Document text
3 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW DUII suspected in car versus semi crash on Interstate 5 ... UPDATED: At least 7 dead in shootings at 3 homes in Ohio; no arrests ... Statewide advisory issued against eating bass ... DUII suspected in car versus semi crash on Interstate 5 ... UPDATED: At least 7 dead in shootings at 3 homes in Ohio; no arrests ... Statewide advisory issued against eating bass ... TECHNOLOGY Ashland group gets air time on TBS inventors competition By John Darling for the Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By John Darling for the Mail Tribune Posted Apr. 18, 2016 @ 11:55 am Updated Apr 18, 2016 at 11:56 AM By John Darling for the Mail Tribune Posted Apr. 18, 2016 @ 11:55 am Updated Apr 18, 2016 at 11:56 AM » Social News p bs:newslist StartDate="20121121" EndDate="p bs:datecalc Months="3"" DateSort="1" UseObjects="1" ObjectClass="81" Taxonomywords="2325,665" ExactTaxonomyMatch="1" Image="1" Count="4" --> In a move that could revolutionize ranching — and perhaps earn them $1 million — a group of Ashland inventors has developed a smart tag that attaches to cows’ ears and reports their location, activity level, mating, food intake, body temperature — and eliminates the huge amount of work in checking up on them personally, one-by-one. The little device, called a HerdDogg data generator, is featured on a TV inventors’ show, “America’s Greatest Makers,” which airs at 9 p.m. Tuesdays on TBS, with $1 million at stake if they are named the top invention. Videos from the show can be viewed at www.americasgreatestmakers.com . The group, calling itself the Rogue Rovers Team HerdDogg, includes inventor Melissa Brandao and four engineers who designed the device, which is shaped like a dog-bone. The transmitters on cattle are picked up by the “bone” and sent to a central laptop. The bone receives data within 30 feet of cattle, so it can sit at the watering site or a herd dog can circulate among cattle and bring entries up to date, says Brandao. As cattle were being moved through a steel cage and fitted with the ear device, Brandao observed, “As you can see, this isn’t a fun process for the cattle or us, so life will be a lot easier once they’re installed. We’re building something low cost, low contact and we can reach animals in places that are underserved and improve their health and well-being.” The smart tag can help eliminate feed lots, enabling ranchers to keep track of cattle, letting them be in pastures, without having to concentrate them in crowded areas, she adds. “This enables them to go back in fields, fertilize the soil and eat from it, so they are part of the ecosystem. They’re also happier and happy cattle make better milk and beef; that’s proven.” The device is undergoing research and development on a herd off Eagle Mill Road owned by Standing Stone Brewery. “It’s got some big implications for the industry and will let everyone be able to verify the source, age and parentage of cattle,” says rancher Dave Westerberg of Valley View Beef, who is overseeing the process. The system will launch in May and sell for around $500, says software engineer Jeff Platt. “It sends data to your laptop or on Twitter in real time.” Brandao adds, “It’s the most game-changing technology being introduced on the show. It saves ranchers from driving around using visual cues. All the other inventions on the show are consumer-based. Ours is the only one focusing on a whole industry.” The invention has many potential other uses, says Brandao, who wants to contact the city of Ashland about using it to tag the city’s burgeoning deer population and keep track of its health, feeding, location, aggression and other issues. The TV show started with 24 inventors and has been whittled down to 15. It will be narrowed further Tuesday to five contenders, each guaranteed $100,000. The grand prize goes to the final winner. Judges in the contest include Intel CEO Brian Krzanich, business and financial expert Carol Roth and comedian and co-host of truTV’s "Hack My Life" Kevin Pereira. The show is produced by producer Mark Burnett, whose credits include "Survivor," "Shark Tank" and "The Voice." Brandao, founder and chief executive of Ashland-based Rogue Rovers, is no stranger to the spotlight. She was among entrepreneurs from across the country to show off their products to President Barack Obama at the White House in August 2015. Rogue Rovers' first product, FarmDogg, and electric all-terrain vehicle, is designed to be driven or operate autonomously and allow farmers to manage its data collection capabilities remotely. John Darling is an Ashland freelance writer. Reach him at [email protected]. By John Darling for the Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By John Darling for the Mail Tribune Posted Apr. 18, 2016 @ 11:55 am Updated Apr 18, 2016 at 11:56 AM » Comment or view comments Terms of Service /* $( document ).ready(function() { // Jquery mobile is trying to style the button and leaving a blank gry button on top of a white button $("#viafouracoms .vf-comment-controls li.vf-right").html(' Submit '); });*/ » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2016 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501