The data that should be collected as events on a cow by cow basis is: A cow will have multiple records, some of which may occur on the same day.

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1 DAYS TO CALVING (DTC) BREEDPLAN herds may wish to collect and submit DTC data for BREEDPLAN processing. Our advice to breeders is to submit the information at the end of the mating season (rather than progressively as the events occur). The data that should be collected as events on a cow by cow basis is: Start and end mating dates Matings (AI, natural, observed, etc) Synchronisation events Embryo flush dates Embryo implant programs Pregnancy test results Extra events (eg shows, abortions, etc as a performance group) Cow fates / disposals using specific BREEDPLAN codes A cow will have multiple records, some of which may occur on the same day. When Recording on Observed Heat you need to record an M type mating event that identifies the beginning of the synchronization and the implant date. This is because some herds do not AI all the cows that were in the synchronisation program. You must specify a Performance Group for ALL mating events. The idea is that cows are grouped together for mating. We need to identify which cows have been in the same mating program and what happened to them within that program. Both AI and natural matings are important. All matings need to be recorded not just the successful mating. In particular all cows that were mated need to be recorded whether they calve or not. Multi-Sire matings must be recorded using a society registered Milti-Sire animal NOT as multiple natural matings with the same date.

2 DAYS TO CALVING (DTC) RECORDING AND REPORTING HerdMASTER is able to store relevant DTC info against dams. This information includes Mating Events, Group and DTC Status or Disposal information. HerdMASTER is also able to export this information to BREEDPLAN. One thing to note it that HerdMASTER users do NOT need to record start and end dates as separate events, HerdMASTER will automatically create these start and end dates and groups based on the performance group of an animal s mating events. Mating Events in HerdMASTER include: Synchronisation Insemination on fixed time Embryo transfer implant Hand or Observed mating Insemination on Observed Heat Mating Program Dates Natural Paddock Preg Tests HerdMASTER users can also specify DTC disposal information against Dams as a separate fate or disposal code to their society fate. For more information on DTC Recording visit the BREEDPLAN Website and click on the technical link.

3 RECORDING MATING EVENTS HerdMASTER allows you to record mating events as matings these include mating events such as synchronization and Mating Program Dates in addition to the traditional Natural or AI/ET Matings. 1. Select Data entry Matings. You will then be presented with the following screen. On this screen you will be able to view the HerdMASTER tipsheet on how to record matings. To get to the mating screens press close and if you don t want this message to appear again check the box to not show this message again. You will then be presented with the following screen where we have split up the different types of matings that can be done. There are now 5 tabs one for each different type of mating. The first tab like below will allow you to record the mating types P (Paddock), N (Natural) and H (Hand) matings.

4 The second tab allows you to only record A (AI with Sync) mating types The Third tab allows you to record I (AI on Observed Heat) Mating types

5 The ET mating tab allows you to record ET type matings and will allow you to open the Embryo Inventory section as there are specific requirements for ET mating types for BREEDPLAN. The other tab allows you to record Z (syncronisation) or M (Mating Program) dates

6 2. Once you have selected mating type that you want to record you will need to fill out the required information for that type. Each type has different requirements. If there is information you have forgot or missed including HerdMASTER will tell you before it process s the information. 3. Once you have entered all the information you need to select the animals that you want to record the mating for. There is currently only the one way that you can choose animals. 4. To select the animals with the mouse please choose them for the left hand side of the screen and press the to transfer the animals over to the right hand side of the screen. See picture below for example.

7 5. Once you have entered the animals that you want to record the mating for press the button. This will process the mating information and generate a report to let you know if there were any issues with the mating records. See example of report below.

8 RECORDING FAILED MATINGS There are situations where you will want to record calves in HerdMASTER but not actually give them a tag as they died before birth. HerdMASTER allows users to do this by automatically assigning them with a dummy tag. The settings for the dummy tag are located in the Site Options. You need to have Auto-create Dead Calves checked in order to record a dead calf using Add Calf. Here you can assign the prefix that HerdMASTER allocates to dead calves when adding them. You must have Use Advanced Mating Options checked to allow recording of 0 for number in birth. To record a stillborn or dead calf you will need to choose 0 (Zero) as the number in birth on the add calf screen. The fate information screen will then be displayed. Choose the Fate Date (If it s not the same as the Calving Date) and a Fate for the calf. Here you can also see the tag HerdMASTER is going to assign the dead calf.

9 Once you click OK the new animal will be created. It will be inactive and off-site. To record an animal that died shortly after birth you can either choose to record as above or you can assign it a tag yourself and fate it using the animal details screen.

10 UPDATE DTC STATUS/DISPOSAL CODES AND SUBMIT MATINGS TO BREEDPLAN You can record mating fates on animals. This option will only appear if you have told HerdMASTER that you want to record the DTC information for BREEDPLAN. To say you want to use the DTC information please follow the instructions below. 1. Setup Site Options and choose the mating tab and check the box s that say you want to record DTC information. See picture below 2. When you have said that you want to record the DTC information you will get an extra tab in the animal details screen. In this tab you will be able to record the mating fates for animals and these fates will get extracted in the BREEDPLAN mating extract. See picture below to see where this tab will appear and what it will look like. Here is a list of all the valid fates codes for BREEDPLAN that you will be able to record in the Disposal code on the DTC tab. A = Cast for age Q = Appearance B = Sold surplus breeding female R = Reproduction abnormality C = Calving incident S = Structural problem

11 D = Disease E = Eyes F = Not in calf G = Genetic condition H = Horns J = Cull unjoined heifer surplus K = Coat type M = Missing assumed dead P = Poor performance T = Poor temperament U = Udder or teat problems V = Poor EBVs W = Calved but failed to rear calf to weaning X = Parasites Y = Unknown cause Z = Accident

12 EXTRACTING DTC INFORMATION TO BREEDPLAN To extract the DTC information and your mating information for BREEDPLAN please follow the instructions below. 1. Select reports BREEDPLAN Mating extract. 2. You will now be presented with the following screen Choose the owner and select the date ranges for the matings you want to extract. 3. When you have entered the owner and mating data date ranges press the finish button and you will get the following report that you can to BREEDPLAN. Note: You will also get a notification report that will list any issues with the matings before you send the information to BREEDPLAN.

13 EXERCISE In the following exercise we are going to record all the steps relating to DTC recording and reporting. Firstly we will add a mating, then we will add the stillborn calf, then we will update the DTC status of the dam and finally we will generate a report to send to BREEDPLAN. Before we begin open your site options and ensure you have all three DTC related checkboxes on the Matings tab checked. 1. Select Data entry matings. 2. Select the mating type of N (Natural) then select animal 180 as the sire and enter Performance group of 1. Enter the date in of 28/8/12 and the date out of 01/12/ Now select the Cows 140,141 and 144 and transfer them across to the mating table. 4. Press the process button. 5. We are now going to record a dead calf for 144. Select Animals Add Calf 6. Select the cow 144 and choose the number in birth of 0. Then press the continue button. Now you will be able to enter Calf s fate and mark the mating as successful. Then press the Ok button. Y