General Discussions

Hello Everyone,
We recently migrated to RFID census counting from manually counting cages using hand-clickers and paper (archaic - I know). At the time, we had a cage census of around 30,000 cages… we're opened a second facility so now we're around 40,000 - 45,000 active cages. With that volume of cages, it was easy to calculate the gains in accuracy, efficiency, and labor, from migrating to RFID census. If you currently have barcoding for census, it would likely take several more years for the gains to offset the initial expense.

For the RFID census to occur, we use Allentown's WiCom Sensus application - counts all of the RFID cards and registers their location, then passes all that data back to Cayuse. From there, Cayuse maintains its position as the system of record for census, location, per diem billing, etc.

Animal Inventory Module - Hardware

• Server running Allentown's WiCom Sensus Application
• Zebra MC3300R RFID & Barcode Mobile Scanner
• Zebra ZT421 RFID-enabled Printer
• Customized RFID Cardstock with 4 layouts (i.e. Standard, Wean, Breeding, Blank)

Veterinary Care Module - Hardware

• Husbandry Services uses Apple iPads running SCANDIT Keyboard Wedge - the keyboard wedge replaces the default Apple keyboard with an identical keyboard, but it has the additional feature of a bar button above the keyboard which allows for barcode scanning while still in the browser… once pressed, the scan button captures the first barcode it encounters and auto-pastes the value into the selected text box within the Cayuse application - and it all happens "lightning fast".
  
  
• Veterinary Services uses Dell Laptop/Tablet hybrids - as they have to add details of their findings from the health assessment and proposed treatment plan.

I'm including images of our cage cards and how we had to modify the cage card holders to facilitate RFID card use. I'm also including a video of how we use the RFID cards within the facility. I hope they can be useful to the rest of the community. 

https://youtu.be/ZRCOVMtv1Pg

Hello Everyone,
We recently migrated to RFID census counting from manually counting cages using hand-clickers and paper (archaic - I know). At the time, we had a cage census of around 30,000 cages… we're opened a second facility so now we're around 40,000 - 45,000 active cages. With that volume of cages, it was easy to calculate the gains in accuracy, efficiency, and labor, from migrating to RFID census. If you currently have barcoding for census, it would likely take several more years for the gains to offset the initial expense.

For the RFID census to occur, we use Allentown's WiCom Sensus application - counts all of the RFID cards and registers their location, then passes all that data back to Cayuse. From there, Cayuse maintains its position as the system of record for census, location, per diem billing, etc.

Animal Inventory Module - Hardware

• Server running Allentown's WiCom Sensus Application
• Zebra MC3300R RFID & Barcode Mobile Scanner
• Zebra ZT421 RFID-enabled Printer
• Customized RFID Cardstock with 4 layouts (i.e. Standard, Wean, Breeding, Blank)

Veterinary Care Module - Hardware

• Husbandry Services uses Apple iPads running SCANDIT Keyboard Wedge - the keyboard wedge replaces the default Apple keyboard with an identical keyboard, but it has the additional feature of a bar button above the keyboard which allows for barcode scanning while still in the browser… once pressed, the scan button captures the first barcode it encounters and auto-pastes the value into the selected text box within the Cayuse application - and it all happens "lightning fast".
  
  
• Veterinary Services uses Dell Laptop/Tablet hybrids - as they have to add details of their findings from the health assessment and proposed treatment plan.

I'm including images of our cage cards and how we had to modify the cage card holders to facilitate RFID card use. I'm also including a video of how we use the RFID cards within the facility. I hope they can be useful to the rest of the community. 

https://youtu.be/ZRCOVMtv1Pg

Hello Everyone,
We recently migrated to RFID census counting from manually counting cages using hand-clickers and paper (archaic - I know). At the time, we had a cage census of around 30,000 cages… we're opened a second facility so now we're around 40,000 - 45,000 active cages. With that volume of cages, it was easy to calculate the gains in accuracy, efficiency, and labor, from migrating to RFID census. If you currently have barcoding for census, it would likely take several more years for the gains to offset the initial expense.

For the RFID census to occur, we use Allentown's WiCom Sensus application - counts all of the RFID cards and registers their location, then passes all that data back to Cayuse. From there, Cayuse maintains its position as the system of record for census, location, per diem billing, etc.

Animal Inventory Module - Hardware

• Server running Allentown's WiCom Sensus Application
• Zebra MC3300R RFID & Barcode Mobile Scanner
• Zebra ZT421 RFID-enabled Printer
• Customized RFID Cardstock with 4 layouts (i.e. Standard, Wean, Breeding, Blank)

Veterinary Care Module - Hardware

• Husbandry Services uses Apple iPads running SCANDIT Keyboard Wedge - the keyboard wedge replaces the default Apple keyboard with an identical keyboard, but it has the additional feature of a bar button above the keyboard which allows for barcode scanning while still in the browser… once pressed, the scan button captures the first barcode it encounters and auto-pastes the value into the selected text box within the Cayuse application - and it all happens "lightning fast".
  
  
• Veterinary Services uses Dell Laptop/Tablet hybrids - as they have to add details of their findings from the health assessment and proposed treatment plan.