Electronic data

The Signet Beefbreeder service has the facility to accept data in an electronic format. Supplying data in this format enables results to be uploaded directly to the database, reducing operator error and enabling results to be processed faster.

This approach is particularly useful for larger herds and those with their own on-farm software.

The following files can be submitted to Signet

• Animal Records (to include details of new calves) - Template
• Weight Records - Template
• Census - Template

File specification for sending cattle records to Signet in an electronic format (Version 10. 17^th November 2020)

1). Animal Records (to include new calves born)

For data to be uploaded it needs to be supplied in the exact format shown overleaf. There are 30 fields in total, but only 10 are compulsory and many fields (such as ET recipient or Breed) will have a standard replicated entry.

These notes assume records will be sent using an Excel spreadsheet or csv file.

User notes:

• All UK born animals born since 1^st January 2000 must have a UK ear number. Older cattle and imported animals can be entered with a herdbook number.
• Sire and dam identities need to match Signet records exactly – extra or missing, spaces or dashes within ear number fields will cause records to be rejected.
• If you need to check the Signet recognised UK number or Herdbook Number for a sire or dam known to Signet, please check it using “Quick Search” on the Signet website www.signetdata.con
• Sires and dams must be no more than 16 years older than their progeny
• Sires and dams must be at least 200 days older than their progeny
• Although Prefixes and Names of up to 50 characters can be used, long IDs should be avoided as they may create reporting problems
• Owner and Breeder Herdmark is the numeric part of the holding identifier in the UK number. For herd “UK 123123” the herdmark will be “123123”.
• Breed Name and Breed Code – use exact Signet recognised breed name (see table)
• Where a sire or dam is not known to Signet, the parent’s details should be supplied as a separate record. This approach allows multi-generational pedigrees to be uploaded.
• The Constituent Breed/Sixteenths of Breed column can be left blank and these will be assigned based on the parents breed make up. If Breed 16^ths are assigned, the four sixteenths of breed boxes must equal 16.

File specification for animal records

The list shows the exact field name to be used, followed by any notes relating to the expected content.

2). Weight Records

Signet clients can export weights directly to Signet. Signet requests the raw weights collected on the day, not weights that have been adjusted to 100, 200, 300 days etc.

User notes:

• All weight records must be reported against a UK ear number.
• UK ear numbers need to match Signet records exactly – extra or missing spaces or dashes within the UK ear number field will cause records to be rejected.
• Weight should be measured in kilogrammes – to the nearest whole number
• Each animal weight record must be assigned to a management group.
• Only one weight record per animal can be uploaded at a time (but the Signet team can sub-divide the file if needed).

3). Census data

Recording census data couldn't be easier - just provide a two column file listing the UK Ministry Tag for the cattle that have died or been sold and note their new status in the second column.