A Calgary-based agricultural software developer has launched a program that allows feedlot operators to access and update animal health records right at the chute.
“It can run in the office or right by the squeeze,” said Canadian Rural Computer Services Inc. president Jory Lamb.
The benefits of the Cattle Medical System software are threefold, said Lamb: It streamlines billing; provides consistency of treatment; and allows feedlot operators to analyze the effectiveness of their health management program.
The software was designed for feedlots holding 1,000 to 10,000 head. Three versions of software are available – light, standard and professional.
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The light packages sells for $1,995 and is targeted at feedlots handling up to 3,000 head. The standard version, which sells for $2,995, employs “wizards” that allow technicians to induct thousands of animals at a time with a few keystrokes and is designed for feedlots with 3,000 to 8,000 head. The professional version, for 8,000 to 10,000-head lots and veterinarians, provides more analytical tools and sells for $3,995.
Lamb said the program was developed in conjunction with a group called Veterinary Agri-Health Services Ltd., an Alberta Agriculture beef specialist, an animal health technician and a feedlot operator.
“It wasn’t three guys in some dark room with beanies on their heads plunking away on this software.”
The most immediate benefit of the Cattle Medical System software is that technicians no longer have to record treatments on paper and then enter them into a billing system at month’s end. The program not only provides the animal’s entire medical history right at the chute. It also recommends a treatment and computes the cost of that treatment once applied.
The software reduces the potential for error in treating, with predefined protocols and automatic calculations of drug amounts. And everything is done lickity-split.
“If it takes them three minutes to enter an animal nobody’s ever going to use it. We’ve got it down so it’s a 30-second process – tops.”
But the main benefit of the software is the long-term savings associated with tracking the effectiveness of treatments and analyzing trends like morbidity reports.
Recommended hardware requirements include a Pentium or better processor, 32 Mb of RAM, 30 Mb of available hard drive space and Microsoft Windows 95/98 software.
Feedlot operators can learn more about the Cattle Medical System software through Canadian Rural Computer Service’s toll free line (888-300-2727) or download a free demo from the company’s website http://cms.canadianrural.com.
Lamb said the company will provide free installation and training until Nov. 1. When asked what the installation would cost after that deadline, he said, “No comment.”
