CattleMax Alternatives for Cattle Records (2026)

CattleMax is one of the longest-running cattle record programs (since 1999, per its site), with Commercial at $30/month and Purebred at $41/month billed yearly. It's a solid choice, but it isn't the only one. Here are alternatives in our directory and who each one fits. Prices are as listed on vendor sites when we checked; confirm before buying.

Alternatives by situation

Small or starter herds: Breedr

Breedr prices by head count, starting at $2/month for up to 50 head, then $35/month up to 300 head. That makes it the cheapest way in our directory to try dedicated cattle software.

Whole-farm records: Farmbrite

Farmbrite covers livestock plus crops, tasks and finances, from $29/month. Good if cattle are one of several enterprises.

Grazing-focused: AgriWebb or PastureMap

AgriWebb and PastureMap put pasture and grazing data alongside herd records, which suits rotational graziers.

Phone-first: Herdwatch

Herdwatch focuses on quick event and treatment entry on a phone.

Records plus weather and AI: DANA FARMS

DANA FARMS combines livestock and pedigree records with weather alerts and an AI assistant, and has a free live demo.

Free: farmOS or a spreadsheet

farmOS is free and open source if you're comfortable hosting it. For very small herds, a disciplined spreadsheet still works.

How to switch

1. Export your current records to CSV.
2. Check that the new tool can import animals, dam/sire and treatment history.
3. Run both side by side for one working (preg check or weaning) before canceling.

See our full cattle record-keeping guide for what features matter most.

Tools in this guide

1. CattleMax

   Cattle record-keeping software for tracking animals, breeding, calving and herd performance.

   Pricing: Commercial $30/mo, Purebred $41/mo (billed yearly), per cattlemax.com/pricing; free trial · Herd & Cattle Records

2. Herdwatch

   Livestock management app for recording animal events, treatments and compliance on the phone.

   Pricing: See site · Herd & Cattle Records

3. Farmbrite

   Farm and ranch management software covering livestock records, crops, tasks and finances.

   Pricing: Livestock plans from $29/mo ($290/yr); $49 and $79/mo tiers; free trial (farmbrite.com/pricing) · Herd & Cattle Records

4. Breedr

   Livestock app focused on weights, performance data and marketing cattle and sheep.

   Pricing: From $2/mo (up to 50 head); $35/mo (300 head); $95/mo (1,000 head); $235/mo (2,000 head) (breedr.co/pricing) · Herd & Cattle Records

5. Performance Beef

   Cattle management platform aimed at feedyards and backgrounders.

   Pricing: See site · Herd & Cattle Records

6. HerdDogg

   Smart ear tags and readers that collect animal ID and activity data.

   Pricing: See site · Herd & Cattle Records

7. AgriWebb

   Livestock and grazing management software for recording herds, paddocks and inventory.

   Pricing: Essentials plan listed from $0; paid tiers priced by animal numbers (agriwebb.com/pricing) · Herd & Cattle Records

8. DANA FARMS

   Farm and ranch software with livestock and pedigree records, frost and weather alerts, and an AI farm assistant (GAIA); offers a free live demo.

   Pricing: See site · Herd & Cattle Records

9. Digital Beef

   Registry and herd management software used by several beef breed associations.

   Pricing: See site · Herd & Cattle Records

10. Datamars Livestock

    Animal ID tags, readers and weighing equipment (including Tru-Test and Z Tags brands).

    Pricing: See site · Herd & Cattle Records

11. CowManager

    Ear sensor system that monitors cattle health, fertility and feeding behavior.

    Pricing: See site · Herd & Cattle Records

12. Allflex Livestock Intelligence

    Animal identification and monitoring tags from MSD Animal Health.

    Pricing: See site · Herd & Cattle Records

13. farmOS

    Free, open-source farm management and record-keeping software you can self-host.

    Pricing: Free (open source) · Herd & Cattle Records

14. Equestria

    Barn management software for horse operations (health tracking, invoicing, scheduling); states it is free.

    Pricing: Free (as stated on site) · Herd & Cattle Records