Despite Brexit rumblings and talks of US imports, the current demand for British chicken shows no signs of slowing down. Producers are moving forwards with investments, signalling confidence in the future and that there are plenty of opportunities to be had, some of which can be best leveraged with investing in new technologies. Tom Glen, Lead Account Manager at ABN, speaks to Feed Compounder about navigating new technology and how the best opportunities can come from simply unlocking the data you already have.


Make the Most of Your Existing Data and Reap the Rewards To help broiler producers make the most of this data, AB Agri


has developed a tool that provides technical insights and visualises performance data in real-time. At ABN, we have a unique perspective where we can offer on-farm advice but also help farm managers apply the best practice we’ve gathered from across the industry. Total Farm Performance®


replaces the conventional paper crop


Technology buzzwords like AI and robotics have been flying around the poultry industry for some time. With so much innovation in the market, producers could be forgiven for finding themselves confused about what they should invest in and what will deliver the best results for them. However, they could be missing a trick by not unlocking the value from the data they already hold. We already know that the poultry sector is fast-changing and


growing, and is an industry which really embraces new technology. A survey carried out by ABN recently found that a strong majority of farmers across pigs, broilers and layers said that data was important to their business so it stands to reason that we need to find the best way to use it. Farmers already have a wealth of data at their fingers tips which


could hold the key to unlocking performance and business growth. In fact, many are already recording this useful data for auditing purposes, in order to comply with industry regulations. The way they use and respond to this existing data could make a real difference to a business’s financial growth. In an industry of such small margins, little improvements and adjustments can have a big effect on the bottom line. So, making better use of data, through benchmarking, can have big payoffs. Poultry producers are already required to measure and record


data on a daily and weekly basis for compliance purposes, which when used in the right way, can provide valuable insights into bird health, performance and welfare. For example, plotting daily water intake per thousand birds on a chart gives a visual aid to help easily identify small changes in consumption that might otherwise go unnoticed. The tell-tale signs of a potential health issue can often be seen in the water intake a day or two before a significant stall or spike, but the subtle changes are easy to miss when trying to scan a column of numbers on a crop sheet. Early warning can mean more timely and effective interventions, improving performance and welfare. We’ve seen producers making use of data to successfully manage


the finances of their farms or using data to monitor input and output prices to inform business decisions. However, when it comes to optimising bird performance there seems to be a trend in the industry for believing you need to go out, buy and install a completely new piece of kit. Knowing what’s right for you and your farm and taking the time to


understand what’s on the market is often seen as time consuming, but keeping on top of farm data is a powerful tool in driving performance and bird welfare. Using your data in the right way can also identify opportunities for improvements on-farm that increase efficiency and ultimately deliver financial gain.


chart with a smartphone or tablet app that automatically analyses day- to-day environmental and performance data. Instead of writing daily records on paper, they can be typed into the app and uploaded to a secure cloud storage area for the farm or business. This creates a digital version of the crop chart that is still accepted by farm assurance schemes and eliminates the need for duplicate paper records. Thus saving the farmer time and simplifying the audit process with all the crop records to hand in one place. It can work with existing equipment on any farm and does not require


any additional sensors. The system analyses the data as it is uploaded, assessing it in the same way that an on-farm technical advisor would, and provides instant alerts, insights and advice through the app to the stockperson’s pocket. An online portal allows stockspeople, managers and business owners to log in and track their farm performance, benchmark their results and keep track of any alerts that have been triggered. By highlighting areas that may need attention automatically, it focuses the stocksperson or farm manager’s time in the places it is most needed, and provides the information needed to react quickly to any potential issues. There is also the benefit of reduced biosecurity risks. With less of a


need for manual collection of data, going in and out of sheds and farms, it can help reduce the chances of any contamination between areas. Total Farm Performance consists of three key service areas which


can be deployed in conjunction with each other or separately to meet the exact requirement of each poultry business. These are: In Farm – a dedicated on-farm technical service that takes a practical whole farm approach to optimise bird performance and increase financial gain for producers; In Focus – a secure data capture and insight service that uses the latest technology to put real-time data at a customer’s fingertips to guide daily decisions and actions; In Depth – a specialist bespoke data analysis service that helps to drive evidence-based decision making to improve efficiency and profitability across the supply chain. We know that every farm is different so the costs for the new


technology are flexible and we sit down with each customer to see what their requirements and expectations are. We then make sure that the costing will deliver value for money regardless of the size of the operation. It is an exciting time for the feed industry as more technical innovation


looks to make the process more efficient for farmers, maximising profits across the supply chain. If you feel that Total Farm Performance could work for you on-farm or just want to find out more information, the team are always happy to help discuss solutions for your business. https://www.abn.co.uk/nutrition-support/total-farm-performance/


FEED COMPOUNDER JULY/AUGUST 2019 PAGE 53


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