Help & How-To

Get started with THE Herd Manager

This page walks new users through the fastest way to get up and running, including bulk import, daily use, install steps, and common issues.

Best first steps

  1. Open or install the app on your phone, tablet, or desktop.
  2. Create your farm and invite team members if needed.
  3. Import your animals from Excel CSV or add a few manually.
  4. Start logging movement, breeding, health, and tasks from the field.
Fastest setup option: use the bulk import tool so you do not have to type every animal in one by one.
Bulk Import

How to import animals from Excel

Step 1: Start with a template

Download one of these ready-made files so your columns match the importer:

Download Excel Template Download CSV Template

Use these columns: Name, Primary Tag, Secondary Tag, Species, Breed, Sex, Birth Date, Birth Weight, Notes, RFID

Required fields: Primary Tag, Species, Sex

Excel tip

Set Primary Tag, Secondary Tag, and RFID columns to Text in Excel. These are IDs, not numbers, so Text formatting prevents scientific notation and dropped digits.

Step 2: Save as CSV

  1. Open your spreadsheet in Excel.
  2. Choose File → Save As.
  3. Select CSV UTF-8 (Comma delimited) if available.
  4. If that option is not available, use CSV (Comma delimited).
  5. Do not upload an .xlsx workbook to the current importer.

Step 3: Import in the app

  1. Open the Animals screen.
  2. Tap Import.
  3. Choose your CSV file.
  4. Review the validation summary.
  5. Fix any row errors in Excel if needed, save again as CSV, and retry.
  6. Tap Import to bring the valid rows into your farm.

Common import errors

  • Missing Primary Tag: every imported animal must have a Primary Tag.
  • Missing Species or Sex: both are required.
  • Duplicate Primary Tag: the same tag cannot appear twice in the file or already exist in the farm.
  • Wrong file type: upload a .csv file, not .xlsx.
Daily Workflows

Using the app day to day

Add or edit animals

Add animals manually, edit details, link parents, and keep animal profiles organized.

Track movement

Record single-animal or batch movements between pastures, farms, sale barns, or other locations.

Manage breeding

Track breeding events, exposure groups, pregnancy checks, due windows, and outcomes.

Log health events

Record treatments and health history per animal so nothing is lost later.

Assign tasks

Create farm tasks and assign them to members so everyone stays on the same page.

Export records

Export CSV anytime for backup, reporting, and future compliance workflows.

Billing

How billing works

One subscription per farm. The farm admin controls billing.

  • Up to 4 farm members are included.
  • Only the farm admin manages the subscription.
  • Invited members use the farm’s active subscription access.
Install

Install on your device

Android (Chrome)

  1. Open Chrome and go to the-herd-manager.web.app.
  2. Tap the ⋮ menu.
  3. Tap Install app or Add to Home screen.
  4. Confirm and the app icon appears on your device.

iPhone / iPad (Safari)

  1. Open Safari and go to the-herd-manager.web.app.
  2. Tap the Share button.
  3. Tap Add to Home Screen.
  4. Tap Add.

Desktop (Chrome / Edge)

  1. Open the-herd-manager.web.app.
  2. Click the install icon in the address bar or use the browser menu.
  3. Select Install.
  4. The app opens in its own window like a normal program.
Troubleshooting

Common issues

  • I chose an Excel file and it failed: save it as CSV and upload the .csv file instead.
  • The importer says a tag already exists: that Primary Tag is already in your farm records.
  • I do not see the latest app changes: close and reopen the installed app or refresh the browser.
  • A farm member cannot manage billing: only the farm admin controls the subscription.
Still stuck? Use the contact page and tell us what you were trying to do, what device you were on, and what error you saw.

Ready to start?

Install the app and try importing your animals first. That is the fastest way to see the value.

Open / Install App
Video Help

Prefer to watch instead?

We are also posting walkthroughs and updates on YouTube.

Open YouTube Channel