I am looking for linux software to run a beef cattle opration. I've looked everywhere I can think of. Any suggestions?

Not sure about cattle operations but if you could give us an idea of what you want the software to do exactly we might be able to point you in the right direction

I need to be able to track health records, pedigree, breeding, maybe location, if sold/died, etc.

Thanks

I'd be amazed if there is some form of Linux built specifically for that task. The problem is one of organising things to achieve the objective, same as you would with Windows. A possible way of achieving this would be using spreadsheets.

You have a wide choice with Linux but it would seem that one with a spreadsheet option would be useful, unless you are prepared to buy special software designed for some similar type of operation - more likely with Windows than Linux.

DerekW

You need a couple of things:
A front end, GUI, graphics web site etc.
A back end, Database, MySql Postgres etc

If you like computers have some extra time on your hands and can handle a very rewarding challenge just do it yourself. There might be a livestock software package out there but I guarantee it's just a front portion for the users to work with and back portion for storing the user information, and I bet if it does exists some lame ass company is charging 20,000 dollars for the software and end user support; and the only reason that same company is doing it because some guy like you needed the application and did the extra work and created the software, which probable runs like crap, anyway. I do IT support for a living and we have lots of customers who get suckered into spending a fortune on software because it's target at their business.
Their always saying, "It's worth the money because it's written specifically for the Payday Loan Business, or wholesales glass cutting service." I've seen some of the worst programs sell for 20 and 30 grand because someone added the buyers inventory models to a table in the back end or makes a reference in the front end to types of cow breeds.
If you don't have more than 20-25 users use Microsoft Access for the front end, and just store the database on a Linux Server, Samba.
You can at least get started even though MS Access sucks, it will help you understand database design, it's upgradeable to an Enterprise solution, and someone might have even wrote a way to use access with MySQl.

IF not lazy like the average IT person, and can remember and apply what you read, start playing
with PHP, Apache, and MySQL. You can create a web based cow app with PHP, and have Mysql storing all the breeds, deaths, anything you want for the backend. If you worked on it, reading and trying examples, 10-20 hours a week you would have it in a month or two and be able to get something working. Once you get it up, and can connect
and start storing information everything else becomes easier.
People always act like it takes a special type of brain to create programs, or only really intelligent people can grasp it. If that was the case we wouldn't have any software out in the world. All it takes is motivation.
95% of all computer techs don't know crap, and 99.5% of computer techs think they know everything.

I too have been looking for a pedigree or animal management programme in Linux for a long time. There isn't one.

The programme I use is Breedmate, for Windows.

It runs very nicely on Ubuntu 6.06 via WINE.

Here is the address: http://www.breedmate.com

Yes, it costs money but it works.

CORRECTION

Breedmate lacks considerable functionality when run via WINE.

I was so excited when I could open Breedmate in Wine that I did not check that it was fully functional.

Please accept my apology.

After two weeks of thorough testing, I can advise that Breedmate (Pedigree Explorer 5.4) works 100% using CodeWeaver's CrossOverLinux (the refined variety of WINE).