Working%20with%20Technology%20Providers

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Working with Technology Providers

• Prepared by
• Michael Coe DVM, PHD
• Manager Technical Services
• Global Animal Management
• 816 N. 1400 E.
• Logan Utah 84321
• [phone] Office
• [phone] Cell
• michael.coe_at_mygamonline.com

Western Extension Marketing Committee
Western Center for Risk Management Education
2
Overview

• Animal identification terms and technology
• Can be confusing
• Companies providing products and services
• Introduction to terms and technology tools
• Identification devices / methods and the hardware
• Questions to ask technology providers

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Introduction

• National Food Animal Identification Plan
• National Food Animal Identification Task Force
• National Institute for Animal Agriculture
• joint effort of industry and government
• National Animal Identification System (NAIS)
• template for standardization of identification
  numbering systems
• establishment of standard format specifications
• accessed via the internet at www.usaip.info.
• Individual identification
• additional input costs associated
• identification device
• labor and equipment needed to read, record, and
  store the individual identification number
• reliable and efficient to use

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Technology Providers Glossary of Terms

• National Animal Identification System
• components
• New words in animal agriculture
• Provide a basic list
• Not intended to be a comprehensive
• Technology providers informational literature
• products and services.

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Terms Related to Data and Databases

• Data - Facts or figures from which conclusions
  can be determined.
• Data element A data segment such as the premise
  ID or animal birth date.
• Database - A collection of data managed and
  stored in one place. These data bases look like
  a ledger sheet.
• Relational database A database with a set of
  tables containing data fitted into predefined
  categories.
• Enterprise database Very robust relational
  databases that can manage extremely large amounts
  of data.
• Distributed database system This consists of
  several enterprise databases that talk to each
  other via the internet.
• Relational database management system (RDBMS) - A
  program that lets you create, update, and
  administer a relational database.

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Types of Computer and Traceback Technology
Terminology

• Desktop Standard home computer that sits on
  your desk
• Laptop or Notebook A computer that folds up
  (about the size of a standard notebook) to be
  easily moved from location to location.
• Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) A small
  handheld (palmtop) computer that will fit into a
  shirt pocket.
• Tablet PC These are a hybrid cross between a
  PDA and a notebook computer.
• Scale head The brains of a weighing system that
  displays the weight received from the load cells.

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Types of Computer and Traceback Technology
Terminology

• Server A very robust computer that can run
  multiple computer program 24 hours a day.
• Internet - A collection of computers all over the
  world that are networked (talk to each other).
• Web-enabled Means the computer software and
  data are available using any computer that is
  connected to the Internet.
• Internet Portal A portal is a complete,
  browser-based (web-enabled) environment for
  creating, managing, and administration of
  information..
• CSV Comma separated value files one of the
  older computer industry standards for
  transmitting data between computer programs or
  over the Internet. For example 3/15/2004,100,Bull,
  
• XML- XML is a markup language for documents
  containing structured information. This type of
  data file contains a dictionary of sorts that
  describes the data contained in the file and then
  each piece of data is associated with its
  corresponding definition. For example Birth Date
  3/15/2004 Birth Weight 100 Sex Bull

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Types of Computer and Traceback Technology
Terminology

• Secured sockets layer (SSL) and public key
  infrastructure (PKI) The terms describe a type
  of secured environment by which data access is
  limited to specific owners of the information.
• Tier 1 host site A reliable environment for
  mission critical systems.
• back-up power supplies
• multiple lines of communication to the internet
• 24 hours a day /7 day a week onsite personnel
• physical security
• off-site data backup storage

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Types of Computer and Traceback Technology
Terminology

• RFID (radio frequency identification) - A system
  consisting of a tag, an antenna, a reader, and
  some sort of data processing equipment, such as a
  computer.
• Reader sends a request for information to the tag
  
• Signal hits the chip and creates an electronic
  current which causes it to charge the microchip
• Tag responds with information
• Reader forwards data to processing device

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Types of Computer and Traceback Technology
Terminology

• EID (electronic identification device) - A
  silicone chip and copper wire. The microchip has
  an imbedded EID number code on it.
• Antenna - A device that sends and receives radio
  frequency signals.
• Reader A computer like device that controls the
  antennae and can activate the tag or chip.
• Retinal Scan A digitized picture of the blood
  vessel pattern in the retina on the back of an
  animals eye.
• DNA Sample A biological sample from an animal,
  usually blood, hair or tissue.

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Identification Devices / Methods

• Identification tools we use in the future will
  need to include
• unique identification number
• ability to manage volumes of livestock
• tamper evident
• production line speeds
• streamlined coordination of data management
• NAIS recommends that rules remain technology
  neutral
• industry is free to choose the method of
  individual animal identification that best suits
  their production system
• There are a number of ways to individually
  identify animal.
• Plastic tags with either visual ID numbers and
  bar codes
• Metal tags for permanent individual animal
  identification
• Brucellosis Eradication Program.

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Identification Devices / Methods

• Electronic devices
• implantable microchips
• rumen boluses
• commonly used external button tags
• 13 different companies manufacturing EID tags for
  use in animals
• Radio frequency identification, or RFID, is a
  generic term for technologies that use radio
  waves to automatically identify individual items
• Two biological technologies include
• DNA finger printing
• retinal scanning
• Identification methods that production line
  speeds utilize will need to be an automated
  process

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Data Collection Hardware

• Data readers can be large or small
• Feedlots, sale barns and packing plants will
  likely be using the large panel and portal walk
  through readers.
• Two variables predict the read range
• 1) how much copper wire is in the ID device and
  the antenna
• 2) the amount of power provided to the system
  from the reader
• Antennas are available in many formats
• large stationary panels
• small hand-held devices

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Data Management

• NAIS Individual Animal database
• single central database or a dispersed database
  system
• Separate discussion involves the management of
  production data
• Realization of a value proposition will require
• coordinate and share data across all industry
  segments
• local data availability and uploads to off-site
  data storage
• protection of the data in the case of a disaster
• Reports on data collected across industry
  consolidated for use by producers
• ability to compare carcass quality to the
  incidence of illness
• large, coordinated databases and internet for
  reports generated on the farm or production
  facility as often as management demands
• Sharing of data will require stratified security
  access to data.
• Data will be username and password protected

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Questions Regarding Data Collection

• Does your system meet the requirements described
  for the National Animal Identification System?
• I have different types of animals in my livestock
  operation can your products handle them all?
• What types of technology does your system
  support?
• Do I have to carry the computer with me when I am
  out in the field collecting data?

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Answers Regarding Data Collection

• Software platforms should support guidelines in
  support of the NAIS
• Software configured for multiple hardware devices
• laptops, Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs),
  tablet pcs, touch screen monitors
• Software should accept variety of hardware
  devices
• EID readers, scales, barcode readers,
  thermometers etc.
• Supports the species on your operation
• cattle, horses, swine, sheep, cervidae, etc.
• Adaptation of services to accommodate
  multi-species applications
• The NAIS will start with registration of premises
  and slowly phase in the individual animals.
• Ability to capture both visual and electronic tag
  information

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Questions Regarding Data Storage

• Where is my data stored?
• Will my data be lost?
• Can I back up my data when I am working my herd?

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Answers Regarding Data Storage

• Your technology provider should provide details
• How livestock data is stored and maintained
• Who has access to your data
• Where it is stored and how the data is backed up
• Centralized data bases should also be backed up
  to a separate off-site storage system in case of
  a catastrophic event
• fire, computer failure, tornado, or flood
• Toolset to enable you to save data manually or
  automatically, as your livestock are being
  processed.

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Questions Regarding Data Security

• When sending my information will my data be
  exposed to hackers?
• If I upload data, who will be able to see it?

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Answers Regarding Data Security

• Technology providers will need to provide
• encrypted (coded) method of sending data to a
  safe storage facility
• provide control to others who will have access to
  your data
• In some systems no third party will be able to
  access your information without permission
• In other systems the data is transferred with
  ownership of the cattle
• Know how your data is being handled and who is
  doing the handling.

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Questions Regarding Data Access

• Can I create reports of my data in the software
  products that I have purchased?
• Can I export data collected to Microsoft Excel or
  other spreadsheet or database applications?
• Will I be able to receive carcass information
  from a packing plant?

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Answers Regarding Data Access

• Most software products provide basic reporting
  within their applications
• Extensive reporting capabilities accessible from
  their internet portals that are seamlessly
  integrated with the front end software product
  lines
• Should have the ability to export or transfer
  data into a spreadsheet format
• Data can be transferred to other programs, and
  also be printed in a hard copy format for your
  files
• NAIS is interested in 48-hour traceback to
  protect our national herd from a foreign animal
  disease (FAD) or other catastrophic disease
  outbreak only
• Alliances being formed that will coordinate
  carcass information
• Multiple technology providers will be offering
  tools to coordinate all types of production
  information (including carcass data) across all
  production segments but these activities will be
  outside of NAIS activities.
• Most packing plants and carcass/box operations do
  not coordinated live animal ID numbers to
  individual carcass data
• NAIS once fully implemented will provide some of
  the basic infrastructure

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Questions Regarding Service and Support

• Which types of technology do you sell, service
  and support?
• How can I contact your Technical Support?
• What type of training will you provide for both
  myself and my employees if I purchase your
  product?
• What do I do if I forget my password?
• Where are current installations of your software
  product line?

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Answers Regarding Service and Support

• Technology providers at minimum should provide
  you with
• Telephone numbers to call for assistance hours of
  operation
• Ability to test the software on your operation
  before you make a substantial investment
• Technical manuals to help trouble shoot and
  answer questions
• Easy access to your passwords
• Ability to update or change your password
• Contact list of customers that have used their
  software, hardware and/or data management
  services
• Early adopters will likely be called upon to
  provide advice and relay their experiences

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Summary

• Relative costs and efficiencies associated with
  the collection and recording of individual
  identification numbers at each level of the
  production chain are not well established today.
• Consideration for ongoing costs of NAIS
• identification devices
• hardware used to record and transmit data
• data collection software
• methods data is stored and how long it needs to
  be stored
• Current pilot projects and future implementation
  projects will begin to provide answers