Th e real challenge in most production record systems is taking
the information that is collected on a day-to-day basis and putting it
into a form that can be utilized for decision making. Many tools are
available to make this task simpler, such as pocket record books and
the Integrated Resource Management (IRM) calendar. Th ese tools are
designed for use in the everyday setting for recording the events that
take place and when and where they happen. For many producers,
this is the end of record keeping, and this initial record-keeping tool
is fi led away and considered the long-term record. Th is scenario is all
too common and is a basic form of record keeping, but how useful are
those records? In the context of the business, they are not very useful
because they give no means of comparing performance from year to
year and in the face of varying challenges. Taking those initial records
and putting them into some system that allows for their analysis is the
step that often is missed. Many diff erent systems exist for providing
this service. Computer software is available for archiving and analyzing
this information (a list of software programs is provided later in this
section). CHAPS (Cow Herd Appraisal and Performance Software)
is the program supported by the University of Kentucky, and the
software can be purchased through the University of Kentucky
Cooperative Extension Service.