iLivestock

Macsky

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Highland
Hi folks,

Is anyone using iLivestock? And if so how do you find it? Don’t currently have any management software, and looking to get going on that front with 700 breeding ewes to cover.

Thanks
 

sheepdip

Member
Location
SW Scotland
My advice would be to think about what you want the software to do. Will you just record the statutory stuff meds, movements tag changes etc, or do you want to link lambs to dams and sires, monitor growth rates, sale values and so on. When and where will you be entering data? The phone won't read tags so you will need a reader as well. A one off payment sounds attractive but it is in the nature of these things that they do need updating and improving, and you are very likely to run into some kind of problem you can't understand, so a support line is well worth having. Don't most companies offer a free download and trial for a month or so? I would try a few out and see how you like the interface and what works for you. Definitely helps if you know what you want to do, rather than just buying some software because its the thing to have and then expecting it to make your life easy. It takes a bit of effort to learn the system and enter the data.

For what its worth I have been using Farmworks for years. Very powerful program, very good support with updates and improvements always coming along. I bought a Psion because it was before I had a smartphone but I can see the attraction of using the power of a phone. My biggest issue with it is that if you don't tag lambs at birth and link them to dams at birth, its not so simple to do it later but I've lived with it so far. Wouldn't rule out moving to different software but I'm not actively looking very hard.

It would be interesting to know why @clover doesn't recommend iLivestock
 

ffukedfarmer

Member
Mixed Farmer
Location
West Kent
I stopped using it when my RS420 stick reader died prematurely and I wasn't going to buy another. At that time iLivestock only worked with the RS420 - not sure if that's still the case.

I am now using Sheepware select by TGM software together with an Agrident AWR300 stick reader. It is much easier to use the AWR300 out in the field than a stick reader plus ipad and also easier to use the office computer at the end of the day to do more in depth tasks / analysis than an ipad. In bright sunshine it is very hard to see the screen on an ipad.
 

Macsky

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Highland
My advice would be to think about what you want the software to do. Will you just record the statutory stuff meds, movements tag changes etc, or do you want to link lambs to dams and sires, monitor growth rates, sale values and so on. When and where will you be entering data? The phone won't read tags so you will need a reader as well. A one off payment sounds attractive but it is in the nature of these things that they do need updating and improving, and you are very likely to run into some kind of problem you can't understand, so a support line is well worth having. Don't most companies offer a free download and trial for a month or so? I would try a few out and see how you like the interface and what works for you. Definitely helps if you know what you want to do, rather than just buying some software because its the thing to have and then expecting it to make your life easy. It takes a bit of effort to learn the system and enter the data.

For what its worth I have been using Farmworks for years. Very powerful program, very good support with updates and improvements always coming along. I bought a Psion because it was before I had a smartphone but I can see the attraction of using the power of a phone. My biggest issue with it is that if you don't tag lambs at birth and link them to dams at birth, its not so simple to do it later but I've lived with it so far. Wouldn't rule out moving to different software but I'm not actively looking very hard.

It would be interesting to know why @clover doesn't recommend iLivestock

I’d like to start with the statutory stuff and be able to add notes that may affect the ewe’s future in the flock at casting, lambing problems/feet/other stuff that may not be obvious at the time. Long term I would like the option of increasing performance recording, parentage would be great but tagging and recording lambs at birth would not be easy, but dna parentage testing may become more viable/subsidised in the future, which would be great.
 

milkloss

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
East Sussex

Bury the Trash

Member
Mixed Farmer
Whats that got to do with flock recording, weighing etc ?

Op , for your number of ewes why not get the shearwell stockrecorder and farmworks software comes with it ..you will get good support as well (y)
 

emd

Member
Location
North
Is there a mobile application in the works for this software?

I was told they are doing something soon possibly an app. They are very good to deal with if u ring and ask. I spoke to him 8 o’clock one evening which is good service in my book. Esp if FA is coming next morning !!!
 

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