KINGWOOD — A new one-of-a-kind smart phone app could redefine how livestock producers and their veterinarians interact, according to WVU Agriculture Preston County Extension Agent William Shockey.
The app will help providers obtain preventative veterinary care in under-served areas. An under-served area is one that does not have access to veterinarians who provide care for some farm animals.
Shockey said funding for the project came from a Sustainable Agricultural Research and Education Grant (SARE). He said the objective of the grant is to have a well-organized, educational campaign designed to appeal to the needs of part-time livestock producers.
It will focus on educating producers about the economic benefits of having an established relationship with a veterinarian. It will also demonstrate the coordination of veterinarian farm pools, and integrate electronic communication technology in the veterinarian — client relationship.
Shockey said Preston County ranks in the top five for livestock production. He said despite this, livestock producers have to call in veterinarians from outside the area. He said a veterinarian might have to come 50 miles or, in some instances, take two-and-a-half hours to get to the patient
“The cost is relatively high to the producers. The vet has to charge for driving time,” Shockey said. “The question was how do we get vets to come in or from the producer’s side, is a $200 lamb worth a $500 vet call?”
He is trying to focus on how to keep animals healthy and getting vets to come in once or twice a year to provide vaccinations and preventive care.
“It’s hard to get a veterinarian to come in to see 25 brood cows.” Shockey said. “When the provider lives on the farm but works off the farm, he or she has to have the vet come in the evenings or on the weekend. So part-time producers do not have adequate preventive health care for their livestock.”
“If we have five producers within five or six miles of each other we could have a veterinarian come and do one farm, then that farmer could take him from farm to farm,” Shockey said.
He said this system is more attractive to the veterinarian and the cost of travel is spread over four or five producers.
Shockey said a second approach to the problem is a smart phone app that can be used when livestock is injured or ill. The app will allow the producer to push a button, enter the type of animal, heart rate, temperature and other relative data. He or she can then take a picture or video of the sick animal and send it to the veterinarian.
“This will let the veterinarian make an assessment and determine if they need to make a call or if it is a problem the producer can take care of,” Shockey said.
He said several veterinarians and producers have indicated they would like to participate in the smart app study. “There is nothing else out there like this app,” Shockey said. By 2019 the participants will provide feedback and decide if they want to continue using the app or not.
Working on the app project with Shockey are Guodong Guo, associate professor, Computer Engineering; veterinarian Dr. Darin Matlick, clinical associate professor, Extension Service; Alcinda Trickett Shockey, associate professor, School of Dentistry; H.R. Scott, Extension associate professor, Extension Service; and David Moran, adjunct professor, Davis College and farmer.
