Teen Creates App For Calving Records

Teen Creates App For Calving Records COMPUTERS Keeping records on calves was much easier this spring for about 6 000 producers thanks to an app developed by Ellen Schlechter of Orient S Dak At 17 she and her cousin Xavier Schlechter created the business around her “The Calving Book” application for Android and iOS platforms Data can be recorded right in the field on a smart phone or other electronic device Schlechter worked on the electronic tracking system for two years with insight on what categories to include based on her experience growing up in a family that raises about 600 beef cows “Before we just recorded information in a notebook one for each of the two pastures ” Schlechter recalls As the most tech savvy member of her family with the most time she was asked to come up with a better system After finding a platform online she customized it to fit the operation and set it up for multiple users At the Schlechter ranch family members check pastures in the morning and evening during calving season They start a file for each newborn when it is tagged and vaccinated Stored in the cloud the information can be exported to computers as PDF and Excel files “Instead of flipping through pages to find records for a calf we can just do a search ” Schlechter says The app allows producers to customize fields of information they want to include beyond the basics of birthdate and gender to color sire/dam udder grade comments etc Schlechter continually updates the app she first released in November 2014 based on producers’ suggestions and her family’s needs She currently offers three versions Lite is a free introductory version that only displays on the phone and doesn’t have search or export features Pro sells for a one-time fee of $19 99 and has search and export features divides records according to pasture or year and has alerts With Plus at $25 producers can add records offline and it includes fields for breeding weaning and pregnancy checks All can be downloaded from the Apple App Store and Google Play Store While designed for beef or dairy some customers have adapted the program for lambs and horses As her cousin introduces the app to producers at shows Schlechter a high school junior is working on adding new features for more offline capabilities and for generating reports “This has kind of surprised me I never saw myself going in this direction ” Schlechter says adding she plans to major in business after she graduates from high school Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Ellen Schlechter The Calving Book App 35173 SD Hwy 26 Orient S Dak 57467 ph 605 870-1213; www thecalvingbook com; thecalvingbook@gmail com  

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