There are times when a latex milking glove only holds so much information, or a pen can only take being used like a pry bar so many times before it doesn’t write. Pretty much around the clock, though, having a smart phone on your person is normal. As being such, I’ve put together a list of applications I find useful in the ag world – ones that I use pretty regularly. I do use an Android, so some of these apps may not work in an Apple system. Feel free to send me a note on other apps you use that should be recognized!
1. BCS Cowdition – Bayer’s app for simplifying and standardizing dairy cows’ body condition. This app allows you to save cows and track changes in BCS over time. It will sync with herd management software on farm as well. It utilizes your phone’s camera to line up the cow you’re measuring with a cow silhouette to determine BCS.
2. Breeding Wheel App – this app is mimicked after the real breeding wheels everyone used to use and can no longer find pins for the wheel. You can identify animals, define a service schedule and distribution of calves, dry dates and more. This app also lets you send a file with your animal’s data to another device so that technicians can provide assistance from a distance. This app is also free, and best used with dairy herds.
3. Bull Search – Genex’s app for searching bulls. Directly from the app store: “Search and sort dairy bulls industry-wide from your device. The Bull Search app includes genetic evaluations on approximately 40,000 bulls, including Holstein, Jersey, Brown Swiss, Guernsey, Ayrshire and Milking Shorthorn bulls. Users can lookup bulls by their short name, NAAB code or registration number to view their genetic details and pedigree information. Active bulls can be sorted or filtered by a main genetic index or individual traits. Ideal Commercial Cow (ICC$) index values are available on GENEX Holstein and Jersey bulls. The app includes file export options. Export a list of bulls with their genetic trait details to an Excel or CSV file. The file can be saved to the user’s device, emailed or sent via text message. After the initial download of data, an internet connection is not needed for searching or sorting bulls. Users will be notified when new genetic data is available for download.”
4. Calf Book – this app is more for beef producers and is not free, although it comes with a free one-month trial period. This is the app that I use with my herd. You can track calving data, weaning and yearling performance and generate reports by sire or calf crop. It also can generate individual cow productivity by keeping annual calf performance.
5. Calf Health Scorer – is actually only available on the iTunes App Store (one of the few times I’m disappointed I have an Android!) This app utilizes the University of Wisconsin’s calf health scoring chart to evaluate calf health based on scoring clinical parameters developed by Dr Sheila McGuirk. After scoring calves, the report button will show the data you choose – list to treatreat, list today or today treat.
6. Cattle Breeding Calculator – a free app for calculating forward or backward dates. You can save the dates by animal name or number and view them later, as well as email the calculated dates. It’s a very simple app, and useful for making quick notes or determining predicted calving dates when counting back three months just doesn’t work.
7. Cattle Market Mobile – a free app that has a few great features, including USDA Auction Reports, USDA Commodity Reports, and Market Submitted Reports, as well as Futures Markets. You can also mark your “favorite” auction reports, and the app will send you a notification when there is a new report available. The app posts some news and resources, and has other useful tools such as a gestation calculator and calf calculator.
8. Dairy News & Markets – the latest dairy news and advice from experts on markets and other topics, in one easy to use, free app.
9. ID Weeds – from the University of Missouri’s College of Ag, Food & Natural Resources’ Plant Science Division. You can search for weeds by common or Latin name, or identify weeds based on different characteristics.
10. Instagram – I know, this is a social media app, but there are so many great AG-vocates out there to follow when you need to feel empowered! Some suggestions for you to follow:
- @nyfarmgirls – Right here in CNY, the Leubner daughters share stories daily.
- @seejessfarm – Jessica Peters from PA shares some awesome cow stories, especially on #tongueouttuesday.
- @dairycarrie – Carrie Mess always has great shares about the goodness of milk, from WI.
- @newmexicomilkmaid – I recently started following Tara, a dairy farmer from NM, it’s so fun to learn more about the daily care of a dairy farm in a different part of the US!
- @dairygirlnetwork – Empowering women in all walks of dairy, a great page to follow.
- @Cortland_county_dairy – The Cortland County Dairy Promotion Committee updates with the happenings of the Cortland County Dairy Princess and other local events.
- @nyfarmnet – Yes, our very own NY FarmNet has an Instagram page! Keep up to date on their workshops and events.
- @trinityvalleydairy – Trinity Valley posts mouthwatering pictures of all the goodies they make and sell in store, as well as celebrating Ag and Dairy.
- @nyanimalag – The NY Animal Ag Coalition is a great place to find posts for ag-vocating!
- @thefarmerswife – Krista is a dairy farmer and mom and gets real on both topics.
11. Livestocked – another free app to track herd performance with a business mindset. This app can be accessed via smart phone or computer, and can track herd information, semen & embryo inventory, sales and financials as well as pasture. This app is also multi-species and can track used with cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, alpacas and llamas.
12. Merck Vet Manual – This is the same Merck Vet Manual that has been used as an animal health reference for more than 60 years and covers all species and disorders of veterinary interest worldwide.