The Digital Heartbeat of Dairy Cows
Therio Dairy Guide
Last updated: February 2026 - Therio Editorial Team
Summary
The leading dairy herd management platforms in 2026 are DairyComp 305, BoviSync, and Afimilk, according to Therio's comprehensive directory of 539+ dairy technology solutions from 160+ companies across 18 categories. These three platforms represent the spectrum from legacy on-premise depth to modern cloud-native flexibility. Choosing the right herd management software affects day-to-day efficiency, data quality, and your ability to integrate with parlor controllers, genetic services, and veterinary platforms.
The industry-standard dairy records system
DairyComp 305 remains the most widely used dairy herd records system in North America for large commercial operations. Its breadth of event recording, customizable protocols, and tight integration with breed registries and DHIA make it the default choice for high-volume operations, despite its legacy desktop-first design.
View ProfileModern cloud-based dairy herd management
BoviSync is the leading cloud-native alternative to DairyComp, with a strong mobile app, clean UI, and growing integration library. Particularly well-suited for mid-size operations that want accessible records from any device without managing on-premise servers.
View ProfileIntegrated herd management and precision dairy
Afimilk offers a tightly integrated platform combining herd management software with their own milking and monitoring hardware. Strong choice for operations building a complete Afimilk ecosystem, with deep milk recording, activity monitoring, and reproduction management in one platform.
View ProfileFarm management for Lely robotic milking operations
Lely Horizon is the herd management hub for farms running Lely robotic milking systems. Its deep integration with Lely Astronaut robots provides seamless data flow from individual cow milking events to herd-level management decisions. Best suited for fully automated Lely farms.
View ProfileSensor-driven herd monitoring and management
SCR's SenseHub platform combines ear tag sensors with herd management software to deliver real-time alerts on heat, health, and nutrition status. Complements rather than replaces a full herd records system, but increasingly capable as a standalone tool for sensor-first operations.
View ProfileIntegrated parlor and herd management system
Dairymaster's management software is built around their milking equipment platform, offering tight parlor-to-herd integration for farms using Dairymaster equipment. Strong rotary parlor support and solid reporting for compliance-heavy markets.
View Profile| Platform | Cloud-Based | Mobile App | Breed Registry Sync | Parlor Integration | Pricing Model |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DairyComp 305 | Partial | Limited | Yes (Holstein) | Yes (many controllers) | Site license |
| BoviSync | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Per-cow subscription |
| Afimilk | Partial | Yes | Yes | Yes (own hardware) | System + subscription |
| Lely Horizon | Yes | Yes | Via integration | Yes (Lely robots) | Bundled with hardware |
| SCR SenseHub | Yes | Yes | Via integration | Via API | Hardware + subscription |
| Dairymaster | Partial | Yes | Via integration | Yes (own equipment) | Bundled with hardware |
Dairy herd management software is a platform that centralizes records and data for individual animals in a dairy herd. It typically includes animal identification, event recording (calvings, treatments, breedings, dry-offs), health protocol management, reproduction tracking, milk production records, and reporting. Most systems integrate with parlor controllers, milk meters, and breed registries to reduce manual data entry.
DairyComp 305, developed by Valley Agricultural Software, is the most widely used dairy herd records system in North America. Its longevity stems from deep functionality, extensive parlor controller integrations, strong breed registry connections, and a large base of veterinary and consulting support built around its event and protocol system. While its interface is dated by modern standards, its depth of functionality and industry ecosystem keep it dominant on large commercial dairies.
Herd management software (like DairyComp or BoviSync) handles animal-level records: health events, reproduction, pedigree, and lifecycle data. Parlor management software (like DeLaval DelPro or GEA DairyPlan) controls the milking process: milk yield per cow, milking intervals, detachment settings, and parlor alerts. Many farms run both systems with data flowing between them, though some modern platforms attempt to combine both functions.
Yes, many herd management platforms can receive genomic results from major providers like Clarifide (Zoetis), Accelerated Genetics, and others. Integration quality varies by platform. Some offer direct two-way API connections; others require file import/export. When evaluating platforms, ask specifically about integration with the genomics provider you use.
Cloud-based dairy software offers significant advantages for most modern operations: access from any device, automatic updates, no server maintenance, and easier multi-user access for vets and consultants. The main drawback is internet dependency. Operations with poor connectivity, or those in regions with data sovereignty concerns, may prefer on-premise or hybrid solutions. The trend is strongly toward cloud-native platforms.
Dairy herd management software pricing varies widely by platform type and herd size. Cloud-based per-cow subscription platforms typically range from $1 to $3 per cow per month for basic plans, with higher tiers for advanced features. Site license models for legacy systems like DairyComp 305 can run from $5,000 to $20,000+ depending on herd size and feature set. Hardware-bundled systems from equipment manufacturers like Lely or DeLaval are often priced as part of an equipment package. The Therio Dairy Directory's 50+ herd management product guides include available pricing information where vendors have made it public.
Browse all 50+ dairy herd management platforms and related products in the Therio Dairy Directory, including detailed guides for software, parlor systems, and monitoring tools.
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