RED DEER – A livestock chute can sound like a bingo hall as operators call out identification numbers and weights as the animals reach the scale and squeeze.
New Zealand’s Gallagher has developed a computerized solution to the problem by automating the recording of weights and animal identification in a silent, single pass.
Other integrated scale systems have many features included in the company’s Smart TSi unit, but few have packaged them in one tablet computer and designed it to hang on the side of the scale.
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The machine will also call out an animal’s ID number through its built-in speaker.
The Smart TSi is a self contained scale head and animal management system with multiple options for recording additional data about the herd.
It accepts radio frequency identification readers’ input by wire or Bluetooth communication and is based on a weatherproof, ruggedized, touch screen computer platform.
Data can be collected in the computer and transferred to a USB memory stick for importation into other animal management systems.
Producers can add scale load bars to the $5,400 unit, as well as a Gallagher Bluetooth wand reader for an additional $1,600.
Carman Christianson of Gallagher said the system is new to Canada.
“In New Zealand it’s been very popular. And people have started using them for all sorts of other things, like inventory management, not just animal inventory on the farm.”
For more information, visit www.gallagher.co.nz/weigh_system.aspx?mktprodid=4853.
