Sound familiar? The folder of stall cards is bursting at the seams, the TVD printouts are somewhere between delivery notes and vet invoices, and when the inspector arrives the frantic searching begins. For many sheep, goat, and cattle keepers in Switzerland, herd management is still paperwork – and that costs time and nerves.
Why paper hits its limits
Handwritten records worked well for a long time. But the requirements placed on livestock keepers have increased in recent years: TVD notification obligations, TAMV-compliant treatment journal, pedigree documentation for breeding, weight records for fattening animals. Managing all of this on paper is becoming increasingly burdensome.
The biggest problems with paper-based management:
- Data is scattered: stall cards here, herd book there, TVD documents in a ring binder.
- No evaluations possible: How has the weight of my lambs developed? Which line produces the best results? Hard to see on paper.
- Inspection preparation is stressful: gathering everything together, sorting, checking – often at the last minute.
- Error-prone: forgotten entries, illegible notes, duplicate recording.
What digital herd management delivers
Switching to an app does not mean you have to overhaul your entire operation. The goal is to simplify the administrative tasks so that more time is left for the actual work with the animals.
Everything in one place
Master data, treatments, breeding data, weights, TVD notifications – everything is captured in a single system and linked together. Looking for an animal? One glance at the app is enough.
Always with you – even in the barn
Good herd management works on a smartphone just as well as on a computer. That means: entries are made where the work happens – in the barn, on the pasture, during alpine summering (Sömmerung).
Always ready for inspections
When the inspector arrives, you export the relevant reports with a few taps. No searching, no sorting, no stress.
Evaluations at the touch of a button
Weight development across multiple generations, fertility rates, treatment statistics – digital data is easy to evaluate and supports breeding planning and farm optimisation.
What matters when choosing
Not every software suits every farm. When selecting a herd management solution, look for the following:
- Species: Does the software cover your livestock species – sheep, goats and cattle, not just one of them?
- TVD integration: Are TVD notifications supported?
- TAMV compliance: Can the treatment journal meet the legal requirements?
- Breeding and pedigree: Are matings, births, and pedigrees captured?
- Usability: Is the app understandable for users who are less tech-savvy?
- Data hosting: Where is your data stored? In Switzerland or abroad?
Getting started easily
The best time to switch is now – for example at the start of lambing, when a lot of data arises anyway. Begin with your animals' master data (CSV import makes it simple) and record new events directly in digital form. You do not need to migrate everything at once.
Herdy was developed precisely for this use case: a Swiss app for Swiss sheep, goat, and cattle keepers, easy to use and combining all the key functions – from TVD notifications and treatment journal to breeding documentation. And for farms with up to 5 animals, Herdy is free.
Conclusion: digital means simpler
Digitalising herd management is not a technology project – it is a practical step to make day-to-day farm life easier. Less paper, fewer errors, better overview. And when the next inspection comes, you are prepared and relaxed.