News of the Weird: Cow Tracking Software for Palm OS

Life's tough when you have a 300+ Cow herd to be tracking in Wyoming.  But cowboys are finding that with radio tagging and a Palm PDA loaded with the newest cow tracking software from WYTrax, keeping track of Bessy isn't so hard after all.

A Palm m505 running WYTrax Cow Tracking software

All you have to do is stick a computer-chipped, radio frequency identification tag into a cow's ear, give a ranchhand a wireless, handheld personal digital assistant and with the wave of a bright-blue wand (the Wireless Bluetooth Tag Reader), Wyoming's 21st Century cowboy can tell you everything you want to know about that particular animal.

+  = trackable cow

The Wireless Bluetooth tag reader allows to scan your cows vital signs and transfer to the Palm

"It's pretty funny to imagine these ranchers walking around with these PDAs in their pockets ... but it is incredible what these (devices) will do," said the director of Wyoming Stock Growers Association Olsen "It's another very user-friendly tool ... that uses the latest technology."

My favorite form is the "Breeding Record" form

WYTrax's electronic individual data system offers three methods of data entry.

1. Those include using printable, chute-side forms available on the Web site to enter data online manually;
2. Using a PDA collection device that allows for manual entry into a wireless, handheld PDA device.
3. Employing a PDA device with reader capabilities that electronically scans and records data from electronic identification ear tags.
   

To see a flowchart of how the software works, visit WYTrax site here:

http://www.wytrax.com/documentation/traxlink_flowchart.htm

To Buy a Palm Tungsten T2 fully loaded with the WYTrax TraxLink Software for $515.95 visit the following page:

http://www.wytrax.com/options_costs.htm

Many will be excited to know and want to add to their calendar that the Wyoming Stock Growers Association will host a hands-on demonstration of WYTrax at their summer convention in Casper on June 2-5.