New software package aims to appeal to all dairy farmers
New software package aims to appeal to all dairy farmers
POWERFUL new dairy management software designed for all dairy farmers, rather than just those keen on computers, is to be launched at next weeks Royal Show by NMR.
Impelpro is the first package on the market capable of recording, interpreting and disseminating herd information to third parties, says the companys Simon Taylor.
It is based on a core command module, which costs £400 for new customers, or half that for current NMR software users. This will be available immediately after the launch, along with a prediction module for milk production and quota monitoring.
Additional modules which "plug in" to the command module are being developed. By the end of this year, NMR plans to have five on the market.
Two Feed Management modules will be released, the most advanced including comprehensive least-cost ration formulation. It will provide links to, and allow exchange of information with, in-parlour and other feeders. It will also include a stock control and traceability system to track feedstuffs from point of delivery to consumption.
Planned Electronic Interfaces modules will link the farmer directly with third parties. "Duplication will be old hat for Impelpro users," Mr Taylor maintains. "For example, enter data on a new calf, and it will automatically be sent to all those who need it, such as a breed society, NMR and BCMS."
An Expert Reporting module allows farmers to use NMRs aggregate data for on-farm comparisons and the provision of management information via the web. This will be much quicker than the four to five days currently taken, says Mr Taylor.
"This new approach to on-farm software overcomes the updating difficulties current dairy management programs face," says Mr Taylor. "If conditions mean a change in on farm recording or data management, we can update the relevant module easily, without disrupting the whole program."
Impelpro is Microsoft-based, and requires a Pentium 233 machine equipped with a minimum of 32MB of memory. *
By 2004, three quarters of UK dairy farmers will have a computer to help manage their business. Over half will be using a dedicated herd management program to run the dairy herd, says Mr Taylor.
The main reason for this increase is that technical efficiency on dairy farms has to improve as margins are squeezed, he maintains.
"Those farmers destined to stay in business will use the tools that make their businesses leaner and fitter," says Mr Taylor. "Current data and instant action lists to facilitate accurate decisions are fast becoming the name of the game.
"More and more farmers are realising that the only way they can easily achieve this is with a PC and a good piece of software, particularly as herds are tending to get larger and the volume of data is increasing."
He estimates that 50% of milk producers currently own a PC and 30% of these use it to run a herd management programme.
Internet use will also increase greatly to download herd data and industry information and to avoid duplication of paperwork, he adds.