Mobile Apps & Dashboards Category Guide

What Are Mobile Apps & Dashboards?

Mobile apps and dashboards are phone and tablet interfaces that display herd data, enable data entry, and provide alerts and action lists accessible from anywhere on the farm. They bring the information from your herd management software, sensors, and equipment into a portable, easy-to-use format.

Why Mobile Access Matters

Dairy farmers spend most of their day in barns, parlors, and fields—not at a desk computer. Mobile access means the information you need is available when and where you need it: checking a cow's history while in the pen, recording treatments at the headlock, or reviewing alerts during feeding.

Key Benefits

• Real-time information: Access current data without walking to the office
• Point-of-care entry: Record events immediately, reducing forgotten entries
• Alert notifications: Receive health, reproduction, and equipment alerts anywhere
• Action lists: See daily tasks and protocols on your phone
• Photo and note capture: Document observations with images and voice notes

Common Mobile Features

Animal Lookup

Search by ID, RFID scan, or visual tag number to pull up complete animal records including production, health history, reproduction status, and notes.

Event Recording

Enter treatments, breeding, health events, and observations directly from your phone. Many apps support barcode or RFID scanning for drug recording.

Action Lists

See cows due for breeding, scheduled treatments, dry-off lists, and other daily tasks organized by location or priority.

Alerts & Notifications

Push notifications for health alerts, heat detection, equipment problems, and task reminders.

Dashboards

At-a-glance summaries of key metrics—today's milk production, fresh cow checks, reproduction activity, bulk tank info.

Platform Options

Herd Management Apps

Mobile versions of major herd management software (Dairy Comp, VAS, BoviSync, etc.) that sync with your desktop system.

Sensor & Equipment Apps

Manufacturer apps for specific systems—activity monitors, milking equipment, feeding systems—showing real-time data and alerts.

Unified Dashboards

Third-party apps that aggregate data from multiple sources into one mobile interface.

Do You Need Mobile Apps?

Consider mobile apps if:

• You or staff spend significant time away from the office
• Data entry is often delayed or forgotten
• You want faster response to health and reproduction alerts
• Multiple people need access to herd information simultaneously
• You're looking to improve protocol compliance and documentation

Mobile apps may be less critical if:

• Your office is adjacent to the barn and always accessible
• You prefer paper records and manual systems
• Internet/cellular coverage on your farm is poor

Cost Considerations

Many mobile apps are included with herd management software subscriptions. Standalone apps may be free or cost $10-50/month. The main costs are the devices themselves (phones, tablets) and ensuring reliable connectivity.