Farm notebook: seasonal livestock articles

Seasonal reading

• Heat stress: a practical dairy-farm checklist

  Check water, shade, feed access and daily records before heat disrupts the dairy routine.

• Winter feeding starts with forage and water

  Plan winter forage stocks, keep water flowing and follow each animal group with HerdMobile feed and herd records.

• Eid livestock finishing: plan the feed transition early

  Plan feed transitions, animal records and movement checks early for Eid livestock finishing.

• Sheep and copper: check the complete feed label

  Choose sheep-labelled minerals and track copper across the full ration with HerdMobile’s species-specific checks.

• Calving preparation: make the handover clear

  Prepare animal identifiers, contacts, calving observations and a veterinary-agreed newborn plan before the busy period.

• Milk yield and ration: investigate before adding feed

  Compare milk records, animal groups, feed delivery and forage analysis before changing a dairy ration.

• Feed cost per animal: start with measured quantities

  Calculate a transparent daily feed cost using measured as-fed quantities, matching prices and the actual animal count.

• Mineral basics: read the species and the units

  Read mineral labels, calculate daily intake from feed amounts and follow species-specific mineral checks in HerdMobile.

• Body condition records: keep the scoring system clear

  Record the species, scoring scale, date and observer so body condition observations remain comparable.

• Colostrum: prepare the plan and record what happened

  Record calf identity, birth and feeding times, colostrum intake and quality results with dated notes in HerdMobile.

• Drought feeding: inventory first, then decisions

  Review usable forage, water, animal groups and trigger dates before drought turns a feed shortage into an emergency.

• Farm record keeping: a routine you can repeat

  Keep animal identity, events, quantities and money records consistent, then review and back up your work.

How HerdMobile helps

Bring your animals, feed stocks and farm accounts together on your Android phone. HerdMobile keeps your daily work moving offline: record events, compare feed quantities and follow sales and payments in one place. Use your own feeds and herd information to prepare a ration, then keep a backup file under your control.

Continue reading

• Heat stress: a practical dairy-farm checklist
• Winter feeding starts with forage and water
• Eid livestock finishing: plan the feed transition early
• Sheep and copper: check the complete feed label
• Feed library: compare nutrients and dry matter
• Wheat straw: dry matter, protein and fibre
• Why ration matters on your farm
• Herd records that explain what happened
• Farm finance: separate sales, payments and feed use
• How HerdMobile makes farm life easier
• Farm glossary: feed, livestock and money terms explained