LivestockIQ Help Centre and User Guide

1. Getting Started

1.1.  What is LivestockIQ

1.2.  Who is LivestockIQ built for

 LivestockIQ is built for pig farms of different sizes and operating models,

 including:

•   Small farms that need simple records
•   Growing farms that want better visibility
•   Breeding farms managing sows, services, farrowing, litters, and weaning
•   Grower farms buying weaners or growers and managing them to sale
•   Multi-farm businesses that need consistent records across locations
•   Farm managers who need better reporting for decisions
•   Farm staff who need a practical tool for daily data entry

 LivestockIQ is designed to be useful both in the office and on mobile while working around the farm.

1.3.  Breeding farms vs Grower farms

Different pig farms operate in different ways. LivestockIQ supports both breeding and growing workflows.

For breeding farms, LivestockIQ helps track:

•   Sow and Boar records
•   Heat detection
•   Services
•   Pregnancy checks
•   Farrowing
•   Litter performance
•   Piglet deaths
•   Weaning
•   Sow productivity

  This gives the farm a clearer view of reproductive performance and sow history.

  For grower farms, LivestockIQ helps track:

•  Batches received onto the farm
•   Starting count and weight
•   Movement from weaner to grower to finisher
•   Mortality
•   Weight progress
•   Feed use
•   Sale readiness
•   Sales and revenue

This helps farms understand whether pigs are growing as expected and whether batches are on track for target weight and sale.

1.4. Supported workflows

 LivestockIQ supports the main day-to-day workflows needed to manage pig

 production:

•   Farm setup and team access
•   Individual animal records
•   Batch records
•   Pen and location tracking
•   Breeding management
•   Litter and weaning records
•   Weight recording
•   Weight target tracking
•   Health events and treatments
•   Feed records
•   Mortality records
•   Sales records
•   Dashboard monitoring
•   Management reports and exports

You do not need to use every feature on day one. Most farms start with the records that matter most to their operation, then add more workflows as the team becomes comfortable.

1.5. Recommended first setup steps

To get value from LivestockIQ quickly, start with the basics.

1. Create your account and verify your email.
2.  Set up your farm profile.
3.  Add your pens, rooms, or sections.
4.  Add the breeds used on your farm.
5.  Invite team members and assign the correct roles.
6.  Add your animals or create your first batches.
7.  Record starting weights if known.
8.  Add any current breeding, litter, health, or sales records.
9.  Open the dashboard to check that your farm activity is showing correctly.
10.  Review Reports & Insights once you have enough records entered.

For breeding farms, start by adding active sows, boars, current services, and current litters.

For grower farms, start by creating batches, adding starting counts, starting weights, current stage, and pen/location.

A good first setup does not need to be perfect. The most important thing is to get your current farm position into the system so your team can start recording daily activity consistently.

2. Account Onboarding

2.1. Creating Your LivestockIQ Account

To start using LivestockIQ, create an account for your farm or farm business.  checkout process. During signup, you will be asked for basic details such as:

•   Business or farm name
•   Your name
•   Email address
•   Business country
•   Subscription plan
•   Billing period
•   Password

Use an email address you can access, because LivestockIQ may send verification and account-related messages to that address.

Once your signup is submitted, you will be directed through the account setup and checkout process.

2.2. Selecting Your Country And Subscription Plan

LivestockIQ uses your business country to select the correct billing region and subscription options.

Choose the country where your farm business is based. This helps LivestockIQ apply the correct regional pricing and billing setup.

You will also choose a subscription plan based on the size and needs of your farm. Plans are designed around practical farm limits such as:

•   Number of active pigs
•   Number of farms
•   Number of users

Choose the plan that best matches your current operation. You can upgrade later if your farm grows or you need more users, more farms, or higher animal limits. 

2.3. Starting Your 14-Day Trial

New accounts start with a 14-day trial. The trial gives you time to:

•   Set up your farm
•   Add animals or batches
•   Invite team members
•   Test daily workflows
•   Review the dashboard
•   Decide whether the plan fits your operation

Although billing details may be collected during checkout, your first charge is scheduled after the trial period, unless a different arrangement applies.

During the trial, it is best to enter real farm records where possible. This gives you a clearer view of how LivestockIQ will work for your farm after onboarding.

2.4. Verifying Your Email Address

After signup, LivestockIQ may send a verification email to the address used during registration.

Open the email and follow the verification link.

Email verification helps protect your account and ensures that important account messages can reach you.

If you do not see the email:

•  Check your spam or junk folder
•  Confirm that the email address was entered correctly
•  Wait a few minutes and try again
•  Contact support if the issue continues

 Some features may be limited until your email address is verified.

2.5. Logging In For The First Time

After creating your account, log in using the email address and password you used during signup.

Once logged in, you will be taken into your LivestockIQ workspace.

From there, you can begin with the recommended setup flow:

•   Farm Setup
•   Pens
•   Breeds
•   Animals or Batches
•   Weights
•   Health
•   Dashboard

If you are part of more than one account or farm, make sure the correct account and farm are selected before entering records.

2.6. Understanding Your Plan Limits: Pigs, Farms, And Users

Each LivestockIQ plan includes limits that match different farm sizes.

The main limits are:

•  Active pigs: the number of pigs currently active in your records
•  Farms: the number of farm locations or farm units you can manage
•  Users: the number of people who can access the account

Active pigs normally include pigs currently being managed on the farm, whether they are tracked individually or as part of a batch. 

Animals that are sold, dead, removed, or otherwise inactive should no longer count as active pigs once recorded correctly.

Your user limit controls how many team members can be added to the account. If you need more staff, managers, or administrators to access LivestockIQ, you may need to upgrade your plan.

Your farm limit controls how many farm sites or units can be managed under the same account.

If you reach a plan limit, LivestockIQ may restrict additional records until you upgrade or reduce active usage. This helps keep each account aligned with the plan selected.

3. Farm Setup

3.1. Creating Your First Farm

After creating your account, the next step is to set up your first farm.  A clear farm setup helps keep records organised from the beginning. 

Your farm is the main workspace where animals, batches, pens, weights, health records, breeding records, litters, sales, and reports are connected.

To create or review your farm, go to Farm Setup and add the basic farm information. If your account supports more than one farm, make sure you are working in the correct farm before entering records.

A clear farm setup helps keep records organised from the beginning.

3.2. Adding Farm Details

Farm details help identify the operation and make reports easier to understand.  one site, use clear farm names such as North Unit, Breeding Site, or Grower Farm 

Typical details may include:

•   Farm name
•   Location
•   Contact details
•   Farm type
•   Notes about the operation

Use names your team will recognise. For example, if your business has more than one site, use clear farm names such as North Unit, Breeding Site, or Grower Farm 1.

Keeping farm details accurate is especially useful for multi-farm businesses, consultants, and management reporting.

3.3. Setting Production Type

LivestockIQ supports different pig production models.

When setting up your farm, choose the production type that best matches how the farm operates.

Common examples include:

•   Breeding farm
•   Farrow-to-finish farm
•   Grower farm
•   Finisher farm
•   Mixed operation

The production type helps your team decide which workflows to focus on first.

For example, breeding farms will usually start with sows, boars, services, farrowing, litters, and weaning. Grower farms may focus more on batches, weights, feed, mortality, movements, and sales.

You can still use the parts of LivestockIQ that are relevant to your farm, even if you do not use every workflow.

3.4. Creating Pens, Rooms, Or Sections

Pens, rooms, and sections help you record where animals or batches are located.

This is useful for:

•   Finding animals quickly
•   Tracking batch movement
•   Recording mortality by location
•   Managing treatments and follow-ups
•   Understanding performance by pen or group
•   Improving day-to-day communication between staff

Use a structure that matches how your team already talks about the farm.

Examples:

•   Pen 1
•   Pen 2
•   Weaner Room A
•   Grower Shed 1
•   Finisher Block 3
•   Isolation Pen
•   Farrowing Room 1

Start simple. You can add more detail later if needed.

3.5. Adding Breeds Used On The Farm

Adding breeds helps keep animal records consistent.

Breeds may be used when creating individual animals, breeding records, or production reports.

Examples include:

• Large White
• Landrace
• Duroc
• Pietrain
• Hampshire
• Crossbreed
• Commercial Hybrid

If your farm mainly uses crossbred or commercial pigs, you can keep this simple by adding the breed names or lines your team commonly uses.

The goal is not to create unnecessary complexity. The goal is to make animal records clearer and easier to compare over time.

3.6. Choosing A Daily Record-Keeping Structure

Before entering a large amount of data, decide how your farm will record daily activity.

The best structure depends on how the farm operates.

For breeding farms, daily records may focus on:

•   Heat detection
•   Services
•   Pregnancy checks
•   Farrowing
•   Litter performance
•   Piglet deaths
•   Weaning
•   Sow condition
•   Treatments

  For grower farms, daily records may focus on:

•   Batch arrivals
•   Current pig counts
•   Pen movements
•   Mortality
•   Weights
•   Feed use
•   Treatments
•   Sale readiness
•   Sales

 You should also decide whether pigs will be tracked mainly as individual animals, batches, or a mixture of both.

Use individual animal records when you need detailed history for specific pigs, such as sows, boars, breeding animals, or high-value animals.

Use batch records when pigs are managed as a group, such as weaners, growers, or finishers.

Many farms use both:

• Individual records for breeding stock
• Batch records for growing pigs

A good setup makes daily recording easier. Staff should know where to enter each type of event, and managers should know where to review the results.

4. Adding Team Members

4.1. Understanding User Roles

LivestockIQ allows multiple people to work under the same farm account. Each team  Using roles properly keeps records safer and makes the system easier to manage. 

member should be given a role that matches what they need to do.

Roles help protect the account by making sure users only have the access they need.

For example, a farm owner may need full access to billing, reports, team management, and farm setup. A farm hand may only need access to record animal movements, weights, health events, mortality, or breeding activity.

Using roles properly keeps records safer and makes the system easier to manage.

4.2. Owner, Admin, Manager, Staff, And Viewer Permissions

 LivestockIQ uses five main customer roles.

Owner

The Owner is usually the person who created the account.

Owners can manage the account, subscription, farms, users, records, reports, and billing. The Owner role is the highest customer-level permission.

Typical access includes:

•   Billing and subscription management
•   Team management
•   Farm setup
•   Animal and batch records
•   Breeding, litters, weights, health, and sales
•   Reports and insights

Admin

Admins have broad access and can help manage the account.

Admins can usually manage team members, farm setup, records, billing, and reports.

This role is suitable for trusted administrators or senior members of the business.

Manager

Managers can oversee farm operations and performance.

Managers can usually add and update operational records, view sales, and access reports. They are suitable for farm managers who need visibility across daily activity and production performance, but do not need full account ownership.

Staff

Staff users are intended for daily record entry.

Staff can usually record farm activities such as animal updates, breeding events, litter activity, weights, health events, feed records, mortality, and batch movements.

Staff users generally do not manage billing, users, high-level setup, sales access, or management reports.

Viewer

Viewers have limited access.

This role is useful for people who may need to inspect records without changing them, such as advisers, consultants, auditors, or external reviewers.

Viewer access is intended to be mostly read-only. 

4.3. Adding A New Team Member

To add a team member, go to Farm Setup and open the team management section.

You will usually need to enter:

•   Team member’s name
•   Email address
•   Role
•   Initial password or access details

Choose the role carefully before adding the user.

For example:

•   Use Admin for trusted senior users
•   Use Manager for people responsible for farm performance
•   Use Staff for daily farm workers entering records
•   Use Viewer for people who only need limited visibility

Once added, the team member can log in using their email address and assigned credentials.

4.4. Changing A Team Member’s Role

If someone’s responsibilities change, their role can be updated.

For example:

•   A Staff user may become a Manager
•   A Manager may need Admin access
•   An external adviser may be reduced to Viewer access
•   A temporary worker may be deactivated after leaving

To change a role, open the team member in Farm Setup, select the new role, and save the change.

The Owner role is treated differently and is usually fixed to protect account ownership.

4.5. Deactivating Or Removing A User

If a user no longer needs access, they should be deactivated or removed.

This is important when:

•   A staff member leaves the farm
•   A consultant no longer supports the business
•   Temporary onboarding support has ended
•   Access was created for testing only

Deactivating or removing users helps protect farm records and prevents unauthorised access.

Before removing a user, check whether they are still needed for daily work, reporting, or support.

4.6. Best Practice For Farm Staff Access

Use the lowest role that still allows the person to do their job.

Recommended approach:

•   Business owner: Owner
•   Trusted office/admin person: Admin
•   Farm manager: Manager
•   Farm hands/data entry users: Staff
•   Vet, adviser, accountant, or consultant: Viewer

Avoid sharing one login between multiple people. Individual logins make it easier to know who recorded or changed information.

Review team access regularly, especially when staff change roles or leave the business.

For most farms, a simple setup works best: one Owner, one or two Admins or Managers, and Staff users for daily record entry.

5. Dashboard

5.1. Using The Dashboard As Your Morning Operating View

The Dashboard is designed to give the farm team a clear starting point for the day.

Before walking the pens or making management decisions, open the Dashboard to see the current position of the farm. It brings key information together so the team is not relying only on memory, notebooks, or scattered messages.

The Dashboard is useful for checking:

•   Active animal numbers
•   Recent farm activity
•   Breeding activity
•   Health events
•   Weight records
•   Sales activity
•   Areas that may need attention

Used daily, the Dashboard becomes the farm’s operating view.

5.2. Understanding Active Animal Counts

Active animal counts show the number of pigs currently being managed on the farm.

These counts may include pigs recorded individually and pigs managed as part of batches, depending on how your farm records animals.

Animal numbers change when records are updated, for example when pigs are:

•   Added
•   Sold
•   Recorded as dead
•   Moved into or out of active status
•   Added to or removed from batches

Keeping animal and batch records accurate helps the Dashboard show the correct farm position.

If the active animal count looks wrong, check whether recent deaths, sales, batch updates, or animal status changes have been recorded correctly.

5.3. Viewing Recent Farm Activity

Recent farm activity helps the team see what has changed.

This can include newly added records, updated animal information, weights, health events, breeding actions, sales, or other farm updates.

This is useful because it allows managers and staff to quickly answer questions

such as:

•   What happened yesterday?
•   What was recorded this morning?
•   Has the weight record been updated?
•   Were any treatments added?
•   Were any animals sold or removed?
•   Has a batch count changed?

Recent activity helps reduce communication gaps between staff working at different times or in different areas of the farm.

5.4. Spotting Health, Breeding, Weight, And Sales Updates

The Dashboard helps highlight important activity across the farm.

For health, it can help you review recent treatments, observations, and follow-up activity.

For breeding farms, it can help the team monitor services, pregnancy checks, farrowing, weaning, and other reproductive activity.

For grower farms, weight and batch information can help show whether pigs are progressing towards sale readiness.

For sales, the Dashboard helps connect farm production activity to commercial output by showing recent sale-related activity.

The more consistently the farm records events, the more useful these signals become.

5.5. Using Dashboard Signals For Daily Decisions

The Dashboard is not only for viewing information. It should support daily decisions.

For example, the team may use it to decide:

•   Which animals or batches need attention first
•   Whether recent mortality needs investigation
•   Whether weights are being recorded regularly
•   Whether breeding actions are overdue
•   Whether treated animals need follow-up
•   Whether batches are approaching sale weight
•   Whether records are missing or incomplete

 A good daily habit is to check the Dashboard at the start of the day and again after major records have been entered.

This helps the farm move from reactive record keeping to more informed farm management.

6. Animal Records

6.1. Adding An Individual Animal

Animal records are used when you want to track a specific pig throughout its life on the farm.

Individual records are especially useful for:

•   Sows
•   Boars
•   Gilts
•   Breeding animals
•   High-value animals
•   Pigs that need their own treatment, weight, breeding, or performance history

 To add an animal, go to Animals and choose the option to add a new animal.

 Typical details include:

•   Animal ID or tag
•   Sex
•   Category
•   Breed
•   -Status
•   Date of birth or arrival date
•   Pen or location
•   Batch, if applicable
•   Notes

Use animal IDs that are clear and consistent. This makes it easier for staff to find the correct animal later.

6.2. Adding Animals In Bulk

If you need to add several animals at once, bulk entry can save time.

This is useful when:

•   A group of animals arrives on the farm
•   Several animals need to be created from existing records
•   You are setting up LivestockIQ for the first time
•   You want the system to generate multiple animal IDs

Bulk animal creation helps you avoid entering each animal manually one by one.

When adding animals in bulk, make sure the shared information is correct before saving, such as:

•   Category
•   Sex
•   Breed
•   Batch
•   Pen
•   Starting status

 After the animals are created, you can still update individual records where needed.

6.3. Creating Animals As Part Of A Batch

•   Keep an individual animal register
•   Track batch-level movement and performance
•   Record batch mortality
•   Connect weights or health events to a group
•   Manage grower or finisher pigs more easily

manages them day to day as a group.

6.4. Understanding Animal Status

•   Active
•   Sold
•   Dead
•   Inactive

•   Dashboard counts
•   Plan limits
•   Animal lists
•   Reports
•   Batch numbers
•   Farm performance tracking

6.5. Recording Animal Category, Sex, Breed, Pen, And Batch

Animal records become more useful when the key details are complete.

Important fields include:

•   Category: sow, boar, gilt, piglet, weaner, grower, finisher, etc.
•   Sex: male, female, castrated male, or other applicable value.
•   Breed: breed, crossbreed, or commercial line.
•   Pen: current location of the animal.
•   Batch: group the animal belongs to, if applicable.

 These fields help the farm filter records, understand performance, and make better decisions.

For example:

•   Breeding records depend on knowing which animals are sows, gilts, or boars
•   Grower records are clearer when animals are grouped by batch
•   Health events are more useful when linked to animal, pen, or batch
•   Reports are stronger when categories and statuses are accurate

6.6. Viewing Animal History

The animal detail view brings the animal’s information together in one place.

Depending on the animal type and records entered, history may include:

•   identity and current status
•   category, sex, breed, pen, and batch
•   weight records
•   health events
•   breeding history
•   litter history
•   mortality or removal information
•   notes

For breeding animals, animal history helps review performance over time.

For growers or finishers, it helps understand weight, treatment, movement, or sale history.

Animal history is useful when making decisions such as whether to breed, treat, sell, retain, review, or remove an animal.

6.7. Marking Animals As Dead, Sold, Or Inactive

When an animal leaves active production, update its status as soon as possible.

Use the correct status:

•   Dead when the animal has died.
•   Sold when the animal has been sold.
•   Inactive when the animal is no longer actively managed but is not recorded as sold or dead.

Recording these changes keeps active animal counts accurate.

It also helps the farm understand:

•   mortality
•   sales output
•   removals
•   performance history
•   plan limit usage

 Avoid deleting animal records simply because an animal is no longer active.

Keeping the record gives the farm a useful history for reporting and management review.

7. Batch Management

7.1. When To Use Batch Records

Batch records are useful when pigs are managed as a group rather than individually.

This is common for:

•   Weaners
•   Growers
•   Finishers
•   Purchased pigs
•   Pigs moved through production stages together
•   Pigs sold as a group

A batch helps the farm track group-level information such as starting count, current count, average weight, stage, pen, mortality, feed, movement, and sales.

Use batch records when individual pig history is not required for every pig, but the group still needs to be monitored from arrival or weaning through to sale.

Many farms use both individual and batch records. For example, breeding animals may be tracked individually, while weaners and growers are tracked in batches.

7.2. Creating A Batch

To create a batch, go to the relevant animal or batch workflow and enter the basic batch details.

Typical batch details include:

•   Batch name or batch ID
•   Farm
•   Production stage
•   Starting count
•   Current pen or location
•   Arrival date or start date
•   Average starting weight, if known
•   Notes

Choose a batch name that your team will recognise. Examples include:

•   June Weaners
•   Batch 19/08/26
•   Grower Shed 1 - Aug
•   Finisher Group A

A clear batch name makes it easier to record weights, mortality, feed, health events, movement, and sales later.

7.3. Adding Animals To A Batch

7.4. Tracking Batch Count

7.5. Moving Batches Between Stages

Batches often move through production stages as pigs grow.

Common stages include:

•   Weaner
•   Grower
•   Finisher

Recording stage movement helps the farm understand where pigs are in the production cycle.

For example, a batch may start as weaners, move to growers, then finishers before sale.

When moving a batch between stages, record useful details such as:

•   stage entered
•   date of movement
•   pig count
•   average start weight
•   average end weight, if available
•   pen or location
•   notes

Stage tracking helps managers review how long pigs spend in each stage and how well they progress towards target weight.

7.6. Recording Count-Only Mortality

Count-only mortality is used when pigs are managed as a batch and individual animal IDs are not being tracked.

For example, if a batch has 100 weaners and 2 die, the farm can record a batch mortality event without selecting two individual animal records.

This keeps the batch count accurate while still preserving mortality history.

 A count-only mortality record may include:

•   batch
•   date
•   number of deaths
•   stage
•   pen or location, if available
•   suspected cause
•   notes

Use count-only mortality only for batch-managed pigs that do not have individual animal records. 

If a pig has its own individual record, mark that animal as dead so its individual history remains accurate.

7.7. Managing Weaner, Grower, And Finisher Batches

Batch management is especially useful for grower farms and farms that buy pigs in.

For weaner batches, record:

•   arrival or weaning date
•   starting count
•   starting weight
•   source, if relevant
•   pen or room
•   early health observations

For grower batches, record

•   stage movement
•   average weights
•   feed use
•   mortality
•   treatments
•   pen changes

For finisher batches, record:

•   target sale weight
•   sale readiness
•   final weights
•   sales
•   remaining count
•   revenue

The aim is to keep a clear batch story from start to finish: how many pigs started, how they grew, what was lost, what was treated, what was sold, and how the batch performed.

8. Breeding Management

8.1. Using The Breeding Board

The Breeding Board helps farms manage the reproductive pipeline from heat detection through to service, pregnancy checking, farrowing, and weaning.

It gives the team a single place to see which animals need attention and what stage each sow or gilt is currently in.

The Breeding Board can help answer questions such as:

•   which sows are due for service?
•   which animals need pregnancy checks?
•   which sows are expected to farrow soon?
•   which litters are ready for weaning?
•   which animals have returned to heat?
•   which breeding animals need follow-up?

 Used daily, the Breeding Board helps reduce missed breeding actions and keeps reproductive records connected to each animal.

8.2. Standard Breeding View

The standard breeding view is useful when the farm tracks sows and gilts individually.

Each animal can be reviewed with its breeding position, current cycle, and recent reproductive history.

This view is useful for:

•   sow-by-sow management
•   checking service history
•   monitoring pregnancy status
•   reviewing parity
•   identifying animals due for action
•   supporting culling or rebreeding decisions

For breeding farms, this view gives staff and managers a practical working list for daily breeding tasks.

8.3. Batch Breeding View

8.4. Recording Heat

8.5. Recording Service

A service record captures when a sow or gilt is bred.

Typical service details may include:

•   sow or gilt
•   service date
•   boar or semen reference
•   service type
•   notes

Recording service accurately is important because it drives later breeding actions, including pregnancy checks, expected farrowing dates, and reproductive performance review.

Good service records help the farm understand conception performance and sow productivity over time.

8.6. Marking Pregnancy Status

After service, animals may need a pregnancy check.

Pregnancy status helps the team know whether the sow or gilt is confirmed pregnant, not pregnant, or requires further follow-up.

  Recording pregnancy status helps with:

•   planning farrowing space
•   identifying animals that need re-service
•   reducing missed returns
•   improving breeding pipeline accuracy
•   keeping expected farrowing dates reliable

 If an animal is not pregnant, the team can decide whether to watch for return to heat, rebreed, treat, or review the animal.

8.7. Recording Return To Heat

A return to heat record is used when a serviced sow or gilt comes back into heat.

This is important because it may indicate that the previous service did not result in pregnancy.

Recording return to heat helps the farm:

•   identify failed services
•   trigger re-service decisions
•   review fertility issues
•   monitor boar or semen performance
•   improve breeding reports

 Return-to-heat records are useful for both daily action and longer-term reproductive analysis.

8.8. Moving From Service To Farrowing

Once a sow or gilt is served and confirmed pregnant, the next major stage is farrowing.

LivestockIQ keeps the breeding record connected so the farm can move from service history to farrowing outcome.

When the sow farrows, the farm can create a litter record and capture results such as:

•   farrowing date
•   born alive
•   stillborn
•   mummified piglets
•   piglet deaths
•   weaning outcome

This connects reproductive activity to actual production results.

The full breeding story becomes easier to review: heat, service, pregnancy, farrowing, litter performance, and weaning.

9. Farrowing And Litters

9.1. Creating A Litter Record

A litter record is created when a sow or gilt farrows.

The litter record captures the outcome of the pregnancy and connects the farrowing result back to the sow’s breeding history.

To create a litter record, select the sow and enter the farrowing details. Typical information includes:

•   sow or gilt
•   farrowing date
•   litter reference
•   parity
•   number born alive
•   stillborn piglets
•   mummified piglets
•   notes

 Creating a litter record promptly helps the team manage piglets correctly from birth through to weaning.

9.2. Recording Born Alive, Stillborn, And Mummified Piglets

Farrowing records should separate piglet outcomes clearly.

Important figures include:

•   Born alive: piglets born alive at farrowing.
•   Stillborn: piglets born dead.
•   Mummified: piglets that died before birth and were born mummified.

Recording these separately helps the farm understand farrowing performance more accurately.

For example, two sows may both have 12 total born, but one may have 12 born alive while another has 9 born alive, 2 stillborn, and 1 mummified. These are very different outcomes for management review.

Accurate farrowing data supports better breeding decisions, sow review, and production reporting.

9.3. Recording Piglet Deaths

9.4. Recording Weaning

9.5. Connecting Litter Performance Back To The Sow

LivestockIQ connects litter records back to the sow so the farm can review sow performance over time.

This makes it easier to see:

•   number of parities
•   service history
•   litter history
•   total born alive
•   piglet losses
•   number weaned
•   weaning performance
•   repeat or declining performance

Instead of looking at each litter separately, the farm can build a clear picture of the sow’s lifetime productivity.

This supports practical decisions such as whether to rebreed, treat, retain, monitor, or cull a sow.

9.6. Reviewing Sow Productivity

Sow productivity is about understanding how well each sow contributes to the farm.

Useful measures include:

•   parity
•   services per litter
•   born alive
•   stillborn and mummified piglets
•   pre-weaning losses
•   number weaned
•   weaning rate
•   litter consistency over time

Reviewing sow productivity helps the farm identify strong performers and animals that may need closer attention.

For example, a sow with repeated low born-alive numbers, high piglet losses, or poor weaning results may need review before the next breeding decision.

Good litter records turn daily farrowing and weaning activity into useful management information.

10. Weights And Growth

10.1. Recording Individual Animal Weights

Individual weight records are used when the farm wants to track the growth of a specific animal over time.

This is useful for:

•   breeding animals
•   replacement gilts
•   selected growers or finishers
•   treated animals under observation
•   animals being monitored for sale or retention decisions

 A weight record usually includes:

•   animal
•   date weighed
•   weight in kg
•   notes, if needed

Regular individual weighing helps the farm see whether an animal is growing as expected, losing condition, recovering after treatment, or approaching a target weight.

For breeding animals, weight history can also support body condition and reproductive management decisions.

10.2. Recording Batch Average Weights

Batch average weights are useful when pigs are managed as a group.

Instead of weighing every pig individually, the farm can record the average weight for the batch.

This is common for:

•   weaner batches
•   grower batches
•   finisher batches
•   purchased groups
•   sale groups

A batch weight record may include:

•   batch
•   date weighed
•   average weight per pig
•   number of pigs represented
•   stage
•   pen or location
•   notes

The average weight should normally represent the weight per pig, not the total weight of the entire batch.

For example, if a batch has 50 pigs and the average pig weighs 35kg, record 35kg, not 1,750kg.

This keeps growth charts, target tracking, and sale readiness calculations meaningful.

10.3. Setting Weight Targets

10.4. Understanding Weight Trajectory

10.5. Comparing Actual Weights Against Target

Once weights are recorded, LivestockIQ can compare actual weights against the target trajectory.

The farm can review whether the animal or batch is:

•   ahead of target
•   on target
•   behind target

 This comparison helps managers act earlier.

For example, if a batch is behind target at month two, the farm can investigate feed, health, stocking density, genetics, environment, or management factors before the full cycle is complete.

The goal is not only to record weights, but to use them to improve decisions.

10.6. Using Weight Records For Sale Readiness

Weight records help the farm decide when pigs are ready for sale.

For finisher batches, regular weighing helps estimate:

•   current average weight
•   distance from target sale weight
•   expected sale timing
•   number of pigs ready
•   whether another weighing is needed before sale

This supports better planning with buyers, transport, feed ordering, and cashflow.

Good weight records also help after sale, because the farm can compare target weight, actual sale weight, price, and revenue.

For grower farms, weights are one of the strongest links between daily management and business performance.

11. Feed And FCR

11.1. Recording Feed Usage For Batches

Feed records help the farm understand how much feed is being used by a batch over time.

This is especially useful for grower and finisher farms, where feed is one of the largest production costs.

A feed record may include:

•   batch
•   date or period covered
•   feed type
•   quantity of feed used
•   production stage
•   pen or location
•   notes

Feed usage is usually recorded against a batch rather than an individual animal, because most growing pigs are fed and managed in groups.

Recording feed consistently helps the farm compare feed input with weight gain, mortality, sales, and overall batch performance.

11.2. Tracking Feed By Stage

Batches often move through different production stages, and feed use may vary by stage.

Common stages include:

•   weaner
•   grower
•   finisher

Tracking feed by stage helps the farm understand where feed is being used and whether pigs are performing as expected during each part of the growth cycle.

For example, the farm may want to compare:

•   feed used during the weaner stage
•   feed used during the grower stage
•   feed used during the finisher stage
•   growth achieved in each stage
•   mortality or health issues during each stage

This makes it easier to identify which stage is performing well and which stage may need attention.

11.3. Understanding Feed Conversion Ratio

11.4. Reviewing Growth Against Feed Input

11.5. Using Feed Data For Cost And Performance Decisions

Feed data supports better commercial decisions.

It can help the farm understand:

•   feed cost per batch
•   feed cost per pig
•   feed cost per kg gained
•   which batches are more efficient
•   whether pigs are taking too long to reach sale weight
•   whether feed use matches expected performance

When combined with sales records, feed data can help show whether a batch performed profitably.

For example, a batch may reach sale weight, but if it took too much feed or too long to get there, the margin may be lower than expected.

Good feed records help managers review feeding strategy, spot underperforming batches, and make better decisions about future production.

12. Health Records

12.1. Recording Health Events

Health records help the farm keep track of illness, injury, observation, treatment, recovery, and follow-up activity.

A health event may be recorded for:

•   an individual animal
•   a batch
•   a pen or location
•   a litter, where relevant

Examples of health events include:

•   lameness
•   coughing
•   scouring
•   injury
•   poor growth
•   loss of appetite
•   fever
•   sudden death investigation
•   general observation

Recording health events gives the farm a clearer history of what happened and when. This is useful for daily management, staff communication, vet review, and compliance.

12.2. Recording Treatments And Medication

When an animal or batch is treated, record the treatment details as soon as possible.

A treatment record may include:

•   animal or batch treated
•   treatment date
•   condition or reason for treatment
•   medication used
•   dosage
•   route of administration
•   treated by
•   notes

Accurate treatment records help the farm know what was given, who handled it, and when it happened.

This is important for:

•   avoiding duplicate treatment
•   checking whether treatment worked
•   reviewing medication use
•   supporting responsible antibiotic use
•   maintaining reliable farm records

12.3. Assigning Follow-Up Dates

12.4. Tracking Withdrawal Considerations

12.5. Reviewing Health History By Animal Or Batch

Health history is useful when making decisions about animals or groups.

For an individual animal, history can show:

•   previous illness or injury
•   treatments given
•   recovery pattern
•   recurring issues
•   whether the animal should be retained, treated again, sold, or culled

For a batch, history can show:

•   group health issues
•   treatments during a stage
•   mortality patterns
•   whether health affected weight gain or sale readiness

Reviewing health history helps the farm make better decisions instead of relying only on memory.

12.6. Supporting Vet And Compliance conversations

Good health records make conversations with vets, auditors, buyers, and managers much easier.

Instead of trying to reconstruct events later, the farm can show:

•   what happened
•   when it happened
•   which animals or batches were affected
•   what treatment was used
•   who recorded or handled the event
•   whether follow-up was completed
•   whether withdrawal needs were considered

This supports better veterinary advice, stronger compliance records, and more professional farm management.

Health records are not only for emergencies. Used consistently, they help the farm understand patterns, reduce repeated problems, and improve animal welfare.

13. Sales And Revenue

13.1. Recording A Sale

Sales records help connect farm production to business performance.

When pigs are sold, record the sale as soon as possible so the farm can keepanimal numbers, batch counts, revenue, and sale history accurate.

A sale record may include:

•   sale date
•   animal or batch sold
•   number of pigs sold
•   buyer
•   average sale weight
•   price
•   total revenue
•   notes

Recording sales properly helps the farm understand what was sold, when it was sold, and what income was generated.

13.2. Selecting Animals Or Batches Sold

A sale can be linked to individual animals or to a batch, depending on how the farm manages records.

Use individual animal selection when:

•   pigs are tracked separately
•   breeding animals are sold
•   specific animal history matters
•   you need to mark named animals as sold

Use batch selection when:

•   pigs are sold as a group
•   growers or finishers are managed in batches
•   the farm records group-level performance
•   individual animal IDs are not required

Selecting the correct animal or batch keeps active counts and sales history aligned.

13.3. Capturing Buyer Details

13.4. Recording Sale Weight, Price, And Revenue

13.5. Reviewing Sales History

Sales history helps the farm understand what has been sold over time.

It can support questions such as:

•   how many pigs were sold this month?
•   which batches generated revenue?
•   what was the average sale weight?
•   which buyer purchased the pigs?
•   what price was achieved?
•   how much revenue came from each batch or period?

Sales history is useful for farm owners, managers, accountants, and anyone reviewing business performance.

13.6. Connecting Production Records To Commercial Output

The value of sales records increases when they are connected to animal, batch, weight, feed, and health records.

This connection helps the farm understand not only what was sold, but how the pigs performed before sale.

For example, the farm can review:

•   starting count vs number sold
•   mortality before sale
•   weight gain over time
•   feed used
•   treatments recorded
•   sale weight
•   sale revenue

This closes the loop between daily farm activity and business outcome.

Good sales records help the farm move from “we sold pigs” to “we understand how this batch performed and what it contributed to the business.”

14. Reports And Insights

14.1. Understanding Management Reports

Reports & Insights helps turn daily farm records into management information.

The Dashboard is useful for seeing what needs attention today. Reports & Insights is useful for reviewing performance over time.

Reports can help the farm answer questions such as:

•   how many pigs are currently active?
•   how are breeding animals performing?
•   how many piglets are being born and weaned?
•   where are losses happening?
•   are batches growing as expected?
•   what sales were recorded?
•   which areas need management attention?

The quality of reports depends on the quality of records entered. The more consistently the farm records activity, the more useful the reports become.

14.2. Breeding Reports

Breeding reports help farms review reproductive activity and pipeline performance.

They may include information such as:

•   services recorded
•   animals served
•   pregnancy status
•   returns to heat
•   expected farrowing
•   breeding outcomes
•   breeding activity by period

These reports help managers understand whether the breeding programme is moving as expected and whether follow-up actions are needed.

Breeding reports are useful for reviewing service success, missed actions, and reproductive planning.

14.3. Farrowing And Litter Reports

14.4. Sow Productivity Reports

14.5. Mortality Reports

Mortality reports help farms understand animal losses.

They may show mortality by:

•   animal
•   batch
•   stage
•   pen or location
•   date range
•   suspected cause
•   production group

Mortality reporting helps the farm identify where losses are happening and whether patterns are developing.

For example, repeated losses in a specific batch, pen, or stage may indicate a health, environment, management, or nutrition issue that needs attention.

14.6. Growth And Weight Reports

Growth and weight reports help farms review whether animals or batches are progressing as expected.

They may include:

•   individual weight history
•   batch average weight history
•   weight gain over time
•   weight trajectory against target
•   animals or batches behind target
•   sale readiness indicators

These reports are especially useful for grower and finisher farms.

They help managers identify performance issues earlier instead of waiting until the planned sale date to discover that pigs are behind target.

14.7. Batch And Sales Reports

Batch and sales reports connect production activity to commercial output.

Batch reports may show:

•   starting count
•   current count
•   stage movement
•   mortality
•   feed use
•   weights
•   health activity
•   sales linked to the batch

Sales reports may show:

•   sale date
•   buyer
•   animals or batches sold
•   number sold
•   average sale weight
•   price
•   revenue

Together, these reports help the farm understand how batches performed from start to sale.

This is especially valuable for farms that buy weaners or growers and want to monitor growth, cost, mortality, and sales return.

14.8. Exporting Data For Review

Exporting data allows the farm to share records outside LivestockIQ when needed.

Exports may be useful for:

•   management review
•   vet discussions
•   accountant or business review
•   compliance records
•   buyer reporting
•   offline analysis
•   backup and documentation

Before exporting, select the relevant date range, farm, report type, or workflow.

Exported data is most useful when records are entered consistently and key fields are completed correctly.

Reports and exports help ensure that the work staff do every day becomes useful information for management decisions.