What Are Movement Records?

Movement records document every time an animal changes location. From one paddock to another, between enclosures, across facilities, or off your property entirely.

These records are not just administrative bookkeeping. They create an audit trail essential for biosecurity, traceability, and regulatory compliance. Every movement tells part of the animal's lifetime story.

Why Record Movements?

Biosecurity: When disease is suspected, movement history identifies which animals have been in contact. This enables rapid quarantine response.

Traceability: Regulatory authorities can trace animals from birth through every location change. This supports food safety and disease control.

Location accuracy: Your current animal counts by location stay accurate when movements are documented.

Contact tracking: Know which animals shared locations and when. This is critical for breeding records and disease investigation.

Regulatory compliance: Many jurisdictions require documented movement records for livestock, endangered species, and food-producing animals.

Historical record: Complete movement history shows the animal's geographic journey over its lifetime.

When to Record Movements

Daily management:

• Moving animals between paddocks or pastures
• Rotating grazing areas
• Transferring animals to different pens or enclosures
• Moving sick animals to isolation areas

Facility transfers:

• Animals arriving at your facility (purchase, rescue, transfer from another facility)
• Animals departing your facility (sale, donation, transfer to another facility)
• Temporary movements (veterinary clinic visits, breeding loans, exhibition)

Biosecurity:

• Moving animals into quarantine
• Releasing animals from quarantine to general population
• Isolating sick animals
• Separating exposed animals during disease investigations

Special events:

• Wildlife translocations for conservation
• Zoo animal transfers for breeding programmes
• Livestock sales and purchases
• Animal rescues or rehabilitations

Guideline: If an animal's location changes, record the movement. It takes 30 to 60 seconds and creates permanent traceability.

Recording Movements: Basic Workflow

Step 1: Select the Animal

• Open animal record (search by name, ID, or scan QR code)
• Navigate to movements section

Step 2: Create Movement Record

• Click or tap "Record Movement" or similar button
• Movement form opens

Step 3: Document Movement Details

Movement Date: When the movement occurred (usually today, but can record past movements)

From Location: Where the animal is moving from

• Select location and subdivision (if applicable)
• Auto-populated with animal's current location

To Location: Where the animal is moving to

• Select destination location and subdivision
• Or select "Third-Party Location" for off-property movements (sales, transfers)

Step 4: Add Movement Reason (Optional but Recommended)

• Brief note explaining why animal moved
• Examples: "Grazing rotation", "Quarantine isolation", "Sold to buyer", "Exhibit transfer", "Veterinary treatment"

Step 5: Additional Notes (Optional)

• Any relevant context: transport details, health status, conditions of sale, transfer agreements

Step 6: Save Movement

• Click or tap "Save"
• Animal's current location updates automatically
• Movement record added to history
• Traceability event created automatically

Time required: 30 to 60 seconds

Automatic Traceability Updates

When you record a movement, Kora automatically:

Updates animal's current location - Animal record shows new location immediately

Creates traceability event - Immutable audit trail entry documenting the movement

Updates location inventories - Source location count decreases, destination location count increases

Maintains movement history - Complete chronological record of all movements

Enables biosecurity tracking - Identifies which animals shared locations for contact tracing

You do not need to do anything special. Just record the movement. Kora handles the compliance and audit trail automatically. Full traceability details are covered in Chapter 12.

Third-Party Movements (Sales and Transfers)

Third-party locations are destinations outside your management (buyer properties, other facilities, auction yards).

Recording sales:

1. Record movement as normal
2. Select "Third-Party Location"
3. Enter buyer or recipient details:
   • Name
   • Address (optional)
   • Contact information (optional)
4. Check "Animal Sold" if ownership transfers
5. Add sale details in notes (price, conditions, transport details)
6. Save

What happens:

• Animal marked as "Exited" from your active inventory
• Complete record remains in system for traceability
• Buyer information preserved for audit purposes
• Movement history shows final destination

Recording transfers (non-sales):

• Same process as sales
• Do not check "Animal Sold" if you retain ownership
• Use for breeding loans, exhibition transfers, temporary veterinary care, conservation translocations

Movement History

Viewing movement history:

• Open animal record
• Navigate to "Movements" tab or section
• See chronological list of all movements from birth to present

What movement history shows:

• Date of each movement
• Source location and destination
• Who recorded the movement
• Movement reason and notes
• Duration at each location

Why history matters:

• Regulatory audits: Authorities verify movement records during inspections
• Biosecurity investigations: Trace disease exposure through location sharing
• Breeding records: Verify animals were at same location during breeding period
• Dispute resolution: Movement records provide objective documentation
• Historical analysis: Identify patterns (frequent moves = stress, stable location = better outcomes)

Movement Examples Across Contexts

Example 1: Dairy Farm - Grazing Rotation

• Animal: Daisy (Cow A001)
• From: Riverside Farm → North Paddock
• To: Riverside Farm → South Paddock
• Date: Today
• Reason: "Grazing rotation - North Paddock grass recovering"
• Notes: "Moved with 12 other cows, all healthy"
• Result: Daisy now in South Paddock, automatic location update

Example 2: Zoo - Exhibit Transfer

• Animal: Tembo (African Elephant)
• From: City Zoo → Quarantine Facility
• To: City Zoo → African Savanna Exhibit
• Date: Today
• Reason: "Quarantine period complete, cleared for exhibit introduction"
• Notes: "Health check normal, weight stable, cleared by veterinarian Dr. Smith"
• Result: Tembo moved to public exhibit, quarantine ended

Example 3: Wildlife Reserve - Conservation Translocation

• Animal: Juma (White Rhinoceros)
• From: Savanna Wildlife Reserve → Northern Territory
• To: Coastal Wildlife Reserve → Rehabilitation Zone (Third-Party Location)
• Date: Last Friday
• Reason: "Conservation breeding programme, genetic diversity initiative"
• Notes: "Transported by specialised wildlife transport, GPS collar active, received by Dr. Jones at destination. Breeding loan agreement on file."
• Result: Juma transferred to partner facility, ownership retained, movement documented

Example 4: Veterinary Clinic - Sale to Owner

• Animal: Whiskers (Cat-2024-089)
• From: City Vet Clinic → Recovery Ward
• To: Third-Party Location (Owner's Home)
• Date: Today
• Reason: "Post-surgery recovery complete, discharged to owner"
• Notes: "Owner: Jane Smith, 123 Main Street. Sutures removed, follow-up in 10 days."
• Animal Sold: No (client-owned, returned to owner)
• Result: Whiskers discharged, clinic record shows final location

Common Movement Scenarios

Scenario 1: Rotating Paddocks

• Weekly grazing rotation across 5 paddocks
• Move mob of 30 cattle from Paddock A to Paddock B
• Record one movement for mob (group movement)
• Or record individual movements if tracking each animal separately
• Takes 1 to 2 minutes for mob, 30 minutes for 30 individual movements

Scenario 2: Quarantine Isolation

• New animal arrives on property
• Immediate movement to quarantine subdivision
• Movement reason: "30-day quarantine - new arrival"
• After 30 days and health clearance, second movement to general population
• Movement history shows quarantine compliance

Scenario 3: Wildlife Capture and Release

• Wildlife capture for health assessment
• Movement from "Northern Territory" to "Veterinary Facility"
• After examination, movement back to "Northern Territory - Release Site"
• GPS coordinates document exact release location
• Movement history proves animal returned to wild

Scenario 4: Sale at Auction

• Move livestock to auction yard (third-party location)
• Movement recorded with auction details
• After sale, buyer information added to record
• Animal marked "Sold"
• Movement history shows complete chain of custody from birth through sale

Batch Movements (Moving Multiple Animals)

Moving entire groups:

• Some operations support batch movement (move 20 animals at once)
• Record one movement applying to all selected animals
• Much faster than individual movements

When to use batch movements:

• Paddock rotations with entire herds
• Mob movements between locations
• Group transfers or sales

When to use individual movements:

• Moving specific animals for medical care
• Individual sales or transfers
• Precise tracking requirements

Check your Kora instance for batch movement capabilities. Availability varies by configuration.

Mobile vs. Desktop for Movements

Desktop advantages:

• Easier typing for detailed notes
• Selecting locations from dropdown menus
• Recording multiple movements in sequence
• Reviewing movement history

Mobile advantages:

• Record movements immediately while in the field
• QR code scanning for quick animal selection
• GPS auto-capture for wildlife release coordinates
• On-the-spot documentation during livestock handling

Recommended approach: Use mobile for field movements (paddock rotations, wildlife work). Use desktop for detailed record-keeping (sales, transfers with extensive notes).

Best Practices for Movement Records

Record movements promptly: Document movements when they happen, not days later when details are forgotten.

Include movement reasons: Future users (and auditors) understand context. "Grazing rotation" explains why, not just where.

Be accurate with dates: Use actual movement date, especially for regulatory compliance.

Document third-party details: Complete buyer or recipient information supports traceability.

Use notes for unusual circumstances: Transport problems, weather delays, health observations during movement. Add relevant details.

Review movement history periodically: Ensure location accuracy. Identify animals moved frequently (possible stress indicator).

Movement Records and Biosecurity

Movement records are critical for biosecurity response:

Disease outbreak scenario:

1. Animal diagnosed with contagious disease
2. Review movement history: where has this animal been?
3. Identify other animals at those locations (contact tracing)
4. Quarantine all exposed animals
5. Movement history provides complete contact network

Prevention:

• Documented movements enable rapid response
• Without movement records, contact tracing is guesswork
• Complete records can contain outbreaks before widespread transmission

Biosecurity is covered in detail in Chapter 11, but movement records are the foundation.