InterTrace - Key Features

Key features of the central database that assist in the customisation and operation of a national livestock database and animal movement system include:

• User-definition of variables:  A key feature of InterTrace is the facility for the user to define their own variables. Any number of these user-defined variables can be specified for producers and/or premises records. Different sets of user-defined variables may be specified according to the premises type.
  
• User-definition of events: The user can define events relating to a type of premises or individual animal. For herds these events might be created to record herd vaccinations and the results of herd tests in surveillance programmes. For markets and abattoirs they could record details of official inspections while events relating to individual animals might record individual animal test results or vaccinations.
  
  User-defined events may be recorded as “scheduled” or “done”. Thus, scheduled events can be printed in action lists and scheduled work summary reports, while “done” events can be listed or summarised in cross-tabulation reports.
  
  An event structure can be developed so that when an event is recorded as “done” a user-defined result may be assigned. For example a farm inspection event may have possible results of pass or fail while results of a disease test event may be defined as positive, negative or doubtful. Depending on the result entered, further events may be scheduled automatically by the system. Thus a “doubtful” result of a disease test might schedule a re-test after a specified period of time.
  
  User-defined variables may also be specified for events, thus increasing the detail of recording. These variables might be used to record the type of test used in a surveillance programme, or the various points checked in an inspection of a slaughter plant.
  
• Filters: Powerful filters can limit records down to very specific subsets of the total database. Filters can be applied to limit records by premises types, zones, producers, species or other variables.
  
• Registration of batches of animals: The InterTrace system currently accommodates movement records relating to batches of animals that are not individually identified. Batches of animals must first be registered at their premises of origin. In this way, the system can maintain traceability records for animals that do not have individual identification. Thus animals remaining at the premises of birth until movement direct to slaughter plant would not need individual identification devices to remain fully traceable.
  
• User defined reports: User-designed documents, produced by creating a rich text format (rtf) file with a word processor, can be readily developed. Thus, it would be possible to generate a report for a livestock owner following a disease surveillance test, a health certificate following a sanitary inspection, or a report of a slaughter plant inspection.

Using the above features it is possible to operate a comprehensive database giving full detail of all registered animals, including a complete history of their location, movements, ownership. It is also possible to display:

• Animals at selected premises on any date or between two dates
  

• Animals owned by specified producer(s) on any date or between two dates
  

• Trace-back to the origin and contacts of all animals moved on to a specified premises
  

• Trace-forward to the destination and contacts of all animals moved from premises
  

• Time of movements and transporter details for tracing of contaminated vehicles

InterAgri, School of Agriculture, Policy & Development, Earley Gate, Reading RG6 6AR, United Kingdom
Telephone: 0118 9264888 Fax: 0118 9262431
Email: info@interagri.org