For Immediate Release

September 15, 1999. Two Nebraska – based technology companies are combining their offerings to benefit beef producers worldwide. APEIS Corporation of Norfolk, Nebraska and Midwest MicroSystems L.L.C. of Lincoln, Nebraska are collaborating to provide an interface between their computer-based systems. This will allow beef producers to employ both independent systems to compare herd improvement information and track health and treatment information from birth to market. The goal…to provide beef producers the necessary tools to capitalize on information management, at the individual animal level, to improve productivity, quality and profitability.

APEIS Corporation has developed "CattleTrax by APEIS," an Internet database to collect and warehouse pertinent production and herd health information for the beef industry. An animal’s unique identification is collected electronically and entered into the CattleTrax database. Van Neidig, President of the APEIS corporation explained "each stage of the animal’s development can thus be tracked electronically, from pasture to feedlot to sale. Beef producers can use the information to track animals through the entire production and marketing process. When cattle are sold the producer can choose to easily transfer information on that individual animal to the new owner."

Midwest MicroSystems has developed Cow Sense herd management software, which helps cattlemen improve profitability by micro managing each cow’s economic contribution to the operation. It takes into account reproductive, weaning, yearling, feeding, carcass and herd health performance factors, on a historical basis for individual animals. According to Jim Lowe, founder and President of Midwest MicroSystems, "I was faced with the old adage, of if you can’t measure it you can’t manage it. That’s why I developed Cow Sense. The cowboy friendly design provides users with a tool that through proven scientific methods identifies the high producing cattle in the herd for further propagation as well as the low producing cattle in the herd that need to be culled." Lowe should know, as a former rancher and MIT graduate.

Now users of both independent systems can benefit by making better-informed decisions. An interface has been established which allows users the powerful tools available in both systems to be used together. With the click of a button Cow Sense users can transfer their herd production and treatment information up to the CattleTrax Internet database. The data is secure and identity is anonymous! Producers may now make summary comparisons between their cattle and other cattle in the CattleTrax system, much as they do within their own Cow Sense herds. This comparative analysis provides producers with a powerful, easy tool for use in making management decisions.

Lowe explains that "the beef industry is striving to adopt successful information management methods, to micromanage the beef production process and design the end product to meet consumer demands. These management methods are common in other industries and depend on the collection, assimilation, and interpretation of large quantities of information." Neidig adds "it has long been recognized that information is powerful in any industry. Until today the beef industry has been lacking the tools to manage large quantities of information on individual animals to achieve their goals. With the help of Cow Sense and CattleTrax, producers can be better informed in making decisions. Such methods will be key to shaping the beef industry of the future".

Both companies were founded by cattlemen. CattleTrax was developed by Van and Kathy Neidig of Norfolk and is used by cattlemen in all 50 states and 8 foreign countries. Cow Sense was developed by Jim Lowe on his ranch near Ainsworth Nebraska. The company moved to the University of Nebraska Foundation’s Technology Park in 1997. Cow Sense has an installed user base across the entire USA, Canada and 10 other countries.

For additional information, contact APEIS at (402) 379-9487 or Midwest MicroSystems at (402) 472-3980.

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