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Precision Agriculture In The Beef Cattle Industry

Precision Agriculture In The Beef Cattle Industry. Thomas Hyde SOIL 4213. U. S. Beef Production . U.S. beef production     2002: 27.09 billion pounds     2003: 26.24 billion pounds       2004: 24.55 billion pounds     2005: 24.68 billion pounds     2006: 26.15 billion pounds

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Precision Agriculture In The Beef Cattle Industry

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  1. Precision Agriculture In The Beef Cattle Industry Thomas Hyde SOIL 4213

  2. U. S. Beef Production U.S. beef production     2002: 27.09 billion pounds     2003: 26.24 billion pounds       2004: 24.55 billion pounds     2005: 24.68 billion pounds     2006: 26.15 billion pounds     2007: 26.42 billion pounds     2008: 26.56 billion pounds Total U.S. beef consumption:   2002: 27.9 billion pounds  2003: 27.0 billion pounds    2004: 27.8 billion pounds    2005: 27.8 billion pounds     2006: 28.0 billion pounds    2007: 28.1 billion pounds     2008: 27.3 billion pounds (www.ers.usda.gov/news/BSECoverage.htm)

  3. U. S. Beef Exports & Imports U.S. beef exports (as % of production) 2002: 9.0 % 2003: 9.6 % 2004: 1.9 %     2005: 2.8 %     2006: 4.4 %     2007: 5.4 %     2008: 7.1 % U.S. Beef Cattle imports : 2002: 2.503 million head 2003: 1.752 million head 2004: 1.371 million head 2005: 1.816 million head 2006: 2.289 million head 2007: 2.495 million head 2008: 2.284 million head (www.ers.usda.gov/news/BSECoverage.htm)

  4. U. S. Farms Average age of U. S. Farm Operator: (years) 1997- 54 2002- 55.3 2007- 57.1 Why Is This? - Rising Prices - Fewer new farmers (www.ers.usda.gov/StateFacts/US.htm)

  5. The Solution:Precision Agriculture - Using Technology to increase production, profits, and ease of production. - More must be produced with less. - When number of producers go down, production per producer must go up.

  6. Solutions: • Using GPS/locator sensing to track cattle. • Virtual fencing • Bull separation • Pasture management • Artificial Insemination (AI) - Superior selection - Sexed semen

  7. GPS/locator sensing • Currently, a collar with a GPS unit, inertial sensor, digital compass, transceiver and processing unit. • The GPS is used to track the animals movements 24 hours a day. • They can be programmed to take position data at any time interval.

  8. Benefits • Very good way to track large number of cattle. • Makes tracking animals over a large area much easier. • Each unit has an identification number or name. • Allows the user to determine if the animal is healthy.

  9. Disadvantages • Current sensor is bulky • Not reasonable for use in small operations • Data collection and interpretation can be difficult for individuals who have not been introduced to the technology.

  10. Virtual Fencing • Same collar as the GPS locator. • The virtual fence data is stored in the unit • When the cow approaches the fence an warning sound is emitted from the collar • If the animal crosses the fence then a “tactical stimulus” is emitted

  11. Bull Separation • Same collar as the Virtual fencing • The collar stores the identity of the other bulls with collars in the same area • It monitors the location and velocity of the bulls • The collar determines if the bull is acting aggressive by the location and velocity data. • If it is aggressive, then a mild electric shock is released to the bull.

  12. Pasture Management • Using wireless stations throughout the area to monitor. • Contains Temperature sensors, radio transceiver, solar rechargeable batteries, and soil moisture sensor or camera. • This system is tied in to the virtual fencing system • Prevents over grazing of the pastures

  13. Artificial Insemination (AI) What is AI? - The technique in which semen with living sperms is collected from the male and introduced into female reproductive tract at proper time with the help of instruments (www.world-agriculture.com/animal-husbandry/artificial_insemination_cattle.php) • Superior selection- Only using semen from bulls that have desirable traits that are above the average in performance. - Sexed semen- Using semen that has been determined to produce either male or female offspring by using technology.

  14. Superior Selection • Using only the genetic material from superior bulls for AI • Allows the producer to pick from hundreds of bulls instead of just their own. • Prevents the breeding of closely related animals. • Increases the production rate. • Crossbreeding

  15. Sexed Semen • Semen that is 93% accurate at predicting the sex of the offspring • Allows the producer to have more control over his operation -Process- - Female producing sperm (XX) is 3.8% larger than male (XY) - Semen is stained with fluorescent dye - Passed under a laser at 60 mph (4000 per second) - Undetermined or dead sperm is sorted out as waste

  16. Benefits • Dairy producers - Produce more heifers • Beef Producers - Heifers for expanded production from top cows • Heifers - 1st time calving • Market - To produce steers

  17. Conclusion • The beef cattle industry can benefit from precision agriculture • With the average age of farm operators going up they must adapt • It makes beef production easier and more profitable Questions?

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