HerdFlow Support

HerdFlow features a built-in AI Assistant accessible via the ⍰ icon in the top right-hand corner of the Main Ribbon, which draws upon resources like the User Manual to provide support. 

HerdFlow requires an internet connection to record transactions and generate reports. It is designed for browser-based access on PCs, laptops, or larger tablets.

Business Units are the first tier under the Company Structure that can be reported separately, they will usually be a standalone property or aggregation of properties within close proximity or similar country types and production of each other. Within a Business Unit there can be multiple enterprises that can also be reported separately such as breeding compared to growing or seedstock enterprises. There is more information about Business Units, including an example diagram, on page 4 of the HerdFlow Quick Start Guide. 

The Company Structure menu is located under "Setup" on the main ribbon. It is recommended to map out your business structure before setup. HerdFlow accommodates multiple tiers: Company, Business Unit, Enterprise, and Location.

Each Company can have multiple Business Units, Enterprises, and/or Locations. Business Units should be distinguished if there are different management responsibilities or if they have different geographic or production conditions. Enterprises should be distinguished by activity type, such as Breeding, Growing, or Seedstock production.

Animal Production Scenarios are used by the system to calculate Animal Units, Growth Paths, and Attributed Emissions based on the productivity of a specific scenario.

You can find their setup under the "Setup" heading in the main ribbon. HerdFlow provides three default scenarios (High, Moderate, Low Productivity Zones) based on annual steer liveweight gain.

Users can also add their own custom scenarios.

Default mortality rates can be set by selecting "Default Mortality Rate" under the Setup Menu.

You can apply a default mortality rate for each combination of Age (in Years), Sex, and Reproductive Status, which applies across the entire company for all periods.

HerdFlow uses Meat and Livestock Australia’s (MLA) NLRS market indicators for pricing internal transfers, budgeted transactions, and opening/closing inventory.

The Default Pricing Adjustment allows users to automatically apply a percentage increase or decrease to these national indicators to better reflect their specific operation's geographical or market influences.

These adjustments automatically flow through to transactions and inventory valuation, though they can be manually overridden for specific transactions.

Period setup and management are located under the "Setup" menu. The reporting period type (Calendar or Financial Year) is set upon subscription activation and applies company-wide.

Periods apply to Business Units and their underlying Enterprises and Locations.

You can create a period by selecting the relevant Business Unit and using the "Add Period" button, then completing fields like Year, Budget Percentile, and Enterprise Emissions Factors.

Periods can be closed by an Admin user once all conditions are met (e.g., no prior periods open, all pending transactions approved, a Reclassification transaction recorded).

Admin users can also re-open periods, which opens all following periods simultaneously.

User management is located under "Setup" then "Access Menu".

You can grant access using the "Set Access" button by entering the user's email address.

Access can be granted at a Company or Business Unit Level.

Multiple access levels are available: Admin, Edit (all years), Edit (current year), View, and None.

Access levels can be managed by any user with Company-wide Admin access.

HerdFlow allows you to record various livestock transactions including Purchases, Sales, Transfers, Class Transfers, Natural Increases, Deaths, and Reclassifications.

Budgeted transactions are also possible for Premium users.

A Reclassification transaction can be undertaken at any time.

However, it must be performed on the last day of each period to reconcile HerdFlow records against your physical animal records, which is necessary to close a period.

It also allows for adjusting annual deaths through the "Additional Deaths" column.

Yes, HerdFlow has an import function to bring in multiple transactions, saving time on data entry.

You can access this feature via the brown "Import" button on the Transactions page.

An Import Template is available for correct formatting. Note that this process is for new transactions and cannot be used to amend or update existing ones.

HerdFlow offers four main reports in the Standard subscription:

• HerdFlow Annual Performance
• HerdFlow Stock Return
• HerdFlow Sales Analysis
• HerdFlow Herd Emissions.

Premium subscribers also have access to the HerdFlow Management Group Schedule.

This is the main report and includes three sections: Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), a table outlining Gross Profit calculations with a waterfall chart, and a duplicate of the HerdFlow Stock Return report.

KPIs include Kg Produced per Animal Unit, Annualised Average Animal Unit, Gross Profit per Animal Unit, Reproduction Rate, and Mortality Rate.

Animal Units (AU) are used to standardise animals of different classes and species on a common basis.

HerdFlow uses AE (Animal Equivalent) and DSE (Dry Sheep Equivalent).

An animal unit rating (AE/DSE) represents an animal's energy demand relative to a standard animal (e.g., 450kg Bos Taurus steer for AE, 45kg merino for DSE).

Animal units are calculated monthly based on animal numbers, movements, and the Animal Production Scenario, then averaged for an annualised figure.

1. Enter all transactions for the relevant period including the reconciliation via the reclassification transaction. HerdFlow>Transactions
2. Generate the Annual Performance Report and review the Stock Return under the metrics to ensure all information is captured. HerdFlow>Reports>Annual Performance
3. Click on the reported Reproductive Rate bubble to open further detail on the calculation. This outlines the calculation and displays the relevant data alongside a visual and explanatory notes.
   
4. Review the Reproductive calculation and output and record any Adjustments by selecting the green transaction button.
    
5. Use the generated Reproductive Rate in combination with the other HerdFlow Metrics as key performance indicators for your herd. They can be used to set goals and to measure the impact of business decisions.

The Mortality Rate is calculated using the formula: [Annual Recorded Deaths] / [12Month Average Head].

This includes specific death transactions recorded by the user, as well as calculated deaths based on default mortality rates and any additional deaths adjusted in the Reclassification transaction.

HerdFlow's emissions calculations align with the Sheep and Beef Greenhouse Accounting Framework (SB-GAF Version 2.4 Monthly).

It captures livestock information and reports on Scope 1 (enteric fermentation, manure, N2O from urine & dung, N2O atmospheric deposition, N2O leaching & runoff) and Scope 3 emissions (from purchased cattle).

It's recommended to complete these calculations when a year is 'closed' in the platform.

Yes, exportable reports are a key feature. You can export the current display into a PDF or Excel. Many reports and their click-through sub-reports have specific fields available for export.