User Guide – Lactation Records in IdeasFarm

The Lactation module allows recording past calvings and, more comprehensively, the full lactation of a cow. This includes not only the calving date but also the drying-off and the service that resulted in that pregnancy.

Why record full lactations and not just calvings?

Because each lactation is a productive cycle that includes:

• Calving → marks the start of milk production.
• Drying-off → determines the end of the lactation and prepares the cow for the next one.
• Service (natural mating or insemination) → allows identification of which bull or semen straw originated that calf, ensuring genetic traceability.

In this way, IdeasFarm not only stores the calving date but links the entire reproductive and productive cycle of the cow. This is essential for:

• ✔️ Keeping a historical record of productivity.
• ✔️ Measuring reproductive efficiency.
• ✔️ Evaluating fertility and genetics.
• ✔️ Automatically connecting with IFI reports and evaluations.

Lactation Screen

In this screen, you can record one or more calvings for one or multiple animals at the same time.

Main Fields

1. Animal (Name/ID)
   • Select the animal for which you want to record the lactation.
2. Calving Date
   • Mark the day the calving occurred.
   • Automatically, IdeasFarm will calculate:
     • Drying-off Date → 305 days after (editable).
     • Pregnancy Service Date (PSD) → 283 days before (editable).
3. Bull (Natural Mating) / ID
   • If the pregnancy was from natural mating, select the bull from the list.
   • If it is not in the database, the name can be entered manually.
4. Semen Straw (AI) / ID
   • If the pregnancy was by artificial insemination, select the semen straw used.
   • If it is not in the list, a record of that straw can be created.
   • 🔔 Important: only one option should be chosen (Mating or Semen Straw).
5. Calf Status
   • Allows recording what happened to the calf:
     • Alive
     • Sold
     • Dead
     • Stillborn
6. Gender
   • Select whether the calf is male or female.
7. Calf / ID
   • If the calf remains on the farm, select the animal (already registered).
   • If it is not in the system, enter the identification code.
8. Type of Calving
   • Define how the calving occurred:
     • Dystocia (with complications)
     • Cesarean
     • Eutocia without assistance
     • Eutocia with minimal assistance
     • Eutocia with moderate assistance

Advantages of this record

• Detailed control of fertility and genetics.
• Lactation history to evaluate production and efficiency.
• Automatic connection with fertility, production, and health reports.
• Solid foundation for advanced calculations such as the IFI Index and evaluations by bull/semen straw.