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The Digital Heartbeat of Dairy Cows

DDW Herdnet Platform

By Dairy Data Warehouse (DDW)

Last reviewed: December 2025

Herdnet Platform guide - DDW automated dairy farm data collection. Universal herd software compatibility. Farmer-controlled sharing. GDPR compliant.

Overview

Herdnet is Dairy Data Warehouse's plug-and-play data collection platform that automatically transfers farm data from herd management software to DDW's secure cloud. As the foundation of DDW's analytics ecosystem, Herdnet connects disparate farm systems, standardizes data formats, and enables farmer-authorized sharing with advisors and industry partners.

Snapshot

Product: Herdnet Platform

Company: Dairy Data Warehouse (DDW)

Category: Data Integration & Middleware

Target Users: Dairy farmers, herd management software vendors, milk cooperatives, industry partners

Availability: 50+ countries, compatible with most global herd management systems

The Problem Herdnet Solves

Dairy farm data is fragmented across multiple systems creating major inefficiencies:

  • Software silos: Different vendors use incompatible data formats making data sharing nearly impossible
  • Manual export burden: Farmers waste hours exporting data for consultants, cooperatives, and regulators
  • Error-prone transfers: Manual data entry introduces mistakes and delays
  • Consultant inefficiency: Advisors can't efficiently access client data without farm visits
  • Lost data value: Industry partners lack standardized data for analytics and product development
  • Privacy concerns: Farmers lose control over who accesses their data and for what purposes
  • Herdnet eliminates these barriers by creating a unified, farmer-controlled data pipeline that works automatically in the background.

    How Herdnet Works

    Step 1: Software Detection

    DDW identifies your herd management system and determines the optimal connection method. Compatible systems include DC305, PCDart, DairyPlan, Lely T4C, Uniform-Agri, BouMatic, GEA, and dozens more.

    Step 2: Connector Installation

    A lightweight connector is installed on your farm computer or server. Installation typically takes 15-30 minutes with DDW support assistance. No changes to your existing software are required.

    Step 3: Automated Data Transfer

    The connector runs in the background, automatically syncing data to DDW's secure cloud:

  • Daily sync runs overnight when systems are idle
  • Incremental updates only transfer new or changed records
  • Error handling automatically retries failed transfers
  • Quality checks validate data before storage
  • Step 4: Data Standardization

    DDW's ETL (Extract, Transform, Load) pipeline processes incoming data:

  • Format normalization converts vendor-specific formats to DDW standard
  • Quality validation flags anomalies and missing data
  • Historical alignment maintains consistent time series
  • Cross-reference matching links records across data types
  • Step 5: Access Control

    Farmers maintain complete control over their data:

  • Granular permissions choose exactly what data to share with each party
  • Time-limited access set expiration dates for temporary sharing
  • Revocable access remove permissions instantly
  • Audit trail see who accessed what data and when
  • Key Features

    Universal Herd Software Compatibility

    Herdnet connects to virtually every major herd management system globally:

  • North America: DC305 / Dairy Comp, PCDart / PCDHI, DHI-Plus, DairyComp 305
  • Europe: Uniform-Agri, Herde, Fokus, Keenan InTouch
  • Milking Systems: Lely T4C, DeLaval VMS, GEA DairyPlan, BouMatic, Afimilk
  • Activity Systems: SCR, Nedap, CowManager (where applicable)
  • Custom Systems: File-based transfer for proprietary solutions
  • Real-Time Data Quality Monitoring

    DDW continuously monitors incoming data streams for issues:

  • Gap detection identifies missing days or incomplete records
  • Anomaly flagging spots unusual values requiring investigation
  • Validation scoring rates data quality for each stream
  • Alert notifications inform farmers of data issues needing attention
  • Secure Multi-Region Cloud Storage

    Enterprise-grade infrastructure protects your farm data:

  • Encrypted transmission using TLS 1.3 protocols
  • Encrypted storage with AES-256 encryption
  • Multi-region redundancy for disaster recovery
  • 99.9% uptime SLA for reliable access
  • GDPR compliant meeting European data protection standards
  • Flexible Sharing Controls

    Share your data with confidence:

  • Advisor access enable veterinarians, nutritionists, and consultants
  • Cooperative submission automate milk quality and DHI reporting
  • Genetics partners share reproduction data for breeding programs
  • Research participation contribute anonymized data to industry studies
  • Revoke anytime instantly remove access when relationships change
  • Historical Data Import

    Don't lose your farm's history:

  • Bulk import load years of historical records
  • Format conversion DDW handles legacy file formats
  • Quality validation clean historical data during import
  • Seamless continuity merge historical with ongoing data
  • Proven Results

    Time Savings

  • Eliminate manual exports saving 2-4 hours per month
  • Instant consultant access no more emailing data files
  • Automated reporting cooperative submissions handled automatically
  • Data Quality Improvement

  • 50% reduction in data entry errors through automation
  • Real-time validation catches issues before they compound
  • Complete records no more missing data gaps
  • Enhanced Analytics

  • Enable Predicta GUARDIAN AI health predictions
  • Power Optiherd V2 multi-farm dashboards
  • Unlock benchmarking through standardized data comparison
  • Ideal Users

    Dairy Farmers

  • Progressive operations with electronic herd management software
  • DHI participants wanting streamlined data submission
  • Cooperative members needing automated milk quality reporting
  • Multi-site operations consolidating data across locations
  • Advisory clients working with nutritionists, vets, or breeding advisors
  • Herd Management Software Vendors

  • Cloud connectivity offer customers data backup and sharing
  • DDW integration enable analytics features for your users
  • Partner ecosystem connect to DDW's industry network
  • Milk Cooperatives & Processors

  • Member data collection standardize submissions across farms
  • Quality programs track compliance and improvement
  • Sustainability reporting aggregate environmental metrics
  • Traceability maintain chain of custody records
  • Consultants & Advisors

  • Veterinarians monitoring client herd health remotely
  • Nutritionists tracking feeding program outcomes
  • Breeding advisors analyzing reproduction performance
  • Extension agents benchmarking regional herds
  • Technical Specifications

    Data Types Collected

  • Production: Milk weights, components (fat, protein, lactose), SCC, conductivity
  • Reproduction: Heat detection, breeding events, pregnancy diagnosis, calving records
  • Health: Treatment records, diagnoses, vaccination history, veterinary visits
  • Movement: Pen changes, dry-off events, culling records, fresh cow entries
  • Feeding: TMR batch data, feeding events, intake records (where available)
  • Identification: Ear tag numbers, registration IDs, dam/sire records
  • Connection Methods

  • Direct integration (preferred): Background service connecting to software database
  • File-based transfer: Automatic pickup of CSV, XML, or proprietary export files
  • API connection: For cloud-based herd management systems
  • Manual upload: Web interface for historical data or one-time imports
  • Sync Frequency Options

  • Standard: Daily sync (overnight, 1x per 24 hours)
  • Premium: Hourly sync (for real-time applications)
  • On-demand: Manual sync trigger available anytime
  • System Requirements

  • Operating System: Windows 7+ or Windows Server 2012+
  • Internet: Reliable broadband connection (1 Mbps minimum)
  • Storage: 100 MB for connector software
  • Access: Read access to herd management database
  • Getting Started

    Step 1: Register Your Farm

    Create a DDW account at dairydatawarehouse.com and register your dairy operation with basic farm information.

    Step 2: Software Assessment

    DDW support team contacts you to identify your herd management system and determine the optimal connection method.

    Step 3: Connector Installation

    Schedule a 30-minute remote session where DDW technicians install and configure the Herdnet connector on your system.

    Step 4: Data Validation

    DDW validates initial data transfer, checks quality, and confirms all expected records are flowing correctly.

    Step 5: Permission Setup

    Configure sharing permissions for consultants, cooperatives, or other authorized parties who need access to your data.

    Step 6: Ongoing Monitoring

    Herdnet runs automatically with DDW monitoring data quality and alerting you to any issues requiring attention.

    Training & Support

    Implementation Support

  • Dedicated support specialist guides you through setup
  • Remote installation assistance no on-farm visit required
  • Data quality review validates your connection is working properly
  • Permission configuration helps set up advisor access
  • Documentation

  • Setup guides specific to your herd management software
  • FAQ and troubleshooting for common issues
  • Video tutorials walking through key features
  • Best practices for data quality optimization
  • Ongoing Support

  • Email: support@dairydatawarehouse.com
  • Phone: +31 592 798 995
  • Hours: Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm CET
  • Response time: Within 24 hours for standard issues
  • Pricing

    Herdnet is typically bundled with DDW analytics products:

  • Included with Predicta GUARDIAN subscription
  • Included with Optiherd V2 consultant subscription
  • Standalone pricing available for data sharing only use cases
  • Cooperative programs volume pricing for member groups
  • Contact DDW for specific pricing:

  • Email: inquiries@dairydatawarehouse.com
  • Phone: +31 592 798 995
  • Competitive Advantages

    Pros

  • Universal compatibility with virtually all herd management software
  • Farmer-controlled you decide who accesses your data
  • Automated operation runs in background with no daily intervention
  • GDPR-compliant meets strictest data protection standards
  • Foundation for analytics enables Predicta GUARDIAN and Optiherd V2
  • Quality monitoring catches data issues before they compound
  • Historical import don't lose your farm's data history
  • Multi-region cloud enterprise-grade security and reliability
  • Considerations

  • Requires compatible herd management software
  • Internet connectivity needed for data sync
  • Some software may require additional vendor licensing for data access
  • Related Products

  • Predicta GUARDIAN: AI-powered transition cow disease predictions using Herdnet data
  • Optiherd V2: Multi-farm consultant dashboard powered by Herdnet connections
  • DDW Data Services: Enterprise APIs providing programmatic access to Herdnet data
  • Contact Information

  • Website: [dairydatawarehouse.com](https://www.dairydatawarehouse.com)
  • Email: inquiries@dairydatawarehouse.com
  • Support: support@dairydatawarehouse.com
  • Phone: +31 592 798 995
  • Hours: Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm CET
  • LinkedIn: [Dairy Data Warehouse](https://www.linkedin.com/company/dairy-data-warehouse)
  • ---

    Herdnet: Connect your farm. Control your data. Unlock analytics.

    Key Features

    • Universal Compatibility: Works with DC305, PCDart, DairyPlan, Lely T4C, Uniform-Agri, BouMatic, GEA and more
    • Automated Daily Sync: Background data transfer with no farmer intervention required
    • Farmer-Controlled Access: Granular sharing permissions with audit trail and revocable access
    • Data Quality Monitoring: Continuous validation with anomaly detection and gap alerts
    • GDPR Compliant: Encrypted storage, farmer data ownership, consent management
    • ETL Processing: Extract, Transform, Load pipeline standardizes all data formats

    Ideal For

    Farm Types: Farms with electronic herd management, Operations sharing data with advisors, Cooperative member farms

    Competitive Advantages

    What sets Herdnet Platform apart from alternatives:

    • Works with DC305, PCDart, DairyPlan, Lely T4C, Uniform-Agri, BouMatic, GEA, and dozens more systems
    • Farmer maintains complete control - granular permissions with full audit trail
    • Real-time data quality monitoring catches issues before they compound
    • Foundation for Predicta GUARDIAN and Optiherd V2 analytics products
    • GDPR-compliant with encrypted transmission and storage
    • Historical data import preserves years of farm records
    • Background daily sync requires zero farmer intervention

    Pricing Information

    Here is the pricing information for Herdnet Platform:

    Free with DDW analytics subscriptions. Standalone from $50-300/month based on herd size.

    Pricing Model: Subscription-based SaaS with usage tiers

    Prices verified Q1 2024. Contact DDW for cooperative and volume pricing.

    Pros & Considerations

    Advantages:
    • Universal compatibility with virtually all herd management software
    • Farmer-controlled access - you decide who sees your data
    • Automated daily sync with no manual intervention required
    • GDPR-compliant with encrypted storage and transmission
    • Foundation for Predicta GUARDIAN and Optiherd V2 analytics
    • Real-time data quality monitoring catches issues early
    • Historical data import preserves your farm records
    • Multi-region cloud for enterprise-grade reliability
    Considerations:
    • Requires compatible herd management software
    • Internet connectivity needed for data sync
    • Some software may require additional vendor licensing

    Implementation & Setup

    How to implement Herdnet Platform on your dairy operation:

    Implementation Timeline: 30-60 minutes for most systems with DDW remote support

    Training & Support

    Training and support options available for Herdnet Platform:

    Evaluation Questions

    Key questions to consider when evaluating Herdnet Platform:

    1. Does Herdnet support my current herd management software?
    2. How long does installation take?
    3. Who controls access to my farm data?
    4. What happens if I want to revoke someone's access?
    5. Is my data secure during transfer and storage?
    6. Can I import my historical records?

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    About Dairy Data Warehouse (DDW)

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