As with all industries, the alpaca industry has its own software applications designed to manage your herd. Herd management, medical, calendar 'To Do' lists, financial, shows, fleece, and other aspects of the alpaca industry will be found to one extent or another in the software applications listed below. Applications run from your office computer or via the Internet.

The name of each application is a link to that software application's web site. Following the name of an application is a brief description of that application, based upon my look at the software. In other words, the descriptions are personal evaluation. How you operate will differ, even if only slightly, from the operation of New Moon Alpacas.

Please use the information below to review each application as to your needs and the way you work. Also note that one software developer may have an announcement in March 2009.

As I discover additional software that may assist alpaca breeders, or other sections of the industry, I will add those applications here. I am also searching for software that assists in the operation (process flow) of fiber mini-mills.

Herd Management

• Alpaca Database -- A free Microsoft Access database designed to record alpaca information from Australia. The database accepts photographs (Adobe Photoshop or other formats) and Microsoft Word description files. Downloaded as a compressed file (.zip), included are the database, a desktop icon to link to the database, and sample graphic and Word files.

• NEW -- AlpacaEASE -- AlpacaEASE, version 5, is now available. The software offers four modules (calendar, herd management, contacts, and financial) in one application. Most operations are through the herd management module, whether you are adding and including information for an alpaca, recording medical, breeding, or show data. A user guide, in Acrobat format (.pdf) is available from the web site, as is a 30-day trial version. AlpacaEASE is available as both Windows and Mac software, using FileMaker Pro10 database design software. AlpacaEASE also extacts data during setup from ARI.

• Alpaca Manager  -- Alpaca Manager is an alpaca herd management software designed for ARI (USA and Canada) and BAS (United Kingdom), along with New Zealand and Australian support for the AGE (Across-Herd Genetic Evaluation) Project, yet offering IAR (International Alpaca Registry) Registration details. The web site offers an Internet demo when you click the Play Demo button. Alpaca Manager is designed as a Microsoft Access 2000 database application or later.

• Alpaca Tracker Software -- Alpaca Tracker Software is a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet available from Alpha Omega Alpacas, listed on AlpacaNation.

• NEW -- Alpaca Herd WORKS -- Alpaca Herd WORKS has been released by Heritage Farm Suri Alpacas. The software is a FileMaker Pro 9 database design software, currently available for both Windows and Mac. The software is unique in that you can use the setup wizard to display your herd information in ARI and extract that data directly to Alpaca Herd WORKS. In addition, the wizard extracts the pedigree of an alpaca (you must display each of your alpacas individually) to your database. Further, the wizard will assist you in extracting your data from AlpacaNation to your database. The calendar feature offers a section to schedule activities, with additional tabs for Almanac and Moon cycle information. A 30 day trial version is available for download.

• AIM (formerly Ark) -- AIM consists of standard and professional versions. The standard version includes five modules (Calendar and Scheduling, Contacts and Vendors, Data Management, Data Management Utilities, and User Preferences). The professional version adds four additional modules (Pedigree and Progeny Workshop,  Gestation Planning, ark Xtra, and ark Forms Designer). The Data Management and Gestation Planning modules are the main elements. You need to contact the company for a demo disk.
  
  Breeders Toolkit -- Breeders Toolkit is a Windows based herd management application available from Berrima International Pty Ltd, Australia . The single page web site contains links to the application's main window, with the buttons found there linked to appropriate sections. From the main window, you have alpaca details, certified males (Huacaya and Suri separate), show results, color (dam or sire), progeny (dam or sire), My Herd, Check Licenses Status, Mating Family Tree, Alpaca Family Tree, and Search Member Details. An e-mail address from the main web site page is available apparently for additional details.

• HerdMaster -- HerdMaster focuses on the British registry organization, yet is designed to include other (USA and Australian) organizations. Software setup (vendors, owners, farm tasks, reports, etc) is through the Program Manager section. The Add or Change Data section accepts data about your alpacas and breedings. Actions use wizzards (a series of dialog boxes on which you make selections or add data). A 90-day trial version is available. You subscribe to HerdMaster through a monthly fee rather than purchase the software.

• Herd-Logic -- Herd-Logic (formerly LamaLogic) offers modules for alpacas, lamas, and other livestock. The application records information in Animal Care (Medical Health; Weight, height, body score; and, Breeding topics), Herd Management (Managing Your Herd and Herd Information Manager HIM topics), and Fleece - Fiber categories. This software also offers pasture maintenance and rotation, fieece analysis, and feed records. A demo CD is available from the Canadian developer. TechWest Solutions Inc. took over ownership of Herd-Logic in late 2006. (Note - May be available. I am checking.)

• New - Homestead Manager -- Currently in beta testing. This software will record information for alpacas and other larger farm animals in a single database system.

• Optimate AlpaFarm -- AlpaFarm is an alpaca specific application from Australia.  The application consists of five modules (Breeding Cycle, Alpacas, Paddocks, Finances, and References), with those modules associated with the four editions of the software (trialware, wether, breeder, and enterprise). A download trialware version of AlpaFarm is available (approximately 6 MBytes), with one version specific to Australia and New Zealand, and a different version identified as specific to the USA.

• Paca + -- Paca + opens with a window of buttons, with each button a different module within the application. The application consists of six modules (Animals, Ranches, Shows, Breedings, Group Functions, and Reports).  The bottom half of the application window consists of ten setup utility buttons. From the web site you can download a demo of the application, a Lotus ScreenCam presentation that displays the application's features.

• Pakatrak --  Pakatrak is a Microsoft Access 2000 based application. If you do not have MS Access 2000 (to include a newer version of MS Access) the installation process installs a runtime version of MS Access 2000. Pakatrak includes eight separate application modules - Individual Record, Set Up Info, Maintenance, Group Records, Money Management, Reports, Schedule, and Queries. Each module includes separate tabs on which you record information. For example, the Individual Record module on which you record your alpacas offers eight tabs (Registration, Ancestry, Breeding, Fleece, Medical, Awards, Money, and Mortality) for recording information about each alpaca. And, those tabs offer sub-tabs (for example, Fleece offers Shearing, Confirmation, and Statistics) for data about your animals. The report module is extensive, offering both print and preview for each report, list, or contract. Pakatrak offers invoices, sales, agist, and stud service contracts. To move from one module to another, you must exit the open module and then open a different module. When you purchase Pakatrak, send a copy of your ranch/farm logo to be incorporated into the software for all printing. Pakatrak is also available from Useful Llama & Alpaca Items

Send mail to denise@newmoonalpacas.com with questions or comments about this web site.
Copyright © 2004-2010 New Moon Alpacas
Last modified: 7/15/2010