How do I use electronic tagging and data loggers?

InterBeef is designed to take full advantage of the potential offered by electronic tags (Electronic IDentification -EID). Once an animal is given an EID this can be read by a hand-held data logger which can also store weight, event and movement data. All these data can be rapidly downloaded in to InterBeef.

In addition, to minimise the time taken for data entry and the risk of data entry errors, InterBeef can generate the official reports required by BCMS to register births, deaths and movements of cattle. These can be sent by e-mail.

The description below of the process of assigning electronic tags and recording events uses the Oxley Anilog 2050 data logger.

Adding electronic tags to animals

The process of registering an electronic ID for an animal is straightforward. The Anilog2050 reader should be fully charged. When ready to start tagging the reader should be switched on and set to Tag Read Mode, displaying "Waiting for EID Tag" as explained in the Anilog 2050 Instructions for use..

Once an electronic eartag is physically applied to an animal the Anilog2050 antenna is pointed at the tag. The read range will vary with the tag used. Once the reader has read the tag it emits a double beep and displays "-- Unknown Tag --" and the 15 character EID number. Confirm the tag by pressing the  button so the reader display reads "Storing tag" followed by a screen similar to:

The #00:0001 is the temporary number allocated to this animal. (Beware that the first temporary number displayed is the rather confusing #00:0000)

The number on the second line is the 15 character electronic ID number. The Histories refer to events that are recorded for the animal. None are available yet so this will read 0.

Note that if the animal concerned already has another method of identification (such as a plastic ear tag or freeze-brand) then record this manually against the temporary number (e.g. #00:0001). Hence if the animal above was normally referred to by freeze-brand number 8 then that would be recorded against the temporary number. This will be used to ensure that the electronic ID is assigned to the production records of the correct animal record in InterBeef.

If this is a new animal to the herd (or you are establishing a new InterBeef data file) then the user should also record the birth date, sex, parity and other details that are necessary to register a new animal in InterBeef.

Repeat the tagging process until all the animals have electronic tags registered in the data logger with their current identification (number/name etc) recorded manually against the reader's temporary number.

Assigning the EID to existing or new animals in InterBeef

Once the animals are tagged and the new tags registered in the Anilog reader, the EIDs must be assigned to existing or new animal records in InterBeef.

In the farm office the Anilog 2050 reader should be placed in the Anilog cradle. The cradle must be connected to the computer (where InterBeef is installed) via the PC cable supplied with the Anilog 2050. The connection to the computer is via the serial port as explained in the Anilog "Instructions for Use". Make sure that the cradle's charging cable is also plugged in to the mains electricity supply.

Before beginning to update InterBeef, the Anilog 2050 reader should be switched on and set to Communications mode via the Mode Menu. As explained in the "Instructions for Use". This is achieved by holding down the on button  when switching on the reader. Make sure the arrow on the reader display is pointing at the Communications option in the Mode Menu before confirming its selection by pressing the button.

Once the Anilog reader is connected and in communications mode, select Animal Records from the InterBeef Main Menu.

Then select Data loggers from the menu items as below:

Select Exchange data from the menu to begin the process of exchanging the data stored in the data logger in to InterBeef. The Anilog reader then uploads the EID data (from reading the new EID tags) in to the computer memory (not yet in to the data file).

Click OK to the message stating this upload is complete.

The EID tags stored within the Anilog reader will now be processed. InterBeef compares the EIDs stored in the Anilog reader with the EIDs that have been assigned to animals in the InterBeef file. In this case, all the tags are newly applied to the animals in the herd so they are stored in the Anilog reader but NOT assigned to any animal record in InterBeef. Hence, InterBeef first requires the user to link the EIDs to specific animal records. InterBeef displays a form with details of the first unassigned EID as shown below.

This form "floats" over the Animal Record form. Note that the Temporary ID is also displayed (If tagging an animal whose records are already in InterBeef, you should have recorded the temporary id against the current animal ID used in InterBeef). You must now either:

or

If, for example, this EID was to be assigned an animal already identified as animal 123, then select 123 in the drop-down box of the Animal Record form to display the record. Ensure the "Identity details" page for that animal is displayed as below:

Note that next to the Electronic ID text box in the Identity details page has appeared a button . This is only visible when importing new EIDs. Clicking this button assigns the EID displayed in the floating form to that animal. (Unless you have been given a tag bucket file by the tag manufacturer, reply no to any form asking if you wish to import a new tag bucket).

The electronic ID is now assigned to the animal record but NOT SAVED. Note that in addition to writing the EID in to the text box, the Save and Undo buttons appear next to the Animal Number drop down box. To confirm the EID to this animal click the save button. The undo button will remove the EID and allow the user to move to another animal.

Once the EID is saved to an animal, InterBeef moves on to the next EID received from the Anilog Reader. This process continues until all the EIDs are assigned to animal records.

If an EID is for a new animal that is not already registered in InterBeef, press the new record button . Register the animal in the normal way. Then assign the EID as explained above for an existing animal.

Having completed the process of assigning EIDs to animal records, InterBeef is ready to download any weight or event data that may be stored in the reader to the appropriate animal record. This is explained in the next section. After assigning the animals as described above, the Review data from Anilog reader form is displayed.

Because no event data have been entered yet, this form is empty. Click the Proceed button.

Confirm that it is okay to clear the Anilog reader. There will then follow a series of message boxes informing you of progress with the Anilog reader (please note these are generated by the reader, not InterBeef!) Confirm each one until you return to the Animal records form.

Recording weights, events, purchases and movements with data loggers

Once your animals are electronically tagged and the EIDs assigned to the animals in InterBeef the user can start to take full advantage of the Anilog reader. By taking the Anilog reader to the farm, data can be entered on site. Animals being culled, for example, can be logged by reading their EID and specifying a cull event as they separated into a race for loading onto a cattle lorry. These data are downloaded in to InterBeef later on return to the farm office.

Before the Anilog reader is taken to the farm it must be set-up appropriately. This involves reading from InterBeef the EIDs of all the animals on the farm and the list of events/movements etc that might be used.

As an example the Anilog reader is to be used to record animals being moved to various management groups or being sold.

Make sure that the Anilog reader is in communications mode and in the Anilog cradle connected to the computer. In InterBeef select Animal Records then from the menu options select Data loggers…Anilog…Setup.

The Anilog Reader will then generate messages to confirm that it has received the Reader date and then that it has details of the Reader Weigher (even if none exists!). Press OK until the Anilog Set-up screen is displayed as below:

There are two buttons in the main form. Clear Anilog Reader will clear the Anilog reader of any previous EIDs or histories. Synchronise with computer  synchronises the reader date and time with that of the computer. If the Anilog reader is being connected to a weigh scale then the type of weigh scale must be selected from the Type of weigher dropdown box.

The user can now specify the activities and events that are required within the Anilog reader. This is done in the grid.

The type of event or action must be specified in the Type column. There are five options as displayed. In this example, animals are to be selected for sale which is an event with the code SOLD. Hence the type of action is event. All the event codes in the current data file are then offered in the Event code column of the grid and the user selects SOLD.

The appropriate result relating to that event is then selected in the result column. In this case the sold animals are going to Ludlow Market which is registered (in Reference lists….Origins and destinations) with the code LUDLO. The Anilog action text lines 1 and 2 are the text values that will be displayed on the Anilog display to describe the event. The completed entry is as below:

The user can define a series of different events/movements/purchases etc to suit specific requirements. The layout can be saved for subsequent sessions by clicking the  button. The completed layout giving the option of two events (sale and lame) and two movements between management groups is shown below. Note that the group movement is repeated for each different group that the animals might be sent to.

InterBeef is now ready to download to the Anilog reader the following: (i) the EIDs of animals in the data file and (ii) the events and movement options specified in the Set-up.

Close the Anilog Set-up screen and select Data loggers… Anilog… Exchange data.

Note that InterBeef will not download the EIDs and possible events to the Anilog reader, until the reader is cleared of any earlier recordings. Events are normally cleared from the Anilog reader by being assigned to an animal record in InterBeef when the animal record is saved.. Events that are not saved to an animal record remain in the Anilog reader. (Note: If these readings are not required they can be cleared in InterBeef by clicking the Clear anilog reader button in the Anilog set up or via the set-up routines of the Anilog reader).

So the first step in exchanging data is to confirm that the Anilog reader does not contain any previously recorded data. The reader establishes communication with InterBeef and passes (uploads) the identities that it contains. It confirms this process is complete by the message:

A further message confirms that the recorded data (histories) are also fed to InterBeef. The data are then displayed in the Anilog data review form.

An empty grid (as above) confirms that the reader contains no data so press the Proceed button. The following message then appears:

This confirms that any previous data stored in the Anilog reader have been dealt with and that the reader is ready to receive the EIDs and possible events from InterBeef. Press Yes to begin the process.

There will be a series of 4 messages (originating from the Anilog reader, NOT InterBeef) confirming the receipt of the EIDs and events and the removal of previous histories. Click OK to each message.

The Anilog reader is now ready to take to the farm. It contains the EIDs of all the cows in the herd and the potential to assign any of the events/movements that were detailed in the Set-up screen.

When on the farm and wishing to register an event/movement, the reader should be switched on and in the "Waiting for EID tag" mode. The reader antenna is pointed at the tag of the selected animal until the reader beeps twice to signify it has identified the tag. The display of the reader will then appear as below:

The top line (B6201/06847) is the official eartag number of the animal. The second line (133) is the current identification (animal ID) used to refer to the animal. The third line is the electronic ID. Histories refers to the number of events recorded for this animal. Currently no histories are recorded.

To record the sold event for this animal click the  button on the reader. The display of the reader then lists the different events/movements etc that were loaded in to the reader.

Use the up and down arrows to select the Sold event then confirm the event by pressing the button again. The event is then logged. The reader is returned to Waiting for EID tag mode by pressing the  button. If the same tag is read again the histories will now read as 0001 signifying one event is stored against this ID.

Downloading weights, events, purchases and movements from data loggers in to InterBeef

On returning to the farm office, the reader is returned to the Anilog cradle in communications mode and connected to the computer in the same way as described in Assigning the EID to existing or new animals in InterBeef. The Animal record screen is displayed and Data loggers…Anilog…Exchange data selected from the menu.

The data from the Anilog reader is loaded in to the review form (after confirming OK a couple of times). 

This allows you to review all the events that have been received from the Anilog reader. If required you can edit the date, action or change the animal to which the event is assigned. When happy with the contents of the form , the process of assigning the events to the animal records is ready to begin. Except when entering large numbers of weight records, ensure the  is ticked. Then click the  button.

InterBeef works through the events/movements as displayed in the Anilog data review form. The event/movement is detailed in a small form that floats on top of the animal record of the corresponding animal. Note that the event/movement is also entered automatically in the appropriate place in the animal record. The data is not saved until the user clicks the  button. If you do not want to save that event click the  button. InterBeef then moves on to the next event/movement until all the events are assigned to the appropriate animal records.

On completion of the data transfer the following form appears:

Selecting Yes will download the EID list and currently defined actions in to the Anilog reader. If the same list of events/movements was to be used again then this would be appropriate. If, however, a different set of events/movements was required then these should be defined first before downloading.