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 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)

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 head2003: 1.752 million head2004: 1.371 million head2005: 1.816 million head2006: 2.289 million head2007: 2.495 million head 2008: 2.284 million head

(www.ers.usda.gov/news/BSECoverage.htm)

U. S. Farms Average age of U. S. Farm Operator:(years)1997- 54 2002- 55.32007- 57.1

Why Is This?- Rising Prices - Fewer new farmers

(www.ers.usda.gov/StateFacts/US.htm)

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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

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

Benefits - Dairy producers

- Produce more heifers - Beef Producers

- Heifers for expanded production from top cows- Heifers

- 1st time calving - Market

- To produce steers

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?