WHAT IS BeefPro? MISSION - Bonsmara Breeders Association

WHAT IS BeefPro?
BeefPro is a professional beef cattle management software package developed to make record
keeping, administration, performance testing, selection, breeding, registration and general beef
cattle management more easy and efficient. The program was developed specifically to meet
the needs of the South African stud breeder and commercial producer, but in such a way that it
caters for the needs of most, if not all, farmers. It is a joint venture between a private software
house, BenguelaSoft CC, and the Agricultural Research Council (ARC).
MISSION
BenguelaSoft’s mission is to make BeefPro the market leader in beef cattle
management software in South Africa by:
• Providing beef cattle farmers with a professional, scientifically based, reliable,
comprehensive, yet easy to use, product.
• Providing training through courses and on an individual basis to all our customers.
• Providing a reliable and friendly customer support service through our network of
agents.
• Constantly improving our product through the application of the latest technologies,
consultation with relevant role players in the industry and listening to our customers'
comments and needs.

IS BeefPro A GOOD PROGRAM?
Since its release in September 2005, BeefPro is already used in 13 countries on four
continents. In South Africa BeefPro is already endorsed by 19 breeders’ societies (see list
below) and used by hundreds of stud breeders and commercial beef cattle farmers.
The ultimate test, however, is the experience of BeefPro users regarding our programme and
our service. Also, of course, if they regard the programme as value-adding to their farming
enterprises. Based on the feedback we're receiving from BeefPro users, we are confident that it
is an excellent program - definitely a market leader. Please see the Farmers' Comments page or
contact us for references of farmers in your area or your cattle breed.
BREEDERS’ SOCIETIES IN SA ENDORSING BeefPro
Afrikaner, Angus, Bonsmara, Boran, Beefmaster, Braunvieh, Charolais, Drakensberger, Gelbvieh,
Hereford, Hugenoot, Nguni, Pinzgauer, Red Poll, Santa Gertrudis, Senepol, South Devon,
Sussex, Tuli
FEATURES
• BeefPro was developed by a private software house, BenguelaSoft CC, and the
Agricultural Research Council (ARC) of South Africa
o Developed specifically for the needs of SA farmers, but developed in such a way that it
caters for the needs of most, if not all, farmers
o Meets the requirements/needs of SA Stud Book and the ARC (National Beef Recording
and Improvement Scheme), BreedPlan, Namibian Stud Breeders Association and most
breeders' societies
o Ensures peace of mind and application of newest technologies and research results
• Data recording, verification and processing according to ICAR (International
Committee for Animal Recording) guidelines
• Equally suitable for commercial and stud herds
• MS Windows operating system (Windows 7 compatible)
• Afrikaans, English, Spanish and Portuguese language options
• Program can be installed on more than one computer of a client at no additional
costs.
• More than one herd of a client (e.g. stud and commercial herds) can be loaded on
the program at no additional costs.
• The only beef management software with country wide user support and
marketing via ARC officials and private agents
• Easy updating directly from the internet website www.beefpro.net
• User friendly
o Logical menu as well as shortcut buttons for quick access to frequently used functions
o Step-by-step help functions
o User-customised main screen for easy and fast look up of all animal data
o Graphic display of weights, breeding values and rainfall
o Quick and easy data input screens – standard & user-defined
o Powerful search, sort and selection functions

o Very powerful functionality to compile user-defined reports with save functions for
report name, layout and criteria filters
o All reports can be saved in MS Word, MS Excel, Rich Text, PDF or HTML format
o Easy sending of electronic data and reports
o Animal data navigator window for easy and quick view, add, edit, delete and generating
list type reports of selected animal data
o User-customised menu and screen layouts, specifically for commercial breeders who do
not use all the functions and fields available in BeefPro.
• Continuous user-driven development and upgrading
o The ARC keeps a “Wish list” of users’ requests/proposals and co-ordinates priorities for
new developments/improvements
FUNCTIONS
• Comprehensive herd management programme for record keeping, processing and
reporting of:
• Owner defined management groups (calving seasons, performance test groups,
farms & camps, etc.)
• Matings and AI
• Pregnancy tests
• Calvings
• Pedigrees and registration
• Embryo flushing & implants
• Weights
• Performance testing – all phases, all traits
• Inspections
• Linear classification (functional evaluation)
• Purchases (including price, weight, previous owner)
• Animal Movements (between camps, groups, herds and/or localities)
• Sales, Culls and Mortalities (including price, reason, grading/classification, buyer)
• Inoculations and Dosing
• Other Management procedures (dehorning, castration, etc.)
• Illnesses, Injuries and Treatments
• Photos, awards and general notes
• Rainfall (per location)
• Stock
• The only beef management software with performance data processing according
to SA Stud Book and the ARC’s protocol, formulas, methods and adjustment
factors.
• The only beef management software that stores official (Stud Book/ARC) and
BeefPro calculated indexes, etc. separately
• A comprehensive list of management, selection and marketing reports:
o Matings, Pregnancies and Calvings
Inbreeding Percentages of Possible Matings
Breedable Heifers and Cows (recording list)
Matings (recording list)
Heifers and Cows for Pregnancy Examination (recording list)
Heifers and Cows near Calving (recording list)

Birth Notifications
Heifers and Cows Calved / Not calved (recording list)
Matings and Pregnancies
Existing Matings
Reproduction and Pregnancy
Mating Summary per Bull and/or Season
Semen Stock
Embryo Flushings
Embryo Flushings and Implants
o Illnesses – Prevention and Treatment
Inoculations, Dosing and Procedures (recording list)
Inoculations and Dosing
Illnesses, Injuries and Treatments
o Weights and Performance Testing
Weigh lists (recording list)
Performance Test Data (input documents)
Performance Test Results - all phases, all traits
Weights and Gains
Weights of Individual Animal
Breeding Values
Other Traits (Body Measurements, RTU measurements, pelvic
measurements, tick counts, etc.)
o Animal Lists and Counts
Stock Count (per category, including equivalent LSUs & market values)
Herd list (Per capita)
Compare BeefPro Herd List with INTERGIS Herd List
o Animal, Pedigree and Progeny
Animal Summary
Progeny summaries – Cows & Bulls
Pedigrees
Related animals
o Inspections and Selections
Inspection List (recording list)
Breeding Herd Selection (with options to mark poor performers)
Scores Report
o Auctions and Sales
Sale catalogues
Sales
Transfers
Cancellations
o User Defined Reports
Animal Data
Contacts and Addresses
o Administrative
Animals without Computer Numbers
Animals without Official Performance Test Data
Log of Files and Reports
o Other Reports

Procedures Report
Lists of Codes and Descriptions
Management Group lists
DNA Profile Request
Diary Entries
o Averages and Trends Reports (calculate averages, etc. and display trends of any group
of animals for any trait)
• Calculate weigh dates for performance testing
• Electronic data importation and exportation
o Electronic transfer of animal ID numbers and weights to/from electronic scales
o Database population with data from INTERGIS/Logix and/or certain beef management
software and/or another BeefPro programme.
o Sending mating and AI data, birth notifications, transfers, cancellations and
performance test data (weights, etc.) to SA Stud Book and the ARC in the format
required by INTERGIS/Logix
o Importation of computer numbers and official performance test data (Phases A, B, C &
D) supplied by INTERGIS/Logix
o Importation of breeding values supplied by SA Stud Book and the ARC
o Sending DNA services (e.g. parentage determination) request
o Sending data to SA Stud Book for ordering an official sale catalogue
o Sending Phase C and D performance test application forms to SA Stud Book and the
ARC
o Sending animal photos to INTERGIS/Logix
o Data (pedigrees and breeding values) exchange with GenePro Breeding Module
o Exporting and importing animal data (e.g. of sold/bought animals) to/from other
BeefPro users
o Sending birth notifications, weights, transfers and cancellations to BreedPlan
o Importation of computer numbers and breeding values supplied by BreedPlan
• Stock registers for:
o Animals in herd
o Vaccines and Remedies
o Medicines
o Semen
o Embryos
o Miscellaneous Stock (licks, feed, grain, etc.)
• Management calendar and diary
o Comprehensive, integrated management calendar that can be customised according to
your specific needs (A great way to organise and streamline your herd's
management tasks.)
o Record routine and ad hoc management tasks
o Reminders of tasks to be performed
• Address list
o Name, postal address, telephone, cell & fax numbers, e-mail addresses, etc.
o Print address labels
o Handy for marketing of animals, placing orders and requesting services
• Calculate inbreeding percentages for possible matings
o Prevent unplanned inbreeding
• Extensive data verification functions

o Warnings if invalid data is entered or essential data is missing
o Preventing invalid/incomplete data being sent to Studbook/ARC, e.g.:
Invalid parent, weight or test dates
Missing computer number
Invalid age variation in test group
• Backup and restore functions, including backup reminders
• Breeding management module, namely GenePro, as an additional, optional
module to BeefPro. With this software, which is fully integrated with BeefPro,
you can determine the best matings to achieve the breeding objectives for your
herd. For more info on GenePro, go to the GenePro website at
www.genepro.co.za.
• BeefCattleTrader is an additional, optional module to BeefPro whereby BeefPro
users can advertise their animals on the internet and where prospective buyers
can search for animals. For more info on BeefCattleTrader, go to the website at
www.beefcattletrader.com
MANAGEMENT, BREEDING AND SELECTION INFORMATION
Following is a summary of the management, breeding and selection information
provided by BeefPro:
• Management Calendar and Diary:
o Farmer-customised management calendar
o Reminders (in BeefPro’s diary) of management activities to be performed
o Work list of animals/activity for recording of relevant data
• Animal Numbers and Lists:
o Number of animals in herd (per animal category), including live stock units, tax values, &
market values
o Number and lists of animals per camp and/or farm
• Pedigrees and Progeny Summaries:
o Extended pedigrees (unlimited number of generations)
o Progeny summaries with numbers and averages for all traits
o Relationships of a specific animal with other animals
• Breeding, Pregnancy and Calving:
o Inbreeding calculation (current animals and planned matings)
o Determine best matings (via GenePro, an optional module)
o Heifers & cows ready to be bred
o Heifers and cows to be pregnancy tested
o Heifers & cows pregnant/not pregnant
o Period pregnant
o Expected calving dates
o Pregnancy percentages per breeding group / bull / season
o Heifers & cows near calving
o Heifers & cows calved / not calved
o Calving percentages per breeding group / bull / season

o Percentage calves born alive
• Reproduction and Calving:
o Age at first calving
o Age at last calving
o First inter-calving period
o Last inter-calving period
o Average inter-calving period
o Days since last calving
o Reproduction index
o Birth weight ratio
• Performance Testing:
o Weights:
• Animals to be weighed
• Weight gain and ADG for any period
o Pre-wean, Wean, 12- and 18 Months Weights:
• 100 day adjusted weight, ADA and index
• 205 day adjusted weight, ADA and index
• Cow efficiency index
• Weaning weigh ratio
• Percentage calves weaned
• Production per productive year
• 365 day adjusted weight, ADA and index
• 540 day adjusted weight, ADA and index
o Central, On-farm and Feedlot tests:
• Weight gain for any period
• Average daily gain and index
• Average daily gain per day of age and index
• Feed conversion ratio and index (Phase C)
• Kleiber ratio and index
o Body Measurements:
• Adjusted scrotum circumference
• Adjusted shoulder height (or hip height)
• Adjusted body length
• Length/Height ratio
o Tick Resistance:
• Tick resistance index (Phase D)
o Carcass Traits (RTU Measurements):
• Intramuscular fat (marbling) percentage and index
• Carcass red meat percentage and index
• Muscle percentage and index
• Predicted kg red meat

o Pelvic Measurements:
• Adjusted pelvic opening size and index
• Retention of Progeny (Registered/Stud Herds):
o Number and percentage of progeny approved (per sex and total)
• General:
o Averages and trends for any trait per group and period
FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS
• Integration with Pocket PCs (with Windows Mobile operating system)
• Integration with ARC’s range and forage programme (Stock Manager)
WHY BeefPro?
BenguelaSoft CC’s aim with the development of BeefPro is to assist all beef cattle farmers
(commercial and stud) in making all aspects of record keeping and management of their herds
more easy and efficient. In short, to help you, the farmer, to make more profit. Therefore our
slogan: BeefPro - Your profit partner.
The ARC’s Animal Production Institute is off course in an ideal position to develop a
programme that will meet the needs of all beef cattle farmers. To highlight a few of
these aspects:
• The ARC’s Animal Recording and Improvement group has first hand access to the
protocol, procedures, calculation methods, correction factors and standard values that
are used for processing of performance test data.
• The ARC’s Animal Recording and Improvement group carries out ongoing research to
develop and refine these aspects.
• According to legislation such research results are the ARC’s intellectual property and it
may NOT be made available to other institutions. In effect this means that BeefPro is the
only beef cattle software package in which the calculation of indexes, adjusted weights,
etcetera is exactly the same as the official calculations of the National Beef Recording
and Improvement Scheme.
• The ARC is a member of the International Committee for Animal Recording (ICAR) and is
therefore at the forefront of international developments (and contributes valuable input)
with regard to animal recording, performance testing and breeding value estimations.
• The ARC’s Animal Recording and Improvement group has a large capacity and wide
infrastructure (especially via our regional offices and technical personnel). This puts us in
a very favourable position to provide country wide and even world wide client services
for BeefPro in terms of marketing, installation, training, user support, determining
users' future needs, etcetera.

DOES BeefPro CATER FOR COMMERCIAL AND STUD HERDS?
As mentioned before, BeefPro is equally suitable for both commercial and stud herds. It can be
used either as an independent beef herd management programme or as an integral part of stud
breeding and/or performance testing through SA Stud Book and the National Beef Recording
and Improvement Scheme of the ARC. Most of the management functions BeefPro caters for
(e.g. linking of animals to management groups, matings & AI, pregnancy tests, calvings,
weighings, performance testing, illnesses, injuries, treatments, purchases, sales, culls,
mortalities, stock registers and rainfall) apply to all cattle – irrespective of if they are stud or
commercial animals. Only a small number of functions in BeefPro which are directly linked to
registration/stud breeding of animals (e.g. inspections and linear classification) will be used
mainly by stud breeders.
Regarding performance testing, BeefPro is the only beef management software which does all
performance data processing exactly according to SA Stud Book and the ARC’s National Beef
Recording and Improvement Scheme. Most commercial beef cattle farmers will only be
interested in index calculations on traits recorded on cows, calves and replacement heifers (e.g.
weaning weights of all calves and post weaning weights of replacement heifers). Only the few
functions in BeefPro which relate to growth tests of bulls (e.g. feed intake, body measurements
and ultrasonic measurements of carcass traits), will probably not be used by commercial beef
cattle farmers.
The only other BeefPro functions that commercial beef cattle farmers who are not members of
the ARC’s National Beef Recording and Improvement Scheme will not use are the functions for
electronic data sending to and importation from the ARC.
BeefPro provides for customised menu and screen layout settings in order to display only those
functions and fields that he/she will use. These settings can be changed at any time if the need
arises.
COMPUTER REQUIREMENTS
Minimum system specifications:
• IBM-compatible Pentium II or more powerful computer with:
o 128Mb or bigger RAM (depending on Windows version)
o 100Mb hard drive space
o Microsoft Windows 98, 2000, 2003, XP, NT or Vista
Recommended system specifications:
• Pentium IV, 2GHz computer with:
o 1 GIG RAM (for Windows XP); 2 GIG RAM (for Windows Vista)
o 100Mb hard drive space
o Microsoft Windows XP or Vista
PRICE
South Africa:
BeefPro: R4 650 (including VAT and postage)
GenePro: R2 450 (including VAT and postage)

Please Note: Members of breeders’ societies endorsing BeefPro qualify for 5% discount
on the BeefPro price and thus pay only R4 400.
Foreign Countries:
BeefPro: R4 250 or US$580 (excluding VAT, including postage)
GenePro: R2 150 or US$290 (excluding VAT, including postage)
The price includes:
• A CD with the program
• Data transfer of your herd’(s) animals from INTERGIS and/or certain farm software;
• Licence fee for the 1 st year
• Software upgrades for the 1 st year
• User-support for the 1 st year
• Printed “BeefPro Quick Start and Basic Functions Manual”
• Pocket book for recording matings, calvings, weights, etc.
• Packaging and postage.
HOW TO ORDER BeefPro
• Complete the included BeefPro order form with your details.
• Pay the applicable amount into the BenguelaSoft CC account and obtain the proof of
payment. (You’ll find the bank account details, etcetera on the order form). Please
ensure you supply your name (as on the order form) as reference when you make the
payment.
• Fax or email the completed order form with the proof of payment to the fax
number/email address on the order form. If you want to pay by cheque, please send the
completed order form and the cheque to the postal address on the order form.
• Within three days of receipt of your order and proof of payment, a CD with your BeefPro
software, covering letter, Quick Start Manual, INTERGIS data (where applicable),
etcetera will be sent to the postal address supplied on the order form. If it should not be
sent to the postal address on the order form, please supply alternative instructions at the
bottom of the order form.
• Installing BeefPro on your computer and importing your herd’s data (where applicable) is
easy with the step-by-step instructions in the Quick Start Manual. If you need any
assistance, please don’t hesitate to call your local BeefPro agent.
LICENCE FEE (compulsory)
Licence fee per program per year:
South Africa: R625 (including VAT)
Foreign Countries: R570 or US$80 (excluding VAT)
The fee includes renewal of user access, all software upgrades and free* user-support.

MORE INFORMATION
PROJECT LEADER:
OFFICE NAME TELEPHONE CELL EMAIL
Irene Leslie Bergh 012 672 9145 082 801 2026 leslie@arc.agric.za
AGENTS:
Bloemfontein Bernard Burger 051 410 0900 082 965 7603 bernard@studbook.co.za
Bethlehem Martiens Aveling 083 309 7355 aveling@telkomsa.net
Cedara Vacant*
Port Elizabeth Sakkie van der Merwe 041 486 1760 082 537 1487 sakkie@arc.agric.za
Potchefstroom Johan de Jager 083 305 1042 jjager@arc.agric.za
Stellenbosch Tinus Viljoen 021 809 3327 072 470 8386 viljoent@arc.agric.za
Vryburg Dolf Cloete 082 660 3266 dolf@studbook.co.za
* BeefPro users in KZN are currently serviced by Leslie Bergh, Johan de Jager and Martiens Aveling
Web site: www.beefpro.net
BeefPro
Professional Beef Management Software
TM
Your profit partner