The mobile app allows two different type of updates:
1. A QR code or NFC type system where medications are bar-coded or QR coded before going to the farm. Each doser or medicator in the farm site is also bar coded or NFC coded. A barn worker would scan in the medicine, verify its correct. Enter the amount. Then scan the doser at the water line before setting it. Repeat same process for stopping the medicine only just scan the doser code and STOP.
Some snapshots of what that looks like is below:
2. If the QR/barcode/NFC type system is too complex we also have the option to just have the barn worker use the app to select from a drop-down menu what and where they are adding meds to the water. Enter the amount. When finished stop the medication in the app.
The mobile app can also be set up to do other process verification steps such as:
1. Have the vet dispatch instructions for a specific group to be given a specific medication and a specific amount by a certain time.
2. Send customized and frequently updated instructions/messages for the selected medication. Withdrawal days, mixing instructions, other pertinent data that may not be on the bag itself.
3. An email can be sent to the vet notifying them the medication event began / ended.
4. If the medication event has not occurred within a specific timeframe then an alert notifying the vet and supervisor is also sent.
The mobile app cannot ensure that the medication that was entered into it actually got into the water and to the animals. These processes break down quickly when you don't have participation from the workforce. We have discussed labor quality previously in the blog.
On the sensor side most of the dosers in the market today do not have cloud connectivity or even local data storage. This often makes people throughout the organization blind to what is going on inside the farm. If there are issues like plugged diaphragms they must be troubleshot and recorded by the worker on site. Data quality is often compromised and not uniformly gathered.
There are newer doser products that are sold at Farm Tech Store that connect to the cloud using the MultiSense sensor gateway. These measure water consumption, medications injected (how much and when) to the cloud. When combined with the data entered in the mobile app, you have a report of exactly what went in the water, how much and at what times. Critical streams needed for a good traceability program.
One issue that is not resolved yet is having that medicine / medicator handshake on what product is going into the water. You still need a human to enter that data, a potential weak link in the data chain. In the future some type of cartridge or other medication reading technology may be placed within the medicator hardware; but for now that is futuristic thinking. It can be done; but need someone to pay for it.
Another issue that is possible; but not practical today is to have the vet receive an email telling them that the medication is in the medicator ready to be inserted into the water. The medicator can be started with an approval from the vet's mobile app. 100% possible, impractical to develop until someone says they want that level of control over their medications on the farm.
When we get over to the data side in Grovestreams this is where we can put some logic and alerts around checks / balances to ensure the processes are followed properly.
For example,
If a vet has dispatched a medication event, set an alert that lets you know if it has not been done within 4 hours in the barn. Double check not only the app but also the medicator data stream. The medication should be entered into the app and flowing to animals within X hours or vet/supervisor are being alerted.
Once the medication has started check to see if it has stopped by X hours. If it is still medicating after 48 hours for example, send an alert or if medicator is set up to be turned on/off remotely, turn off remotely either with software or with an app.
Cross reference other data in the store. If a specific medication shouldn't be given to birds greater than 24 pounds. Check that, cross reference it. If its greater, send an alert.
Produce reports that document how much and over what times were medications given by barn. Further analytics from the feed sensors, scales and water lines would dive into whether they were effective and possibly deliver payback scenarios in real-time.
There is technology that can help organize the process around medications on the farm. However there is not an easy button. It still requires 100% buy-in throughout the organization in the value of the data and a commitment to the process.
1. A QR code or NFC type system where medications are bar-coded or QR coded before going to the farm. Each doser or medicator in the farm site is also bar coded or NFC coded. A barn worker would scan in the medicine, verify its correct. Enter the amount. Then scan the doser at the water line before setting it. Repeat same process for stopping the medicine only just scan the doser code and STOP.
Some snapshots of what that looks like is below:
2. If the QR/barcode/NFC type system is too complex we also have the option to just have the barn worker use the app to select from a drop-down menu what and where they are adding meds to the water. Enter the amount. When finished stop the medication in the app.
The mobile app can also be set up to do other process verification steps such as:
1. Have the vet dispatch instructions for a specific group to be given a specific medication and a specific amount by a certain time.
2. Send customized and frequently updated instructions/messages for the selected medication. Withdrawal days, mixing instructions, other pertinent data that may not be on the bag itself.
3. An email can be sent to the vet notifying them the medication event began / ended.
4. If the medication event has not occurred within a specific timeframe then an alert notifying the vet and supervisor is also sent.
The mobile app cannot ensure that the medication that was entered into it actually got into the water and to the animals. These processes break down quickly when you don't have participation from the workforce. We have discussed labor quality previously in the blog.
On the sensor side most of the dosers in the market today do not have cloud connectivity or even local data storage. This often makes people throughout the organization blind to what is going on inside the farm. If there are issues like plugged diaphragms they must be troubleshot and recorded by the worker on site. Data quality is often compromised and not uniformly gathered.
There are newer doser products that are sold at Farm Tech Store that connect to the cloud using the MultiSense sensor gateway. These measure water consumption, medications injected (how much and when) to the cloud. When combined with the data entered in the mobile app, you have a report of exactly what went in the water, how much and at what times. Critical streams needed for a good traceability program.
One issue that is not resolved yet is having that medicine / medicator handshake on what product is going into the water. You still need a human to enter that data, a potential weak link in the data chain. In the future some type of cartridge or other medication reading technology may be placed within the medicator hardware; but for now that is futuristic thinking. It can be done; but need someone to pay for it.
Another issue that is possible; but not practical today is to have the vet receive an email telling them that the medication is in the medicator ready to be inserted into the water. The medicator can be started with an approval from the vet's mobile app. 100% possible, impractical to develop until someone says they want that level of control over their medications on the farm.
When we get over to the data side in Grovestreams this is where we can put some logic and alerts around checks / balances to ensure the processes are followed properly.
For example,
If a vet has dispatched a medication event, set an alert that lets you know if it has not been done within 4 hours in the barn. Double check not only the app but also the medicator data stream. The medication should be entered into the app and flowing to animals within X hours or vet/supervisor are being alerted.
Once the medication has started check to see if it has stopped by X hours. If it is still medicating after 48 hours for example, send an alert or if medicator is set up to be turned on/off remotely, turn off remotely either with software or with an app.
Cross reference other data in the store. If a specific medication shouldn't be given to birds greater than 24 pounds. Check that, cross reference it. If its greater, send an alert.
Produce reports that document how much and over what times were medications given by barn. Further analytics from the feed sensors, scales and water lines would dive into whether they were effective and possibly deliver payback scenarios in real-time.
There is technology that can help organize the process around medications on the farm. However there is not an easy button. It still requires 100% buy-in throughout the organization in the value of the data and a commitment to the process.
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