Animal cost basis and starting values
An animal's cost basis or starting value records what your Finance records begin with. It is separate from a management value, your estimate of what the animal may be worth today.
Add the animal's starting details
- Open the animal's Finance tab and select Add setup details or Edit setup details.
- Under Acquisition details, turn on Track this animal in my finance book and check the record set.
- Choose Purchased or Bred or born in my program, then enter the acquisition date and Intended use. For a purchased animal, enter the Purchase price if available. Select Save changes.
If a starting value is already recorded, the setup page explains that it must be corrected in Finance instead of overwritten here.
For an animal born in your program, use its birth date. There is no purchase-price field for a newly recorded homebred animal. Use the import or book-value review below if you need to add a starting amount.
Intended use helps organize reports. Choose Not sure yet if you need your accountant's advice.
Import existing animals in bulk
From Advanced records, find Set up animal starting values and choose Import animal starting values. Upload a spreadsheet or paste rows identifying animals already on Creatures. Select Preview and map columns, then match your column headings to the requested details.
Review the rows and the What will be added summary before choosing Import mapped values.
The import does not create animal profiles; add missing animals first. Repeating an import with matching starting details does not duplicate the records it created. Values added through animal setup, or conflicting values, require review on the animal's Finance tab before importing again.
Review or correct book values
Open Add animal values or Review current values from Finance. Owners can select the pencil button beside an animal's recorded amount or Add book value to correct its starting details.
To use a manual value or eligible Crestimate for a missing starting value, select the animal, then the review button. For one animal, it reads Review 1 book value.
Check the source, acquisition date, type, and intended use. Add 1 book value records the opening entry; the button shows the selected count. Calculating or editing an estimate alone does not change the books.
If you are unsure which amount belongs in the books, ask your accountant. You can track new income and expenses without guessing a starting value.
Related information
Updated on: 03/09/2026
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