#USA #Irvine #Getac ZX10 #MWI Animal Health #Precision Feeding

Getac ZX10 Tablets Transform Feed Management for MWI Animal Health

In a world where the demand for food is steadily increasing, the agility and efficiency of agricultural practices are becoming crucial. MWI Animal Health has recognized this need and embarked on a transformation by deploying Getac ZX10 fully rugged tablets across beef and dairy farms in North America. This significant move not only advances their precision feed management operations but also addresses the larger challenge of increasing global food production by 70% by 2050.

The global population is projected to rise by an additional 2.5 billion people within the next few decades, putting pressure on the agricultural sector to enhance food production capabilities. In this evolving landscape, managing animal feed emerges as a complex, multifaceted process that plays a pivotal role in food security, sustainability, and animal welfare. MWI Animal Health’s deployment of Getac ZX10 tablets serves to streamline the feed management lifecycle, which encompasses calling, making, and delivering feed. Any operational inefficiencies can have significant repercussions, impacting food systems and animal health.

The Role of Getac in Precision Feeding

Charlie Gibbs, Director of Product Solutions at Getac North America, expressed pride in the contribution of the ZX10 tablets, stating, "MWI Animal Health is doing important work to support a growing global food supply, and we're proud the ZX10 is at the center of that mission." The tablets are designed specifically to enhance workflows in agriculture, facilitating accurate dietary assessments for cattle through continuous data collection.

For example, professionals assess cattle three to four times each day using the tablets, ensuring precise calculations of dietary needs based on various factors, such as age and environmental conditions. The use of GPS-enabled trucks for distributing feed loads between 30,000 to 35,000 pounds underscores the technology’s integration into agricultural practices. The ZX10 tablets act as the central control hub for MWI's innovative "Read and Feed" system, ensuring that each animal receives the correct amount of nutrition at designated feeding spots.

Resilience and Efficiency of Rugged Technology

The ruggedness of the Getac ZX10 tablets allows them to operate in temperatures ranging from -20°F to 145°F and withstand dust, shocks, and vibrations. MWI has customized the installation of these tablets in 3D-printed cradles with 12-volt connections, allowing them to provide continuous operation vital for maintaining logistics in the field.

The tablets transmit real-time delivery data to facility servers over Wi-Fi and connect with truck-mounted scales via Bluetooth for live ingredient monitoring. This seamless integration into feed delivery processes helps mitigate errors, thereby maintaining accuracy in feed allocation and delivery.

Patrick Russell, Field IT Service and Support Supervisor at MWI Animal Health, underscored the efficiency of transitioning to an Android-based system: "Windows-based systems created deployment and maintenance challenges for our use case. Android provides a kiosk where it can only do what we want it to do, making it highly efficient." This strategic move has resulted in significant improvements across various operational metrics.

Positive Outcomes of the Deployment

Since the introduction of the ZX10, MWI has experienced measurable enhancements in feed management processes. Highlights include:

• - Reduced Feed Waste: Almost 100% billing and tracking accuracy has helped verify correct feed distribution and validate deliveries.
• - Decreased IT Time in the Field: Utilizing ManageEngine for mass updates has minimized the time IT teams need for installations at sites.
• - Expanded Access to Precision Feeding: The lower cost of the Android platform has made advanced technology accessible even to smaller operations beyond MWI's main feed yards.
• - Supported Production Efficiency: Better feeding practices, coupled with stable technological processes, have increased harvest weights from around 1,200 pounds to over 1,500 pounds, reflecting improved operational efficiency.

Max Koster, Senior Director of Sales at MWI Animal Health, shared his insights on collaboration with Getac: "We've built a tremendous relationship with Getac. Their sales and corporate teams took the time to understand our operations and our unique needs. For us to achieve our 2050 goals, we don't just need a supplier; we need a partner."

Conclusion

Getac Technology Corporation continues to demonstrate its commitment to supporting critical food production systems through reliable, high-performance tools tailored for challenging agricultural environments. By empowering agricultural teams with advanced technology, Getac plays a pivotal role in enhancing efficiency, reducing waste, and fortifying resilience in global food production systems. To learn more about how MWI Animal Health leveraged Getac ZX10 tablets for operational improvements in feed management, explore the full case study published by Getac.