine which sheep to maintain and which to promote, primarily based on efficiency and bloodlines – with the app these selections are primarily based on knowledge.”
Recording for blended farmers
For blended farmers, Breedr has launched a Professional model of the app, to allow beef and sheep knowledge to be stored in a single place. Not like the essential parts within the app, this improve comes at an extra price.
The Professional model of the app additionally provides customers the power to report key efficiency indicators and to benchmark in opposition to business targets and different Breedr farmers.
Cornish farmer Peter Broad is among the many mixed-farm customers. Mr Broad runs a beef and sheep enterprise in Launceston, comprising a 400-head flock of Mules and retailer cattle purchased in to complete indoors.
He says the power to have a deeper understanding of the information from each enterprises is important.
“The most important factor is that I’ll be capable of predict what number of lambs to promote every week and guide them in, so we’re not holding them any longer than we have to.”
The app can be helpful for capturing the breeding info for every sheep, he provides. “By linking the lambs again to their moms and capturing all of the lambing historical past now we have a clear, easy-to-access set of information with regards to changing a number of the older or underperforming ewes.”
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