DESPITE DECADES of research and control measures, mastitis doggedly remains the single most costly animal health issue on New Zealand dairy farms today, says animal health company Virbac Stockguard. 

AN APP from LIC for Android and Apple smartphones will soon allow farmers to add calving information to their herd records – from anywhere. 

The Minda Calving app can take farmers’ records out of the office – view and update details from down the farm.  

It will be ready for spring calving, says Rob Ford, LIC’s general manager of farm systems. “It’s got to be one of the most requested products we’ve ever had.”

 “Many farmers have already identified how this technology can assist them and their business, whether it’s for keeping in touch with staff, taking notes, photos or voice memos. But with applications that are specifically designed for their common tasks they will be able to do so much more.” 

Ford says the app can be installed on multiple devices, so staff can share and enter data from their own phones, for the manager or record-keeper to approve back in the office before herd records are updated. 

It is now on trial on autumn calving farms. Colin Grainger-Allen (pictured) is one triallist.  The 50/50 sharemilker near Rotorua, with 550 cows on 220ha, says he is never without his smartphone and although he also has Minda Mobile, he will be downloading the Calving app for him and his staff to use this spring. 

“Calving is an intense time of year, and you’re never quite prepared enough, but this will help with the records because nobody ever leaves home without their phone….

“I used to carry so much around with me in the back of the yellow notebook, calculator and farm maps, but now it’s all in my phone. 

“It’s amazing how much I use it, at home and down the farm. In the past we’ve used a waterproof notebook to record calving details but last year I found myself putting the electronic notes into my phone too. 

“I don’t use the computer much anymore, I like to do everything on my phone; it saves time and it’s something I always have with me.” 

His staff are the same, with mobiles being their way of keeping in touch across the farm. “It’ll be good to have the option of getting them recording, and more involved with the app on their phones too. 

“It’s really simple and it also provides a set way for everyone to record the information. All the data then feeds back into one place so we can check it back home and approve before it’s updated in our full records.”