Fast & hassle-free data entry

Orchid FarmWizard uses a simple set of web-style screens for data entry and reporting, and can be used on PC, Mac or any Wi-Fi/3G enabled tablet computer like the iPad.

The screens are designed for speed of data entry, for example many events can be batch recorded and cattle can be grouped and “tagged” in the software for faster identification.

You can also record herd information on the move using your iPhone, Android, or Blackberry smartphone. That means you’ll be able to put your feet up at the end of the day, instead of sitting down at the PC to enter a backlog of cow events.

Remember that information recorded on your phone can be synchronised from any computer that’s connected to the Internet – Wi-Fi or 3G/4G.

If your mobile phone doesn’t have an Internet connection, you can receive cow breeding reminders and enter cow events via simple text messages.

Farm Assurance & Cross Compliance Recording

Orchid FarmWizard gives you peace of mind for cross compliance checks and inspections:

• Keep ahead of BCMS deadlines – automate your passport applications and movement notifications.
• Reduce the risk of financial penalties – check for discrepancies by running a comparison check between your records and the CTS any time you choose
• Produce an official Herd Register report

Dairy Farm Assurance Scheme inspections:

• Record cattle medicine purchases, animal treatments and purchased feedstuffs
• Record grassland inputs
• Perform NMax calculations
• Show a list of dairy animals on your holding at any given time
• Orchid FarmWizard is regularly updated to handle any changes in legislation

Milk Records

• Automatically import yields from your computerised milking parlour
• Import dairy cow yields, fats, proteins and cells from NMR and CIS datastream
• Import milk yields from most computerised milking parlours
• View the best and worst performing cows and the dairy herd averages for each test
• Produce graphical reports for yield, fat, protein and cell counts

Send your herd data where it’s needed

There’s a whole range of people and organisations who need to be in your herd information loop:

• CTS
• Breed Society  (pedigree registrations)
• Milk Recording Agency (cow breeding events)
• Farm Assurance Scheme (drug treatment records, levels of mastitis, lameness)
• Vet (Herd Health Plan) – link to services like VetImpress
• Cattle Genetics Consultant/Technician – Cow Service and PD records
• Dairy Nutritionist
• Farm Business Consultant

Plus you may want to update your computerised milking parlour with cow breeding event dates.

Because Orchid FarmWizard is a web-based or “cloud computing” service, these organisations can be updated much more easily than with traditional Windows PC software.  In fact, you can have your Orchid FarmWizard system set up to perform many of these updates automatically.

Fertility Performance Monitoring

Not getting your cows back in calf costs money.  Orchid FarmWizard gives you and your adviser all the industry-standard tools to analyse herd fertility performance.  Standard statistics like CuSum, submission rates and conception rates are calculated and presented on one simple screen.

Orchid FarmWizard can automatically transfer your data to services like VetImpress, enabling your vet to gain a deeper understanding of your herd, which could ultimately help improve your bottom line.

Customised reports to suit your management needs

Orchid FarmWizard provides powerful “rule based” reports that let you select your required data columns and define the criteria, which will select only the animal records that you are interested in.

Most of the Orchid FarmWizard functions come as standard, but there are a few modules that can be added for a single, one-off charge:

• One way or two-way link to your computerised milking parlour
• Link to Holstein UK for pedigree registrations
• Smartphone App for recording and viewing herd records on iPhone, Android, Blackberry smartphones and tablet computers

For further please contact Orchid for further details on 01536 443300

To get started, how can I get my cattle records into Orchid FarmWizard?

To get up and running as quickly as possible, Orchid FarmWizard can load data from both the CTS and a datastream file provided by your milk recording agency.  This process will produce one merged set of data that will include your animal identity information plus lactation histories for milking cows.

Are there regular improvements and updates for the system?

Yes, development of Orchid FarmWizard is on-going to keep the system up-to-date with changes in legislation and farm assurance requirements.  Best of all, there’s no software to install – simply login and you’ll first see a message telling you about the new features that have been added.  Simple!

Can I apply for cattle passports and movements?

Yes, you can apply for passports and notify On, Off and Death movements through Orchid FarmWizard

Can I cross-check my cattle records against the CTS?

Yes, there is a “one-click” function to instantly compare your farm records with your data on the CTS and show you any differences

What types of hardware can I use to work with Orchid FarmWizard?

Any type of computer can be used – PC, Mac or Tablet computer – as long as an Internet connection is present.  For data access on the move, you can use an iPhone, Android or Blackberry smartphone.

What sort of dairy records can I record on my smartphone?

Currently the events that can be recorded are: calving, bulling, AI service, Bull service, PD Result, Dry-off, Medicine Treatment, Death and Sale.

What happens if my mobile device loses its Internet connection?

If you move out of range of your wi-fi connection or are in a poor reception area for mobile broadband (3G), there’s no problem.  Just perform a data synchronisation while you’re connected to your wi-fi or 3G network.  Your cattle records will be downloaded onto your smartphone.  You then work with the local data, so if your Internet connection is lost, there’s no problem.  Once you’re connected again, you can review your changes and synchronise again to update your Orchid FarmWizard account.

Is my herd data safe and secure with Orchid FarmWizard?

Yes. Your cattle records are held on a centralised system that is backed up regularly in a secure data centre.  Your data is protected by the same level of security that comes with your online banking.

Can the software link to my computerised milking parlour?

Orchid FarmWizard can link to many of today’s parlour systems.  You have an option to purchase a one-way or full two-way data link to keep Orchid FarmWizard and the Parlour database fully synchronised for cow breeding event dates.  You can also set Orchid to automatically import 24 hour milk yields from the parlour as often as you require.

Can I get the industry standard measures of fertility performance for my herd?

Yes, all the main indicators are calculated for your herd – Cusum, Conception Rates, Submission Rates, Return Rates.  Some of these events can be viewed in graphical format or as a quick summary statistics report.

Can I produce customised reports to suit my management needs?

Yes, one of the major strengths of Orchid FarmWizard is the ability to create “rule based” reports, where you select the data columns you require as well as the report criteria e.g. all cows calved more than 56 days and not seen bulling.