Growing feedyard efficiencies with AccuTrac Sort
By Micro Technologies
Chute side technology has changed the game for cattle feedyard managers. Products like Elanco’s PenPoint™ system removed the second-guessing and lost revenue that came from manual sorting. The hands-free operation of chute systems and centralized data help managers make better decisions and maximize returns. One big problem remained: tying data together to optimize efficiencies.
"We built a bridge between AccuTrac and the PenPoint sorting system to give cattle managers more control over their data and decision-making. By utilizing compositional sorting, data can provide a comprehensive view of cattle performance over time," said Kerbie Bracht, Accu-Trac Sort Product Manager, Micro Technologies.
That bridge is Accu-Trac Sort. It is the only solution in the market that leverages the power of data to streamline feedyard workflows, boost productivity, and improve animal welfare. With Accu-Trac Sort and PenPoint, operators get an integrated system that dramatically enhances efficiency across all aspects of feedyard management.
Addressing inefficiencies
A traditional feedyard operates with multiple software platforms that function independently. There are a lot of time-consuming manual sorting processes that can introduce human error. The result is significant communication gaps, process inefficiencies, and lost revenue.
The combination of manual sorting and platform separation leads to more opportunities for errors, such as data that managers need to enter multiple times. Managers have no choice but to waste time switching between different systems. It’s difficult to operate sorting devices while handling cattle in chutes.
PenPoint is a leap forward with its hands-free operation; however, managers need an easier way to harness that data. Accu-Trac Sort addresses this critical need for a more streamlined approach. It creates a unified, cohesive, and more efficient way to manage cattle.
Key reasons to use Accu-Trac Sort
Seamless data integration can revolutionize operations. With accurate data, it becomes possible to optimize cattle sorting, increase sellable pounds, deliver more consistent size and composition at market, and maximize returns.
Accu-Trac Sort’s seamless and straightforward integration requires minimal downtime and disruption to operations. PenPoint’s robust data collection with existing chute-side computers can link directly to the existing inventory management system to deliver actionable data that could generate an additional $10 to $40 per head.1
This system is uniquely engineered to streamline feedyard operations through several innovative features:
- Single-screen efficiency: By centralizing all operations on one screen, AccuTrac Sort eliminates the need to toggle between different systems, which enhances focus and reduces the risk of errors.
- Hands-free operation: The technology enables hands-free operation at the chute side, facilitating safer and more efficient cattle handling.
- Comprehensive data centralization: All sorting event management happens within AccuTrac Sort, creating a unified platform for effortless data management. This robust data management feature ensures no information is overlooked, providing a comprehensive view of a feedyard's operations.
- Enhanced error reduction: Automatic data transmission minimizes manual entry errors and ensures greater accuracy in records.
- In-depth long-term data analysis: Housing all critical data within one integrated system allows for deep-dive analysis and informed decision-making. With AccuTrac Sort, you can analyze a wide range of data, including cattle weight, health records, feed consumption patterns, and more. Better data analysis leads to better long-term operational oversight.
The power of compositional sorting
What’s at the heart of this robust sorting and data system? AccuTrac Sort has a unique ability to incorporate and analyze the compositional sorting data collected at the chute. Compositional sorting is an advanced sorting technique that allows operators to optimize cattle management based on specific data-driven criteria. It's typically a combination of weight and measurement. Compositional sorting divides cattle into homogenous feeding groups, which gives operators more control over the finishing process. Feed is customizable by cohort to maximize size and composition.
A lack of compositional sorting and data analysis to determine optimal finishing can create the potential for inconsistency in results and lost opportunities when sending cattle to market. When an operator can use data to optimally finish cattle, it reduces the risk of losing out on sellable pounds or ending up with costly yield grade discounts. Compositional sorting combined with AccuTrac’s data analysis offers a new level of precision and control in feedyard management.
“The integration should eliminate user error because when an animal comes in the chute, PenPoint measures the animal, makes a sort decision, and that’s automatically transmitted to our sorting system. There’s no need for manual entry like there was before,” Bracht said.
Seamless compatibility
Elanco's PenPoint Sort System captures accurate cattle weight and measurement data. It is hands-free and easy to use, making it one of the most powerful investments a cattle feedyard can add to its operation. Bridging it with AccuTrac Sort adds more granular data analysis and a more holistic approach to cattle management through seamless data integration and insights that optimize yield and minimize waste. In addition to compositional sorting, operators can track the health status of individual cattle and adjust their feed rations to maintain healthier, more productive animals.
Modern cattle management doesn’t have to involve manual, inefficient processes anymore. Micro Technologies has developed the tools and integrations necessary to bring the power of data into the field. AccuTrac Sort simplifies and secures data management and empowers feedlot managers to make strategic, data-informed decisions that drive profitability and enhance animal welfare.
Reference
1Elanco. PenPoint™ Sort System. Accessed 6 June 2024. Available at: https://farmanimal.elanco.com/us/beef/products/penpoint
