SBIR-STTR Award

The rapid development of the Internet, combined with the increasing power of microcomputers, provides an opportunity to improve greatly the quality of information available to the managers of dairy farms. Internet technology provides a framework upon which information can be distributed quickly, with great flexibility, and at low cost, but existing information tools for dairy management are largely optimized for a system built around mainframe computers and character-based paper records. The multi-platform browsers that have fueled growth of the World-Wide-Web (WWW) offer tremendous new flexibility in the way data may be displayed. Increasing computer power also makes it possible to add embedded intelligence and measures of confidence to reports. Thoughtful graphic design can make this increased sophistication unobtrusive, and accessible to dairy farmers and the consultants that serve them. Distributed access to a centralized database and report engine will also aid dairy research, and monitoring of industry-wide or localized trends.

Anticipated Results/Potential Commercial Applications of Research:
: We will develop processes to build and deliver (via the Internet) customized reports designed to aid in the management of dairy herds, making use of color graphics and embedded intelligence where appropriate. Reports will be generated by a WWW server on demand, using herd-specific data. Client and server computers will communicate over the Internet using standard WWW browser software.

The rapid development of the Internet, combined with the increasing power of microcomputers, provides an opportunity to improve the quality of information available to managers of dairy farms. Better information tools will improve health and welfare of cattle, sustainability of farms, efficiency of milk production, profitability of dairy farms, and help dairy farmers remain in compliance with tighter environmental regulations. Internet technology provides a framework upon which information can be collected from disparate data sources including, but not limited to, Dairy Herd Improvement Association (DHIA) databases. Data will be assembled into reports as needed, and delivered to users with standard World-Wide-Web (WWW) browser software. The WWW offers tremendous flexibility in the way data may be collected and displayed. Increasing computer power makes it possible to add embedded intelligence and measures of confidence to reports. Thoughtful graphic design and hypertext documentation can make this increased sophistication understandable and unobtrusive. Three-tier Internet architecture will make possible improved sharing of data and, by increasing the utility of that data, encourage greater participation in DHIA programs. Further development may lead to a national cooperative network of dairy producers, the consultants that serve them, and public and private dairy researchers.Applications:We will develop processes to assemble data, build customized reports, and deliver them via standard WWW browser software. A security system will identify users and limit data access accordingly. Reports will aid in the management of dairy herds, with data collected from disparate data sources and using color graphics and embedded intelligence where appropriate. Deployment will be on an open and cooperative plan to insure the widest possible expertise in report design. Contributing experts may copyright designs, and specify royalty payments which will be passed on to users, thus implementing an open market in information tools for dairy herd management.