ACCU-TRAC® > The ACCU-TRAC® Process

What is ACCU-TRAC®? | The ACCU-TRAC® Process | Benefits |
Systems Users & Comments | Consumers and Beef

The ACCU-TRAC® Electronic Cattle
Management Process

	To begin the ACCU-TRAC® program, producers record genetic background, birth and weaning weights, and health histories, and apply electronic identification tags.
	With the chute-side CowCOMM component, the system collects all individual data, makes objective measurements, and sorts cattle into uniform groups to exploit multiple marketing alternatives.
	When cattle arrive at the ACCU-TRAC® feedyard, measuring, processing, and sorting occurs at a state-of-the-art ECM facility with holding pens, automated measurement stations, and computerized sort gates.
	At arrival, cattle move through the specially engineered, high-speed, low-stress five-station ACCU-TRAC® measurement facility.
	The first station is the sequencing station which isolates individuals from the group of cattle coming in through the tub. Special louvered shields block the animal’s view of humans to keep stress low.
	Next, the top and side cameras of the video image stall capture images and send them to the computer to calculate external dimensions.
	As the animal enters the automatic weigh station, an antennae embedded in the solid sides read the animal’s electronic ID tag while eliminating contact with humans.
	In the ultrasound chute, internal tissue characteristics such as backfat thickness are measured. Once the computer obtains a good image, it is captured and attached to the animal’s software profile.
	In the last station, animals are processed in a modified squeeze chute and all measurements are combined with the animals’ health data generated from a chute-side animal health system.
	The sophisticated ACCU-TRAC® software program analyzes the measurements and other data and makes an optimum economic ship date determination.
	The ACCU-TRAC® system then automatically sorts individuals into uniform marketing groups. Cattle are measured and sorted again later to sharpen marketing projections for an optimum ship date.
	An individual animal joins others with the same marketing date to ensure full pen utilization in the feedyard. While in the new home pen, feeding and health care technologies and products are utilized to maximize efficiencies.
	Sold on a carcass merit basis, carcass performance is added to the individual’s live performance data from the ranch and the feedyard. Automatic ID links in the packing house ensure the right carcass ID is matched to the live ID.
	Retailers receive a more uniform beef product to offer their patrons with value-added qualities such as extended shelf-life, increased tenderness, and safety assurance verification. Better beef attracts more customers to stores and restaurants.
	Consumers enjoy a higher-quality, more consistent, and wholesome beef eating experience and add profitability to the beef production chain. Beef consumption increases with greater confidence and satisfaction.
	All data collected throughout the ACCU-TRAC® process is combined for continuous improvement processes and management decisions throughout all segments of the industry going all the way back to the ranch where the process begins again with new calf crops.