Livestock & Dairy

Livestock & Dairy Expense Tracker - User Guide

Overview

The Livestock & Dairy Expense Tracker is a web-based application designed to help farmers and agricultural businesses monitor and manage their operational expenses. This tool provides comprehensive tracking across various expense categories, automatic calculations, and data backup capabilities.

Getting Started

1. Basic Information

• Company Name: Click on the "(company detail)" field next to "Company:" to enter your farm or business name
• Date: Select the relevant date using the date picker

2. Entering Expenses

The application is organized into several expense categories:

1. Animal Purchase & Breeding
   • Purchase of livestock
   • Breeding fees/artificial insemination
   • Pregnancy testing
2. Feed & Nutrition
   • Hay, silage, and grain feed
   • Mineral supplements
   • Pasture maintenance
   • Feed storage & handling
3. Veterinary & Health Care
   • Veterinary services
   • Vaccinations & medicines
   • Parasite control
   • Hoof trimming
4. Housing & Infrastructure
   • Barn construction/repairs
   • Fencing materials & repairs
   • Milking parlor equipment
   • Water supply systems
5. Dairy Equipment & Maintenance
   • Milking machines
   • Milk storage tanks & cooling systems
   • Equipment cleaning supplies
   • Equipment repairs & servicing
6. Labor & Wages
   • Salaries for farmhands
   • Overtime pay
   • Seasonal labor costs
7. Utilities
   • Electricity for barns & equipment
   • Water supply & pumping costs
   • Heating/cooling for livestock housing
8. Transportation & Logistics
   • Livestock transport costs
   • Milk collection & delivery costs
   • Fuel & vehicle maintenance
9. Licensing & Compliance
   • Livestock registration fees
   • Dairy farm licenses & permits
   • Environmental compliance costs
10. Insurance
    • Livestock mortality insurance
    • Farm property insurance
    • Liability coverage
11. Miscellaneous & Overheads
    • Bedding materials
    • Recordkeeping software/farm management tools
    • Marketing & sales expenses

To enter expenses:

• Locate the relevant category
• Type the amount in the corresponding field
• All fields accept numeric values only (no currency symbols needed)
• The application automatically calculates subtotals and the net total

Features

Automatic Calculation

• Each category automatically calculates a subtotal
• The net total updates in real-time as you enter values
• All values are formatted with two decimal places

Data Management

Save to Local Storage

• Click "Save to local" to store your data in your browser
• Data is automatically saved as you make changes (autosave feature)

Backup Data

• Click "Backup (Download JSON)" to download a complete copy of your data
• The file will be named with a timestamp for easy identification

Restore Data

• Click "Restore (Upload JSON)" to upload previously saved data
• Select your backup file to restore all information

Export CSV

• Click "Export CSV" to create a spreadsheet-compatible file
• Useful for further analysis in programs like Excel

Print

• Click "Print" to generate a printer-friendly version of your expense report

Clear All Data

• Click "Clear All" to reset all fields to zero and remove saved data
• You'll be asked to confirm this action

Tips for Effective Use

1. Regular Updates: Enter expenses regularly to maintain accurate records
2. Backup Frequently: Download JSON backups after significant updates
3. Use Categories: Take advantage of the detailed categories for better expense tracking
4. Review Subtotals: Monitor category subtotals to identify major expense areas

Technical Notes

• Data is stored locally in your browser (localStorage)
• The application works offline after initial load
• Compatible with modern browsers (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge)
• Responsive design works on mobile devices and tablets

Support

For technical issues:

1. Ensure you're using a supported browser
2. Check that JavaScript is enabled
3. Clear your browser cache if experiencing problems