Handhelds collect farming data
PDAs help bovine farmers meet strict regulations
Farmers are being issued with mobile devices to manage and maintain detailed farm records to comply with legislation.
FarmWizard.com is a managed web site for bovine farmers where livestock data, including cattle movements and health records, can be input and then integrated with other relevant databases such as the government’s cattle tracing system.
The company is issuing farmers that subscribe to its service with handheld computers so they can input data directly from the field and synchronise it with the FarmWizard database.
FarmWizard.com founder Terry Canning says the requirement for farmers to keep detailed records has increased since the initial BSE outbreak in the 1980s.
‘Farmers must keep records on animal movements, vet details and feed stock information for quality assurance purposes and there are EU-wide rules,’ he said.
‘Previously, farmers would write the details on paper and transfer them to a computer at the end of the day, but the paper could be lost or errors could creep in.’
More than 50 farmers have already received the iAnywhere devices, and another 450 will be issued over the coming months.
Benefits include time savings, a reduction in errors and improved accuracy in breeding management.
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