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Types of data: life data, session data, and animal IDs
Types of data: life data, session data, and animal IDs

Understanding the different data types and how they are handled in Datamars Livestock cloud software

Moon Greathead avatar
Written by Moon Greathead
Updated over a week ago

There are three different types of data that can be imported into Datamars Livestock: life data, session data, and IDs.

It's important that data is imported as the correct type in order for Datamars Livestock to handle and display data in the way that makes the most sense.

Life Data

Life data is data that stays the same for the lifetime of the animal and doesn't change.
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For example:

  • Breed

  • Sex

  • Date of Birth

If you have the data in Datamars Livestock, you can choose life data to view,

and individual animal life data.
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When new session files are imported and there is a change to Life Data, this will be updated for that animal in all places.

If you are importing a session file saved on your computer, the default is to create the field as Life Data unless it matches specific field names that are recognised as Session Data. If you are importing directly from a Tru-Test device, Datamars Livestock will create the field using the same field type as it is on the device.


Session Data

Session Data is data that can change between sessions, or is information the animal can have multiple of over their lifetime.

For example:

  • Weights

  • BCS (Body Condition Scores)

  • Treatments

  • Offspring VIDs

Session Data can be viewed on the Sessions or Animals screens by choosing the column you want to view.

Select any animal to see individual Session Data for that animal.

To import data as Session Data the best way is to create the field on your Tru-Test device as Session Data and import it directly from there. If importing files manually, by default new columns will be created as Life Data, unless the column name matches a specific list of pre-determined Session Data fields.


ID Fields

ID fields are IDs of animals.

For example:

  • VID (Visual ID)

  • EID (Electronic ID)

  • LID (Life ID)

Every animal needs to have at least one ID in order for it to be created in Datamars Livestock.

Note: When retagging an animal with a new ID it is important you use the retag functionality on your Tru-Test device. This will write an Animal Note with the old ID so that Datamars Livestock can correctly find the existing animal and update it's ID. If you forget to use the retag functionality and Datamars Livestock creates a new animal when importing, you can fix the session in Excel and re-import it.


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As IDs are used to find and update animals they must be unique for each animal that will ever be on your farm. This means that:

  • Electronic IDs cannot be reused

  • Visual IDs must be unique - we recommend including the year of birth in your visual number such as in the first two digits, for example: VID 18105 would be the 105th animal to be born in 2018

When importing custom fields created as ID fields on your Tru-Test device via Data Link or directly from the 5000 series they will automatically be created as ID fields in Datamars Livestock.
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Note: If you have two animals which share the same ID these two different animals may appear as a single animal in Datamars Livestock, or you may have errors importing data as it is not clear which animal is the correct one.
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