Written with contributions by Madison Kovarna, former SDSU Extension Beef Nutrition Field Specialist.
Introduction
In the third article of this four-part series, we will discuss the value and options that are available to you in the form of software designed for use on a smartphone. However, before we dive into this portion of the series, let's recap what we have covered so far. There is immense tangible and intangible value to thorough record keeping. Many producers have handwritten records in a specific year's IRM calving book. An issue that can arise with only using physical calving record books is the collected data can be hard to reference and utilize. Modern solutions are available to allow for this information to be readily available in a streamlined process. Part three of this series focuses on the cell-phone-based apps that are available through an app store. These apps can be convenient since they are found on a piece of technology that we have in our pocket at nearly all times throughout the day. These apps can sometimes be frustrating, not user-friendly, or lackluster, causing a reversion back to a physical calving book. To find an app that fits your operation, the best strategy may be a period of trial and error to find your preference.
Smartphone Apps
Most people carry around a smartphone that can download calving/cattle record-keeping apps. These apps can be either very thorough or simplistic depending on your needs for documenting metrics or making notes. There are lots of these apps available, and narrowing it down to the one that you like can be a matter of trial and error. Below are a couple of examples of different calving apps that are available.
App Store Apps
The first group of apps are the ones that can be found by searching the app store on your phone for “calving book” or “calving records.” There will be quite a few apps that arise out of this search. To help alleviate some frustration or angst with finding an app that works well, look for the rating of the app and the number of downloads.
Extension Apps
The second group of apps would be those that are developed by land grant institutions. In this case, there are two predominant ones: “CalfDex” and the “Mississippi State University Extension Service Cattle Calculator.” These apps were developed with the cattle producer’s usage being the number one priority.
Be aware that some apps have subscription or storage fees to utilize their services. Additionally, some record keeping apps do require Wi-Fi to access them or sync to long-term storage, and in cases where Wi-Fi or cellular data is unavailable, this can become an issue. If multiple people require access to input data, ensure that the chosen app allows for this. Finally, not all apps are created equally, and it will take time to find the app that works best with what is needed on the operation.
Takeaway
The big question with implementing any technology on an operation is “does this make sense on my operation?” It is important to remember that, while you may use an app, it should not be your only format for keeping this data. App crashes are common, and records should be stored or backed up to prevent data loss. Furthermore, this technology depends upon the user learning how to use it and committing to keeping records in a digital format.
