Printable animal record card
Keep one animal’s identity and key dates together on a free A4 record card. The blank PDF is useful at the barn, during a purchase check or when preparing to enter records into HerdMobile. Fill this blank sheet with your own animal details and keep the completed record on your farm.
Print at actual size on A4 paper; use fit-to-page in the printer preview if needed. Fill in the single-page sheet and keep it on your farm.
Fields on the sheet
- Ear tag / animal ID
- Business / herd
- Species / sex
- Breed
- Birth date / source
- Purchase date / price / currency
- Origin / document reference
- Notes / recorded by
One card per animal. Record known facts; leave unknown dates blank. Keep purchase documents separately.
Which identity should I write?
Copy the ear tag from the animal and compare it with the purchase or birth record. Write the business and herd used in your own records so the card remains understandable if it is separated from the folder. A nickname may help recognition, but it should not replace the tag. Keep leading zeros and any letters. If a tag is replaced, retain the old reference and explain the change instead of silently making two identities look like different animals.
What belongs in the date and purchase fields?
Use an unambiguous date format such as YYYY-MM-DD and note where the information came from. A known birth date is different from an estimated age. Leave an unknown birth date blank and describe the information you have in the notes. For a purchased animal, write the actual purchase date, amount and currency together. Keep the seller’s document reference on the card while retaining the original invoice or movement document in its appropriate secure place.
How do I transfer the card into the app?
Use the add-an-animal guide and check the business, herd and ear tag before saving. Enter optional details only when you have a reliable value. After saving, reopen the animal and compare its identity with this card. Mark the paper with the entry date and the person who checked it. This prevents another worker from interpreting an unmarked card as a second animal still waiting to be entered. Enter the paper details in the app when needed, then create a separate backup ZIP to protect the digital records.
How should I keep and correct the paper?
Store the card where authorised farm workers can find it without exposing private purchase details to visitors. Cross out a mistake with a single line, write the correction and date it so the original remains legible. Use a separate dated event log for continuing observations rather than compressing an animal’s whole history into one small notes field. Use the card for daily farm records and keep official identification and veterinary documents in their own folder. Back up the app separately after entering a batch.