How to Track Livestock Health Records With FarmKeep
Managing livestock health records can feel overwhelming—especially when juggling vaccinations, weight changes, and treatments across dozens (or hundreds) of animals. But well-kept records mean healthier animals, smarter decisions, and even cost savings in the long run. Let’s explore a practical, stress-free way to track health records using FarmKeep, supported by expert advice and efficient best practices.
Why Accurate Health Records Matter
Proper health tracking isn’t just busywork—it’s essential. As the Pennsylvania State University Extension puts it, “keeping accurate health and production records … can help producers make meaningful decisions while troubleshooting transition cow issues”. Industry-wide, record-keeping is known to boost productivity, profitability, and animal welfare .
The Key Categories to Track
Rather than tracking every little detail, focus on essential categories most experts agree matter:
1. Animal Identification & Core Info
Assign ear tags or unique IDs and record breed, birth date, and sex—critical for all downstream tracking
2. Health & Treatment Events
Log vaccines, deworming, illnesses, injuries, dosages, and vet visits. This supports wellness and ensures compliance, especially if you plan on selling your animal or animal products.
3. Weight & Growth Milestones
Track birth/weaning weight, body condition scores, and growth curves to spot nutrition or health issues early
4. Reproductive & Breeding Records
Record breeding dates, calving/kidding outcomes, and fertility metrics like calving or kidding rates—essential for herd improvement.
Tools That Make It Easy
Paper vs. Digital
Traditional handwritten logs still work—but digital tools offer major benefits. You can log anything digitally, share access, schedule reminders, and run reports.
FarmKeep: Your Digital Helper
With FarmKeep, all key record categories—health events, weight logs, breeding cycles—are tracked in one place. Set reminders for vaccinations or pregnancy checks, collapse reports by animal or time period, and track treatments and outcomes effortlessly.
Step-by-Step Workflow to Stay on Top
- Set Up Your Herd
- Add each animal with an ID, birthdate, breed.
- Define Key Events
- Choose logging events: vaccination, weight check, illness, breeding, etc.
- Log in the Moment
- Use mobile in the barn to track records as they happen.
- Schedule Auto-Reminders
- Set automatic alerts for key events like booster shots or expected births.
- Review & Report Monthly
- Analyze weight trends, vet costs, and health patterns—ideal for smarter management and paperwork.
- Export for Compliance & Vet Use
- Export logs for vet reviews, organic audits, or tax preparation.
Final Takeaway
Tracking livestock health doesn’t have to be a chore. By focusing on key categories, using digital tools like FarmKeep, and setting reminders, you can manage detailed records without losing your mind. Your animals stay healthier, your operation runs smoother—and you spend less time chasing paperwork.
