UDAF Brand Inspectors Use Technology
to Track Animals

You can call them cowboy computers. Hand held electronic devices that record and track livestock brands and identification numbers. They replace the decades old paper system of creating brand inspection certificates by hand. These certificates are used to prove ownership of livestock and are used when animals are bought and sold or moved across state lines.

“This gives us the ability to record brand information electronically and streamline our system,” said Terry Menlove, UDAF Animal Industry Director.

The mini computers can also sense an electronic ear tag on animals, which helps improve animal tracking. This is a major component of animal disease prevention, since brand inspectors would be able to locate and remove any diseased or suspect animal from the food system. The device is also capable of transmitting pictures and serving as a telephone.

The computers are manufactured and sold by Juniper Systems of Logan, Utah and Fort Supply, of Kaysville, Utah. The companies have sold their devices in several Western states as well as to buyers in Canada and Australia.

See a picture of one of the computers at: http://ag.utah.gov

Posted February 22, 2008