Awel Y Grug Project Update - December 2024

What has been done to date?

Due to the numerous issues identified relating to compatibility of devices during initial setup, the decision was made to split the project into 2 phases;

  • Step 1: Identify all issues and test possible solutions (see below)

  • Step 2: Put solutions into practice and initiate TST strategy involving 2025 born lambs - the first TST session will be dependent on the risk of Nematodirus infection in May/June 2025

Initial Hardware and Software Setup

Previously, the farm used a Tru-Test S3 weigh head along with a Gallagher HR5 EID reader. The weigh head device could not connect to the EID (Electronic Identification) reader, making it impossible to calculate and display daily live weight gain on the screen. The goal was to integrate a Te Pari auto-calculating dosing gun (Revolution Auto Dosing), which requires an App to work with Tru-Test devices. A targeted selected treatment protocol (TST) was to be adopted using the Cotter Agri Smart worm App. It was also to be used to determine if the animal required treatment if it did not meet the minimum daily live weight gain criteria. The animal identified as not meeting the minimum daily life weight gain (DLWG) target, would be treated for internal parasites. However, several challenges arose:
 

  • The Te Pari app works only on Android devices, but the farmer, Chris, uses an iOS (Apple) device.

  • The Tru-Test S3 weigh head is incompatible with the Te Pari App.

  • The iOS version of the smart worm app was not available as advertised.

Working out a way forward

The local merchant suggested upgrading to a Tru-Test 5000 weigh head (£1400 to £2300, depending on model), which could work with the Te Pari dosing gun through an Android app (However, Awel Y Grug uses an IOS Apple device). This setup allowed the weigh head to send weight data via Bluetooth to the app, which then calculated the dose rate for each animal and sent this data to the dosing gun via Wi-Fi, changing the dose rate.

However, this setup did not fully meet the farm’s needs because:

  • Tru-Test 5000 only sends data in a live session to Android devices via Bluetooth. The Tru-Test 5000 can connect to IOS Apple devices only after a session is completed. This is unhelpful when working with the Te Pari dosing gun or Cotter’s Agri-smart worm app as we need a real-time/live connection to run the applications/apps.

  • The Android app connected to the Tru-Test 5000 weigh head will need to run two apps simultaneously, with the 1st app connected to the Te Pari dosing gun needing weight only and the 2nd app, the smart worm app, needing weight and EID. It isn't easy to send the same information simultaneously to 2 apps on one device. The solution to this would have been to set up two Android devices to connect to the weigh head simultaneously, further complicating the process.

Alternative Solutions

Option A

  • Use a lower-cost Gallagher W1 weigh head (£1,000 or less).

  • Gallagher devices can connect to Apple/iOS devices over Wi-Fi/hotspot and Android devices over Bluetooth.

  • The Te Pari dosing gun can connect directly to a Gallagher W range over Wi-Fi/hotspot. It records the dose rate on the weigh head when the dose gun trigger is activated.

  • The Gallagher HR5 EID reader can be connected over Bluetooth, sending the EID to the Gallagher W range, which can calculate daily live weight gain on the screen.

  • The Gallagher W1 weigh head connects to the Smart Worm app using a Wi-Fi/hotspot. This will allow Bluetooth connection to be made available for the Hr5 EID reader to connect. This allows the Gallagher W range to send the weight and EID into the Smart Worm app over Wi-Fi/hotspot.  

Challenges with this setup:
The Gallagher W range weigh heads can only connect one device over Bluetooth and one over Wi-Fi/hotspot, so the Smart Worm app cannot be connected when the Te Pari worming gun and the EID reader are both connected.

Option B

Replace the Te Pari dosing gun with an Automed worming gun. This device works directly with the Smart Worm app, enabling a single app to manage both dose gun and TST calculations (Treat or not treat) and record treatment to the EID. The smart worm app identifies animals that need treating, then calculates the dose rate and controls the Automated worming gun, eliminating the need for multiple devices and apps.

Step 1 Conclusion

The simplified setup with the Gallagher W1 weigh head, and Automed worming gun provides a practical solution for achieving the farm’s target of implementing a targeted selective treatment (TST) policy to manage Gastrointestinal nematodes (GINs)  using the Cotter Agri Smart worm app. Scanning the lambs’ EID at the first treatment and uploading them directly into the smart worm app seems to be the most efficient method for entering the animals into the system for the first time instead of uploading data from a spreadsheet. A ‘day 0’ weight is needed and the TST approach should not be used in the early grazing season when the risk of Nematodirus infection is high.