Cattle management guides
Move cattle records from spreadsheets to software
Moving herd records is easier when you treat it as a careful handoff instead of a one-click project. Keep your original files safe, prepare a clean animal list, and check a sample before you rely on the new system.
Prepare your cattle spreadsheet
Start with an inventory of the files you use: animal lists, breeding notes, health logs, weights, and financial records. Decide which information belongs in the new system and which files you will keep as an archive.
- Make an untouched copy of every source file and store it somewhere separate from the working copy.
- Choose one consistent primary animal ID. Keep ear tags, brands, registration numbers, and old IDs in separate columns so they are not confused with one another.
- Use one animal per row, clear column headings, consistent date formats, and no merged cells or decorative title rows. Check for duplicate IDs and blank rows.
- Mark which records are current and which are historical. Keep health, breeding, and measurement histories available in the original files if the new system cannot import them.
Review the data before you import
Compare the spreadsheet columns with the software fields before uploading. Resolve duplicate identifiers, decide how to handle animals that have left the herd, and check a small sample against the original records. If a field does not have a clear destination, preserve it in the source file instead of forcing it into an unrelated field.
Import in stages and verify the result
If the software offers an import preview, review the matched columns, skipped rows, and warnings before confirming. After import, compare the total animal count and several individual records against your spreadsheet. The Chute's current CSV and XLSX import preview is for animal records; it does not import health, breeding, or measurement histories, and preview access may not be enabled for every account.
Keep the old files until the new process works
Keep the original spreadsheets as read-only backups. Agree on who will enter new activity, use the same IDs, and review the first few weeks of entries together. Add historical details only when they are useful and can be checked against a reliable source. You can start with current inventory and move older records over time.