Static vs. Smart Groups
Choosing between a static and smart group depends on how you want membership to be managed. This article compares the two types to help you decide which is right for each situation.
Comparison
| Feature | Static Group | Smart Group |
|---|---|---|
| Membership | Manual — you add and remove animals yourself. | Automatic — animals matching the criteria are included. |
| Updates | Only changes when you make a change. | Updates dynamically whenever animal data changes. |
| Best for | Sale lots, specific pens, one-time groupings. | Production stages, status-based views, ongoing filters. |
| Adding animals | Add individually or via bulk action. | No action needed — matching animals are included automatically. |
| Removing animals | Remove individually or via bulk action. | Animals leave the group when they no longer match the criteria. |
When to Use a Static Group
- Sale lots — You’ve hand-picked a set of animals to sell together.
- Working pen — A specific batch of animals being processed.
- Historical grouping — A record of animals that were together at a point in time.
When to Use a Smart Group
- All active calves — Automatically includes all animals with type “Calf” and status “Active.”
- Bred cows — Automatically includes cows with breeding status “Pregnant.”
- Animals in a pasture — Automatically includes animals assigned to a specific pasture.
- Recent purchases — Automatically includes animals purchased in a date range.
Can I Convert Between Types?
No. A group’s type is set when it is created and cannot be changed afterward. If you need a different type, create a new group and move or re-add animals as needed.