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Decision Making Tools: BeefTracker mobile app for tracking and analysis of beef herd pasture use and location

Decision Making Tools: BeefTracker mobile app for tracking and analysis of beef herd pasture use... Decision Making Tools: BeefTracker mobile app for tracking and analysis of beef herd pasture use and location J. W. Oltjen,* L. C. Forero,† and J. W. Stackhouse‡ *Department of Animal Science, University of California, Davis 95616; †University of California Cooperative Extension, Redding 96002; and ‡University of California Cooperative Extension, Eureka 95503 ABSTRACT: Beef Tracker is a web-based mapping changes to their operation in BeefTracker, histories platform that provides beef cattle ranchers a tool to are automatically recorded and stored in the cloud. demonstrate that cattle production fits within sus - After initial testing by university range scientists and tainable ecosystems and to provide regional data to ranchers, we have enhanced the BeefTracker appli- update beef sustainability lifecycle analysis. After cation to improve automation for increased ease of digitizing pastures, herd data (class and number of use. The following have been added: ability to access animals) are input on a mobile device in a graphical and edit the BeefTracker livestock inventory while pasture interface, stored in the cloud, and linked via disconnected from WiFi and cell service, ability to the web to a personal computer for inventory track- represent portions of a pasture in BeefTracker as irri- ing and analysis. Pasture use calculated on an animal gated and nonirrigated, and ability to report animal basis provides quantifiable data regarding carrying unit harvest (by pasture) calculated on an annual basis. capacity and beef production. This data is sought This will provide quantifiable data regarding carrying by the National Beef Cattle Association to provide capacity and subsequent beef production to provide more accurate inputs for beef sustainability lifecycle more accurate data inputs for the beef sustainability analyses. This application is a useful way for large, lifecycle analysis, enhanced map synchronization, complex ranching operations to have all employees and improved security to allow a single individual to remain informed as to cattle movements and ranch access multiple livestock operations without needing wide improvement projects. Better yet, as users make multiple user IDs and passwords. Key words: animal mapping, cloud data storage, graphical interface © 2017 American Society of Animal Science. This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/) Transl. Anim. Sci. 2017.1:250–254 doi:10.2527/tas2017.0027 INTRODUCTION provide beef cattle ranchers a tool to demonstrate that cattle production fits within sustainable ecosystems Cattle inventory records by pasture become in- and to provide regional data to update beef sustain- creasingly difficult to maintain as the complexity of ability lifecycle analysis. In 2013 (Phase I) the beef a ranching operation increases (Fig. 1). Keeping track checkoff funded a research project with VESTRA of the class of beef cattle, spatially, allows the opera- Resources, Inc. (Redding, CA) to develop a working tor to develop stocking data at a pasture level. A tool prototype of a web-based mapping platform named is needed to store and analyze this data so that pasture “BeefTracker”. The objective of the Phase I project level stocking information across years will be avail- was to support the sustainability program by providing able to ranchers and range managers. Further, it will ranchers with a tool to demonstrate that cattle produc- tion fits within sustainable ecosystems and to provide regional data to update the current beef sustainabil- This work was funded by the Beef Checkoff. ity lifecycle analysis. As part of the Phase I prototype Corresponding author: jwoltjen@ucdavis.edu development, user testing was initiated by university Received March 30, 2017. range scientists and ranchers. Then, in 2014 Phase II Accepted May 20, 2017. Downloaded from https://academic.oup.com/tas/article-abstract/1/3/250/4636622 by Ed 'DeepDyve' Gillespie user on 10 April 2018 Mobil app for beef herds 251 Figure 1. Architecture of BeefTracker software using a personal computer, an iPhone device, and cloud data storage. Figure 2. Landing screen of the BeefTracker web application showing that allows the user to set up beef cattle operations and add ranches or pastures. began with the vison to enhance the BeefTracker appli- DESCRIPTION OF SOFTWARE cation and to increase the use of BeefTracker through- out the U.S. The Phase I field testers identified several We developed a web-based mapping platform enhancements that were needed to support a broader named BeefTracker in cooperation with VESTRA adoption of the BeefTracker application. In Phase II Resources (Redding, CA). The BeefTracker appli- enhancements to the BeefTracker app were developed cation (Fig. 2) allows operators to set up beef cattle and an outreach and extension program was established business units called operations, add ranches and pas- to encourage the use of the BeefTracker among leading tures, adjust inventory, and locate improvements as cattle operations throughout the U.S. well as archive and retrieve geo-located monitoring Translate basic science to industry innovation Downloaded from https://academic.oup.com/tas/article-abstract/1/3/250/4636622 by Ed 'DeepDyve' Gillespie user on 10 April 2018 252 Oltjen et al. Table 1. BeefTracker App features Functionality Ability to access and edit the BeefTracker livestock inventory while “Off Line” which allows data collection disconnected from Wi-Fi and cell service Ten classes of livestock, with the ability to customize weights for each class allow for more accurate reporting on use and sustainability Ability to represent portions of a pasture in BeefTracker as irrigated and non-irrigated Ability to report animal unit months (AUM) harvest by pasture on an annual basis Security that allows a single individual to access multiple livestock operations without needing multiple user IDs and passwords Multiple map types and synchronization Help screens provided for each page and function data (Forero et al., 2015). BeefTracker has the abil- ture) calculated on an annual basis. We enhanced the ity to represent portions of a pasture in BeefTracker application prototype, after initial testing by university as irrigated and non-irrigated. It allows the user to range scientists and ranchers, and have introduced the choose from multiple map types. It also has security BeefTracker application to the industry. features to allow a single individual to access mul- The University of California Cooperative Extension tiple livestock operations without needing multiple (UCCE) leads outreach efforts. University of California user IDs and passwords (Table 1). Pasture delinea- staff attends meetings (i.e., state Cattlemen’s, American tion is designed to be done on a personal computer Society of Animal Science, and Society for Range with web access (Fig. 3), herd data (class and num- Management) to demo the BeefTracker and showcase ber of animals) are input on a mobile device in the the use and functionality of the app as a management field with a graphical pasture interface, stored in the tool. The UCCE helped organize an in-person meeting cloud, and linked via the web to a personal computer with selected producers at National Cattlemen’s Beef for inventory tracking and analysis (Fig. 4). This in- Association in Denver to introduce BeefTracker for the ventory feature is iPhone based. Set-up of the system final round of Phase II testing. They have also encour - is simple and maintenance of inventory information aged use within University of California clientele. on the iPhone is largely intuitive and affords operators All data is stored and maintained in iPhone’s se- the ability to update inventory numbers and location cure Cloud environment, which is password protect- at the time the changes occur. It also has the ability to ed. Location of the data is only accessible to the key access and edit the livestock inventory while discon- study team and the identified ranch operators/manag - nected from Wi-Fi and cell service. Once data is input, ers for their prospective ranching operation. VESTRA BeefTracker can report animal unit harvest (by pas- controls access into the network servers containing all Figure 3. BeefTracker screen on a personal computer with web access for initial identification and mapping of pastures. Translate basic science to industry innovation Downloaded from https://academic.oup.com/tas/article-abstract/1/3/250/4636622 by Ed 'DeepDyve' Gillespie user on 10 April 2018 Mobil app for beef herds 253 Figure 4. Screens of iPhone menus for livestock actions in BeefTracker. project files. VESTRA’s quality management system Sierra Research and Extension Center, have provided is independently assessed against the most recognized longer term and quite useful feedback, but others have and comprehensive international standard for quality used the program for a few months and then became management systems, the ISO 9001. All data analy- too busy or distracted by other activities to continue use. ses, results, and interpretation of the findings undergo Technical challenges with web and iPhone constraints VESTRA’s quality control process for accuracy. have occasionally slowed development as well. Opportunities for future development are many, RESULTS AND DISCUSSION with a list of potential software additions and im- provements submitted by various users and advisors The number of days different classes of animals in hand that can direct further BeefTracker enhance- spend on a pasture provides quantifiable data regard - ments. During the last part of 2015 resources were ing carrying capacity and subsequent beef production redirected from further introduction of BeefTracker to provide more accurate data inputs for beef sustain- to addressing a number of these opportunities, and ability lifecycle analysis. After initial testing by univer- most notably the ability to make animal inventory sity range scientists and ranchers, we have enhanced adjustments via the personal computer (instead of the BeefTracker application to improve automation for having to use the iPhone) was added, as requested by increased ease of use. This will provide quantifiable many users—both for data entry as well as data edit- data regarding carrying capacity and subsequent beef ing. Also, map display and editing capabilities was production to provide more accurate data inputs for the enhanced. With continued use additional opportuni- beef sustainability lifecycle analysis (Oltjen and Gunter, ties for BeefTracker improvement will arise. 2015). We are now in the process of education to in- Over the past year, leading beef cattle producers crease its use throughout the U.S. Its ultimate utility de- and key academic advisors to the beef industry have pends on how well it and similar land and resource use been introduced to BeefTracker and become aware of programs are adopted and utilized. its potential as a sustainability tool and for its abil- Challenges in the development of BeefTracker ity to improve management efficiencies. Some key have been the distance between programmers, advisors, takeaways from these sessions, collected by a survey users, and project leaders. Email and occasional face-to- after these producers have had some time to use the face meetings have helped, but the distance has delayed program are that 83% of those who attended the train- both software development and application. Further, ing program are still planning on using the program there has been difficulty in identifying a consistent user into the future. Participants also responded that train- base that will consistently use the program and report ing is essential. A common improvement desired was bugs, inconveniences, and desires for improvement. being able to use the computer instead of only the Some users, most notably the University of California iPhone to move cattle around pastures; that feature has Translate basic science to industry innovation Downloaded from https://academic.oup.com/tas/article-abstract/1/3/250/4636622 by Ed 'DeepDyve' Gillespie user on 10 April 2018 254 Oltjen et al. now been added. Finally, 100% of respondents think LITERATURE CITED BeefTracker will be useful to cattle producers. Forero, L. C., J. W. Stackhouse, J. W. Oltjen, C. Kellar, and A. Some recommendations for increased adoption Stackhouse. 2015. Iphone beef cattle inventory application. of the BeefTracker software as we move forward in- Society for Range Management Annual Meeting Abstracts. Sacramento, California, February 5, 2015, Abstract 383. clude making the software easier to use by continuing Oltjen, J. W., and S. A. Gunter. 2015. Managing the herbage uti- to collect user feedback and employment of someone lization and intake by cattle grazing rangelands. Anim. Prod. to provide user support. Also, software improvement Sci. 55:397–410. doi:10.1071/AN14602 will require a relationship with VESTRA or equiva- lent. A strong website is necessary as well to help us- ers, to increase familiarity with BeefTracker, and to provide a platform for evaluation and feedback. Translate basic science to industry innovation Downloaded from https://academic.oup.com/tas/article-abstract/1/3/250/4636622 by Ed 'DeepDyve' Gillespie user on 10 April 2018 http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Translational Animal Science Oxford University Press

Decision Making Tools: BeefTracker mobile app for tracking and analysis of beef herd pasture use and location

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10.2527/tas2017.0027
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Abstract

Decision Making Tools: BeefTracker mobile app for tracking and analysis of beef herd pasture use and location J. W. Oltjen,* L. C. Forero,† and J. W. Stackhouse‡ *Department of Animal Science, University of California, Davis 95616; †University of California Cooperative Extension, Redding 96002; and ‡University of California Cooperative Extension, Eureka 95503 ABSTRACT: Beef Tracker is a web-based mapping changes to their operation in BeefTracker, histories platform that provides beef cattle ranchers a tool to are automatically recorded and stored in the cloud. demonstrate that cattle production fits within sus - After initial testing by university range scientists and tainable ecosystems and to provide regional data to ranchers, we have enhanced the BeefTracker appli- update beef sustainability lifecycle analysis. After cation to improve automation for increased ease of digitizing pastures, herd data (class and number of use. The following have been added: ability to access animals) are input on a mobile device in a graphical and edit the BeefTracker livestock inventory while pasture interface, stored in the cloud, and linked via disconnected from WiFi and cell service, ability to the web to a personal computer for inventory track- represent portions of a pasture in BeefTracker as irri- ing and analysis. Pasture use calculated on an animal gated and nonirrigated, and ability to report animal basis provides quantifiable data regarding carrying unit harvest (by pasture) calculated on an annual basis. capacity and beef production. This data is sought This will provide quantifiable data regarding carrying by the National Beef Cattle Association to provide capacity and subsequent beef production to provide more accurate inputs for beef sustainability lifecycle more accurate data inputs for the beef sustainability analyses. This application is a useful way for large, lifecycle analysis, enhanced map synchronization, complex ranching operations to have all employees and improved security to allow a single individual to remain informed as to cattle movements and ranch access multiple livestock operations without needing wide improvement projects. Better yet, as users make multiple user IDs and passwords. Key words: animal mapping, cloud data storage, graphical interface © 2017 American Society of Animal Science. This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/) Transl. Anim. Sci. 2017.1:250–254 doi:10.2527/tas2017.0027 INTRODUCTION provide beef cattle ranchers a tool to demonstrate that cattle production fits within sustainable ecosystems Cattle inventory records by pasture become in- and to provide regional data to update beef sustain- creasingly difficult to maintain as the complexity of ability lifecycle analysis. In 2013 (Phase I) the beef a ranching operation increases (Fig. 1). Keeping track checkoff funded a research project with VESTRA of the class of beef cattle, spatially, allows the opera- Resources, Inc. (Redding, CA) to develop a working tor to develop stocking data at a pasture level. A tool prototype of a web-based mapping platform named is needed to store and analyze this data so that pasture “BeefTracker”. The objective of the Phase I project level stocking information across years will be avail- was to support the sustainability program by providing able to ranchers and range managers. Further, it will ranchers with a tool to demonstrate that cattle produc- tion fits within sustainable ecosystems and to provide regional data to update the current beef sustainabil- This work was funded by the Beef Checkoff. ity lifecycle analysis. As part of the Phase I prototype Corresponding author: jwoltjen@ucdavis.edu development, user testing was initiated by university Received March 30, 2017. range scientists and ranchers. Then, in 2014 Phase II Accepted May 20, 2017. Downloaded from https://academic.oup.com/tas/article-abstract/1/3/250/4636622 by Ed 'DeepDyve' Gillespie user on 10 April 2018 Mobil app for beef herds 251 Figure 1. Architecture of BeefTracker software using a personal computer, an iPhone device, and cloud data storage. Figure 2. Landing screen of the BeefTracker web application showing that allows the user to set up beef cattle operations and add ranches or pastures. began with the vison to enhance the BeefTracker appli- DESCRIPTION OF SOFTWARE cation and to increase the use of BeefTracker through- out the U.S. The Phase I field testers identified several We developed a web-based mapping platform enhancements that were needed to support a broader named BeefTracker in cooperation with VESTRA adoption of the BeefTracker application. In Phase II Resources (Redding, CA). The BeefTracker appli- enhancements to the BeefTracker app were developed cation (Fig. 2) allows operators to set up beef cattle and an outreach and extension program was established business units called operations, add ranches and pas- to encourage the use of the BeefTracker among leading tures, adjust inventory, and locate improvements as cattle operations throughout the U.S. well as archive and retrieve geo-located monitoring Translate basic science to industry innovation Downloaded from https://academic.oup.com/tas/article-abstract/1/3/250/4636622 by Ed 'DeepDyve' Gillespie user on 10 April 2018 252 Oltjen et al. Table 1. BeefTracker App features Functionality Ability to access and edit the BeefTracker livestock inventory while “Off Line” which allows data collection disconnected from Wi-Fi and cell service Ten classes of livestock, with the ability to customize weights for each class allow for more accurate reporting on use and sustainability Ability to represent portions of a pasture in BeefTracker as irrigated and non-irrigated Ability to report animal unit months (AUM) harvest by pasture on an annual basis Security that allows a single individual to access multiple livestock operations without needing multiple user IDs and passwords Multiple map types and synchronization Help screens provided for each page and function data (Forero et al., 2015). BeefTracker has the abil- ture) calculated on an annual basis. We enhanced the ity to represent portions of a pasture in BeefTracker application prototype, after initial testing by university as irrigated and non-irrigated. It allows the user to range scientists and ranchers, and have introduced the choose from multiple map types. It also has security BeefTracker application to the industry. features to allow a single individual to access mul- The University of California Cooperative Extension tiple livestock operations without needing multiple (UCCE) leads outreach efforts. University of California user IDs and passwords (Table 1). Pasture delinea- staff attends meetings (i.e., state Cattlemen’s, American tion is designed to be done on a personal computer Society of Animal Science, and Society for Range with web access (Fig. 3), herd data (class and num- Management) to demo the BeefTracker and showcase ber of animals) are input on a mobile device in the the use and functionality of the app as a management field with a graphical pasture interface, stored in the tool. The UCCE helped organize an in-person meeting cloud, and linked via the web to a personal computer with selected producers at National Cattlemen’s Beef for inventory tracking and analysis (Fig. 4). This in- Association in Denver to introduce BeefTracker for the ventory feature is iPhone based. Set-up of the system final round of Phase II testing. They have also encour - is simple and maintenance of inventory information aged use within University of California clientele. on the iPhone is largely intuitive and affords operators All data is stored and maintained in iPhone’s se- the ability to update inventory numbers and location cure Cloud environment, which is password protect- at the time the changes occur. It also has the ability to ed. Location of the data is only accessible to the key access and edit the livestock inventory while discon- study team and the identified ranch operators/manag - nected from Wi-Fi and cell service. Once data is input, ers for their prospective ranching operation. VESTRA BeefTracker can report animal unit harvest (by pas- controls access into the network servers containing all Figure 3. BeefTracker screen on a personal computer with web access for initial identification and mapping of pastures. Translate basic science to industry innovation Downloaded from https://academic.oup.com/tas/article-abstract/1/3/250/4636622 by Ed 'DeepDyve' Gillespie user on 10 April 2018 Mobil app for beef herds 253 Figure 4. Screens of iPhone menus for livestock actions in BeefTracker. project files. VESTRA’s quality management system Sierra Research and Extension Center, have provided is independently assessed against the most recognized longer term and quite useful feedback, but others have and comprehensive international standard for quality used the program for a few months and then became management systems, the ISO 9001. All data analy- too busy or distracted by other activities to continue use. ses, results, and interpretation of the findings undergo Technical challenges with web and iPhone constraints VESTRA’s quality control process for accuracy. have occasionally slowed development as well. Opportunities for future development are many, RESULTS AND DISCUSSION with a list of potential software additions and im- provements submitted by various users and advisors The number of days different classes of animals in hand that can direct further BeefTracker enhance- spend on a pasture provides quantifiable data regard - ments. During the last part of 2015 resources were ing carrying capacity and subsequent beef production redirected from further introduction of BeefTracker to provide more accurate data inputs for beef sustain- to addressing a number of these opportunities, and ability lifecycle analysis. After initial testing by univer- most notably the ability to make animal inventory sity range scientists and ranchers, we have enhanced adjustments via the personal computer (instead of the BeefTracker application to improve automation for having to use the iPhone) was added, as requested by increased ease of use. This will provide quantifiable many users—both for data entry as well as data edit- data regarding carrying capacity and subsequent beef ing. Also, map display and editing capabilities was production to provide more accurate data inputs for the enhanced. With continued use additional opportuni- beef sustainability lifecycle analysis (Oltjen and Gunter, ties for BeefTracker improvement will arise. 2015). We are now in the process of education to in- Over the past year, leading beef cattle producers crease its use throughout the U.S. Its ultimate utility de- and key academic advisors to the beef industry have pends on how well it and similar land and resource use been introduced to BeefTracker and become aware of programs are adopted and utilized. its potential as a sustainability tool and for its abil- Challenges in the development of BeefTracker ity to improve management efficiencies. Some key have been the distance between programmers, advisors, takeaways from these sessions, collected by a survey users, and project leaders. Email and occasional face-to- after these producers have had some time to use the face meetings have helped, but the distance has delayed program are that 83% of those who attended the train- both software development and application. Further, ing program are still planning on using the program there has been difficulty in identifying a consistent user into the future. Participants also responded that train- base that will consistently use the program and report ing is essential. A common improvement desired was bugs, inconveniences, and desires for improvement. being able to use the computer instead of only the Some users, most notably the University of California iPhone to move cattle around pastures; that feature has Translate basic science to industry innovation Downloaded from https://academic.oup.com/tas/article-abstract/1/3/250/4636622 by Ed 'DeepDyve' Gillespie user on 10 April 2018 254 Oltjen et al. now been added. Finally, 100% of respondents think LITERATURE CITED BeefTracker will be useful to cattle producers. Forero, L. C., J. W. Stackhouse, J. W. Oltjen, C. Kellar, and A. Some recommendations for increased adoption Stackhouse. 2015. Iphone beef cattle inventory application. of the BeefTracker software as we move forward in- Society for Range Management Annual Meeting Abstracts. Sacramento, California, February 5, 2015, Abstract 383. clude making the software easier to use by continuing Oltjen, J. W., and S. A. Gunter. 2015. Managing the herbage uti- to collect user feedback and employment of someone lization and intake by cattle grazing rangelands. Anim. Prod. to provide user support. Also, software improvement Sci. 55:397–410. doi:10.1071/AN14602 will require a relationship with VESTRA or equiva- lent. A strong website is necessary as well to help us- ers, to increase familiarity with BeefTracker, and to provide a platform for evaluation and feedback. Translate basic science to industry innovation Downloaded from https://academic.oup.com/tas/article-abstract/1/3/250/4636622 by Ed 'DeepDyve' Gillespie user on 10 April 2018

Journal

Translational Animal ScienceOxford University Press

Published: Sep 1, 2017

There are no references for this article.