How to Record Eggs, Milk and Daily Production

Daily records turn what happens in the barn into numbers you can check later. In Livestock Manager you record eggs, milk, deaths, weight, water and temperature from one place, the Records tab. Each entry is tied to a batch, so your totals and reports stay accurate.

Who it's for: anyone who collects eggs or milk, or wants a daily log of a flock or herd. Plan: the free Starter plan allows 50 farm records a month; Growth and higher plans have no monthly limit. Time: about 5 minutes.

What you need first

• A farm with at least one batch. Every record asks you to pick a batch.
• Your eggs or milk counted for the day.
• An internet connection. The app saves records online.

Step-by-step

Step 1: Open a new record

Tap the Records tab, then New Record. A menu opens with the records that fit your animals. A poultry farm sees Egg Records. A dairy farm sees Milk Records. On a new farm, Death Records sits under More options. The menu reorders itself as you use it. If you have no batch yet, the menu only offers to create one.

Step 2: Record today's eggs

Tap Egg Records. Eggs In is selected by default, and it means eggs you collected. Choose the batch that laid them under Select Batch. On the free plan you can pick only your newest batch in record forms.

Enter Number of Full Trays and Loose eggs. The form shows the total as you type, so nine trays of 30 and 12 loose eggs reads 282 eggs. If your trays hold a different number, use the Tray settings link. Tap Add Egg record.

The record appears in your list as trays and loose eggs, with the total beside it.

Step 3: Record milk

Go back to the menu and tap Milk Records. Milk In is selected. Pick the batch you milked, then enter the Amount of Milk.

Choose the Time of collection: Morning, Noon or Evening. The app suggests one from the clock, and you can change it. Tap Add Milk record. Make a separate record for each milking so the time of day stays useful.

Step 4: Record a death

Tap New Record, then More options, then Death Records. Under Select Cause of Death, choose a reason such as Disease or Illness or Predator Attack. Pick the batch and enter the Number of deaths. Tap Save changes.

Open the Batches tab. The batch count has dropped by the number you entered.

Step 5: Record weight, water and temperature

On a new farm, tap More options a second time in the menu. It lists Average weight, Temperature and Water consumed. Choose one, pick the batch, and enter the value. Tap Save changes.

The app does not show units for these values, so use the same unit every time.

Step 6: Check your records

Open the Records tab. Every record you saved is listed, newest first, grouped by month. Tap a record to open it. Check that the batch and number look right before you move on.

Step 7: Read your Reports

Beside your records is the Reports tab. It turns the entries into totals and charts, including Egg Production, Milk by time of day and Total Deaths. If you see "Create records to see charts!", you have not saved a record yet.

Common mistakes

• Leaving Full Trays blank. If you only have loose eggs, enter 0 in Number of Full Trays. The form will not save without a number.
• Forgetting the batch. The form shows "Select Batch" as an error until you pick one. There is no default batch, so choose it every time.
• Mixing units. Weight, water and milk have no unit in the form. Pick one unit, such as kilograms or litres, and keep to it.
• Recording a broken egg as a collected egg. There is no good or bad field. Record all collected eggs as Eggs In, then add a separate Eggs Out record with the reason, such as Physical Damage.
• Skipping the death record. The batch count only changes when you save a death, so the flock number drifts if you forget.

For what else to log on a farm, see our farm record keeping guide.

Frequently asked questions

How do I record eggs in trays?

Open Records, tap New Record, then Egg Records. Enter the full trays and the loose eggs, and the app adds them up using your tray size. You can change the tray size from the Tray settings link on the form.

Can I record milk in the morning and evening separately?

Yes. Each milk record has a Time of collection: Morning, Noon or Evening. Make one record per milking, and the Reports tab shows milk by time of day.

Does recording a death lower my flock count?

Yes. A batch's count is its starting number less the deaths, harvests and sales you have recorded. Check the Batches tab after you save.

Why don't I see Egg Records or Milk Records?

The menu only lists records that fit your animals. Egg Records appears if the farm has poultry, and Milk Records if it has cattle, goats, sheep, buffalo or horses.

How many records can I add?

The free Starter plan allows 50 farm records a month. Growth and higher plans have no monthly limit.