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Invitation to Canadian cow-calf producers to participate in testing of Herdly software

 
The Canadian Cattlemen’s Association (CCA) invites producers to test drive the new cow-calf management software to provide feedback on the performance and usability of the Herdly app on the farm.
 
Starting today and through to at least April 1st, 2018, Canadian producers can download the Herdly software to their iPhone or iPad as well as a Windows or Mac computer. The evaluation period follows extensive field testing in Alberta and will enable further feedback from producers across Canada. Information about the testing, and shortly a link to an electronic survey document for producers interested in providing feedback, can be accessed at www.cattle.ca/tech
 
The software and a pocket-sized RFID tag reader have been under development since 2014 in response to a request by then CCA President Travis Toews to find an easier way to upload and manage animal ID information. Ultimately the software has evolved to become a comprehensive herd management tool developed by Synergy Farm Solutions.
 
Mark Klassen, CCA Director of Technical Services and project lead, said the feedback from Canadian producers will be invaluable. “From the start of this project the goal has always been to develop a practical and effective tool that helps cow-calf operations become more efficient and ultimately more profitable. To achieve this outcome, we have consistently looked to producers to help us understand what they need,” he said. “We are pleased that the software will be available for testing during calving this spring.”
 
Herdly is a comprehensive record-keeping and herd management tool that provides seamless automatic syncing between any number of iPhones, Macintosh, and Windows computers to ensure producers always have the latest information about their herds in hand. The software’s advanced functionality means it can accommodate information on more than 100 attributes including those related to breeding, animal identification and traceability, veterinary care, performance and marketing.
 
The software is fully compatible with the Canadian Cattle Identification Agency (CCIA) Canadian Livestock Tracking System and movement events as well as other information can be automatically transmitted to CCIA if the user permits.
 
Following the testing period, the app will be made available by Synergy Farm Solutions for a monthly subscription fee of $5 plus .33 cents per head per month. For an average sized herd of 85 cows this works out to be about $18 per month. No payment information will be required or requested during the testing period.
 
The CCA is seeking a commercial partner to build and market the Pocket Tag Reader for Mobile Devices developed in collaboration with the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT). Further information on the reader will be made available in the next month. Until the reader is available commercially, Klassen notes the Herdly app has some innovative features to make it easier to enter in CCIA ID information without a reader and it will eventually be compatible with some existing readers on the market.
 
The CCA would like to take this opportunity to thank our funding partners including the former Alberta Livestock and Meat Agency (ALMA) and Alberta Agriculture. We have also greatly appreciated the involvement and contribution made by Alberta cattle producers who have tested the software and tag reader on their operations as well as support from the CCIA.
 
Source : Canadian Cattlemen’s Association

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