How to Create a Livestock Batch

A batch is a group of animals you keep together, such as 300 laying hens or a herd of goats. Create one in Livestock Manager and every record, report and cost for that group has a place to live. You choose the animal, decide whether to count the group or track each animal, and enter the details you have.

Who it's for: anyone adding livestock to a farm for the first time, or adding a new group. Plan: the free Starter plan allows 2 batches, and Growth allows 10. On Starter, only your newest batch opens; older batches need the Growth plan. Time: about 3 minutes.

What you need first

• A farm set up in the app.
• The animal type, and the breed if you know it.
• The number of animals, if you plan to count them as a group.
• The price you paid, if you want the purchase recorded (optional).

Step-by-step

Step 1: Start a new batch

On Home, tap "Add animals". If you are past the first setup, open the Batches tab and tap "New Batch". The "Create Batch" form opens.

Step 2: Choose the animal

Tap "Select Animal". Pick your animal from the list, or search for it. The "Batch name" fills in for you from the animal or breed and the month. Change it if you like.

Step 3: Choose how to track it

Under "How do you want to track this batch?", you must pick one of two options. Nothing else appears until you do.

• "Whole batch" tracks a group by its total count, with no individual profiles. It suits poultry and fish.
• "Each member" gives every animal its own profile. It suits goats, cattle and pigs.

Step 4: Pick the breed and enter the count

This step is for a whole batch. Tap "Select Breed" and choose a breed. On a new farm the list may be empty. Type the breed and tap "Create Breed", and it is selected for you. The batch name updates to match.

Then enter the "Number of animals", for example 300. It must be a whole number of at least 1.

Step 5: Add the details

Tap "Add details". The section is optional, but a minute here saves work later.

• "Raised for": egg production, meat production, breeding and other purposes. The list depends on the animal.
• For a whole batch, "Stage": where the animals are now, such as "Layer (Actively Laying)".
• For a whole batch, "Price per livestock": what you paid for each animal. The app books the purchase as an expense in the batch's finances. Enter 4.00 for 300 hens and it records 1,200.
• "Supplier", "Start Date" and a note are optional. The start date defaults to today.

Step 6: Save the batch

For a whole batch, tap "Create batch". For a batch you track animal by animal, the button reads "Save and add members". It takes you on to adding each animal.

Step 7: Check the batch page

The batch page lists the animal, how you track it, the breed, stage, what it is raised for, and the starting and current counts. Below are the "Batch Widgets": tiles for records, reports, finances, harvests and sales. A batch you track animal by animal also has a members tile.

Common mistakes

• Skipping the breed on a whole batch. The breed is required, but the field is not marked. If you tap save without it, the message "Pick the breed" appears.
• Choosing the wrong tracking mode. Pick Whole batch for a flock you will never name one by one. Pick Each member if you want a profile, health history or weight for each animal.
• Entering the price of the whole group. The price field is per animal. The app multiplies it by the number of animals.
• Creating batches without checking the plan limit. The Starter plan allows 2 batches per farm. Closed batches count toward the limit, and deleting a batch frees a slot.
• Waiting for a breed list that never fills. If the list is empty, tap "Create Breed" and add yours.

For a wider view of what to record once your batch exists, see the farm record-keeping guide.

Frequently asked questions

What is a batch in Livestock Manager?

A batch is a group of animals you keep together, such as 300 laying hens or a herd of Boer goats. Records, reports and money are all kept against the batch.

Should I choose Whole batch or Each member?

Choose Whole batch when you count animals as a group, which suits poultry and fish. Choose Each member when every animal needs its own profile, which suits goats, cattle and pigs.

What happens if I enter a price when I create a batch?

For a whole batch, the app records the purchase in the batch's finances as an expense, using the price per animal times the number of animals. Leave the price empty if you do not want a purchase recorded.

How many batches can I create on the free plan?

The free Starter plan allows 2 batches per farm. The Growth plan allows 10. On Starter, only your newest batch opens; older batches need the Growth plan.

Can I change the batch name?

Yes. The app suggests a name from the breed or animal and the month, and you can type over it before you save.