A buyer’s guide to sheep management software

With the current uncertainty around Brexit’s impact on the sheep sector, who knows what the new year has in store. But one thing that is becoming increasingly apparent is the benefit of combining good stockmanship with data, in order to drive efficiencies.

Like all livestock sectors, there is plenty of information that needs to be recorded for compliance purposes anyway. In addition, data is a requirement for assurance schemes and the purposes of measuring and planning within a business.

Of course, much of this can be done using standard computer programs, but if you want to take it to the next level, software packages are available to help collate information and analyse it on your behalf.

We’ve taken a look at what is on the market for the sheep sector, and asked some key questions to find out how much the programs will set you back, and what you will get for your money.

See also: How to work out ewe efficiency and what it can tell you

AgriWebb

Company AgriWebb

Key features

• Complete farm records for beef, sheep, arable and grassland management
• Grazing calculations – grazing days remaining, food on offer, field withdrawal reminders
• Instant reports – downloadable for cross-compliance inspections
• Weight insights for livestock

Compatible devices

• It can connect to electronic identification (EID) readers and weigh heads for individual animal management
• Supports Tru-Test, Gallagher, Te Pari, PTS and Shearwell hardware

Integration with other software/databases

✅  Government databases: BCMS, EID Cymru, Scot EID, Arams and Aphis

✅  Figured accounting and financial planning software

Cloud or disk-based?

Fully cloud-based

Mobile friendly?

Yes – the mobile app auto-syncs whenever the device detects a mobile signal

What is the basic price and are there add-ons?

Three pricing options starting at £21/month. A 14-day free trial is available

Support package included?

All plans include unlimited live phone, chat and email support. The “Precision” package (£46/month) includes personalised setup and training calls

More information agriwebb.com/uk

Farmworks – Sheep

Company Shearwell Data

Key features

• Recording of statutory information for cross-compliance
• Recording of productivity traits for genetic improvement to enable easier replacement selection by tracking important traits at a farm level
• Weight gain information and slaughter details to include prices and grades
• Feeding management information
• Four generations of pedigree recording
• Scrapie status entry and reporting
• In addition, recording of general field activities such as cultivations, mowing, fertilising, combining

Compatible devices

• FarmWorks is designed for both sheep and cattle EID and links to Shearwell stick readers and race readers. It also links by Bluetooth to most weigh scales
• Links via WiFi to Te Pari drench gun and can be used for auto drafting with Shearwell and Te Pari crates

Integration with other software/databases

✅  BCMS, Arams, ScotMoves, ScotEID, EID Cymru

✅  Signet and Breedplan

Cloud or disk-based?

Disk-based

Mobile friendly?

FarmWorks Mobile is an Android app that synchronises with FarmWorks on the PC. It links to a Shearwell stick reader and allows recording of births, deaths, movements, treatments, comments, groups and tag replacements

What is the basic price and are there add-ons?

• PC-only FarmWorks software for sheep setup costs £375
• FarmWorks with Stock Recorder for sheep and cattle setup is £1,580
• FarmWorks Mobile is £30/year

Support package included?

Purchase price includes one year of free technical support and upgrades. Annual support after first year is £115 for FarmWorks Complete or £95 for FarmWorks Cattle or FarmWorks Sheep

More information shearwell.co.uk/farmworks-by-shearwell-data-sheep

Standard Total Sheep

Company Sum-It Software

Key features

• Comprehensive recording for each animal in the flock; showing all lifetime actions, treatments, movements, feed and weight gain, detailed lambing history, full genealogy and costings
• Activities can be recorded either individually or by group
• Analytical reporting covers movements, flock health, fertility, weights and financial performance

Compatible devices

• It integrates with Sum-It’s Total Mobile Sheep App that runs on its Speedata Hand-held EID Logger or any Android phone or tablet linked by Bluetooth to EID stick readers
• The optional electronic weigher interface module will import weighing session files from Tru-Test and Gallagher weighers

Integration with other software/databases

✅  Sum-It’s Total Starter or Total Standard Accounts modules, so sheep and medicine purchases/sales need only be entered once to update both the accounts ledger and movements/stock levels/costings simultaneously

Cloud or disk-based?

PC-based

Mobile friendly?

Total Mobile Sheep App works on all smartphones and tablets running Android version 5.0 and above

What is the basic price and are there add-ons?

• The Total Standard Sheep Module costs £595. Optional Electronic Weigher Interface Module costs £100
• The mobile app costs £95 for a 12-month licence on one device

Support package included?

Three months initial support is included in the purchase price. Annual support and updates thereafter start from £85 (Bronze level)

More information sum-itsoftware.co.uk/software

Farmax monitoring package

Company Farmax

Key features

• The software allows you to test “What if?” scenarios at farm level
• Grass cover is forecast based off of your planned stock numbers and performance targets. Warnings are built in for feed deficits/surpluses
• Production forecasting
• Financial recording and analysis built-in, with profit forecasting possible

Compatible devices

It does not integrate with any EID readers or weigh scales

Integration with other software/databases

No integration

Cloud or disk-based?

Windows software, data stored in the cloud

Mobile friendly?

No

What is the basic price and are there add-ons?

£50/month subscription for full monitoring package

Support package included?

Price includes unlimited training and support

More information farmax.co.nz/products/uk

FarmIT 3000

Company Border Software

Key features

• Full capture of breeding records, movements, vet and med info, breeding traits, weights for cattle and sheep (deer and pigs are optional modules)
• Comprehensive reports and tools mean data collected can be used to analyse system and be used within breeding programme
• Recording of field activities possible, such as planting, harvesting, treatments and grazing management
• Other features include a farm diary, hedgerow maintenance recording, dog worming information and equipment maintenance records

Compatible devices

• The software connects with Shearwell stick readers, Agrident stick readers, Allflex, Gallagher and Tru-Test sticks
• It also interfaces with all Tru-Test and Gallagher Weigh heads and allows import of weight data and other data

Integration with other software/databases

✅  BCMS, Arams, EID Cymru, Scot EID

✅  Signet

Cloud or disk-based?

PC-based with free FarmIT Online Account for exchanging data and allowing third-party access online

Mobile friendly?

Mobile apps available for Windows and Android with iPhone app in development. Android app syncs with main software and Google maps

What is the basic price and are there add-ons?

• The software setup is £399. Deer and Pig Modules are available at £75 each and an integrated accounts package is available for an extra £100
• The prices above are for a lifetime licence and business-based, not holding number-based, so multiple farms can be run

Support package included?

Annual support fee of £80/year for updates, telephone and email support, and a higher-level support for help with data analysis

More information bordersoftware.com/farmit/

Sheep Manager

Company Farmplan

Key features

• Recording of statutory legal documents
• Vet and med recording – treatments, medicine usage/tracking, drug stock checks and withdrawal periods
• Performance monitoring of individual animals and pedigree information collation
• Recording of events in breeding cycle

Compatible devices

• Compatible with a range of weighing devices and stick readers
• Can record actions on a Windows Mobile device or other handheld device with Farmplan’s animal logger application

Integration with other software/databases

✅ ARAMS

Cloud or disk-based?

Disk-based

Mobile friendly?

No. Farmplan’s Animal Logger application can be used on a Windows Mobile device

What is the basic price and are there add-ons?

• Setup costs £395
• A simpler version is available for £195
• Animal logger application is £74/year.

Support package included?

Upfront cost includes 12 months support via email/phone. Support renewal is £171/year for sheep manager

More information farmplan.co.uk/livestock/sheep-software/

Select Sheepware

Company TGM Software

Key features

• Specialises in performance recording
• Links to various weigh-head systems
• Produces performance analysis for ewes, rams and lambs, including ewe efficiency calculations based on tupping and lamb weights

Compatible devices

• PC-based software, downloadable from website
• Integrated with Agrident EID readers for full management recording and Workabout Pro EID readers

Integration with other software/databases

✅  Government databases: Agrident readers integrate directly with EID Cymru, but not Arams or Aphis 

❌ No integration with financial software packages

Cloud or disk-based?

Not cloud-based but backs up to the cloud so it is available for data sharing

Mobile friendly?

Yes – the Select Sheepware mobile app allows data to move from the reader to the office PC, via email or cloud, without the reader having to be connected to the PC via cable

What is the basic price and are there add-ons?

• Software purchase starts from £250 for up to 100 breeding ewes, with a small annual fee.
• Alternatively, a subscription costs £14/month for up to 100 ewes (users choosing to subscribe do not incur additional charges)

Support package included?

Free support for 12 months. Thereafter, support starts at £50/year for up to 100 ewes unless you subscribe, and this covers the support

More information tgmsoftware.com

AWRLink

Company TGM Software

Key features

• Allows full management recording
• Does not analyse performance data
• Records medicine records for assurance purposes

Compatible devices

• Free to download for anyone using Agrident readers
• Transfers data from reader to PC
• Only available for Agrident readers (models AWL200, AWR250, AWR300, APR250 and APR600)

Integration with other software/databases

❌ No integration with other software or databases

Cloud or disk-based?

Not cloud-based and no cloud back up available

Mobile friendly?

No. All data is available as a spreadsheet .csv files only.

What is the basic price and are there add-ons?

Free of charge and no additional costs or add ons

Support package included?

No

More information tgmsoftware.com