FarmRec: 'n geïntegreerde ekstensiewe veeboerdery rekordhoudingstelsel

[摘要] English: Extensive farmers in South Africa do not generally keep records of their farming activities, andif they do, it only entails financial record keeping for the Receiver of Revenue. Resources forfarm record keeping, especially with regard to grazing and animals, are scarce, and the systemsthat do exist are elementary. Those farmers who do keep records make use of variousapproaches, ranging from manual and paper-based systems and computer spreadsheets, tospecialist software for certain aspects oftheir farming activities.The FarmRec record-keeping system was developed to provide for a wide range of livestockfarming activities. With the development of this record-keeping system, existing shortcomingsand problems were addressed, taking into consideration all aspects to be included and containedin a record-keeping system in order to provide a purposeful, comprehensive and user-friendlyproduct. Various information categories are integrated in this system, thereby negating the needfor several different types of record-keeping systems.The main purpose of record keeping is to gather information from one's own data. The need forspecific information makes it necessary for records to be kept of certain resource data. Therelation between resources and the information obtained from them is comprehensivelydiscussed. This relation also indicates the flow of data and information between resources. TheFarmRec system was designed and developed around these relations. The waterfall andevolutionary development processes were used to develop and test the system, and to makecorrections and improvements to the system.By means of this system, records are kept of information relating to paddocks, land, grazing,animal numbers and animal management actions, as well as of animal and plant product qualityand quantity, income and cost information, infrastructure, and financial and rainfall informationpertaining to the farming unit. The information to be provided for the different record-keepingfacets is discussed. Attention is also given to the integration of information.The information is made available in the form of reports. The extent to which these reports areavailable is determined by the degree to which the user entered the data of the different facetsinto the computer. This system makes a large number of reports available to the user. The typeof report is determined by the grouping of the selected data. The user himself/herself determinesthe selection criteria, which consist of the reporting period or date, subunit, groupings and sortingorder, as well as level of detail in the report.The system was provided to users and then evaluated to gain an indication of the ease with whichthe functions and reports in the system can be used. From the evaluation it can be deduced thatthe FarmRec system is user friendly and easy to use. The system offers many more functions andreports than needed or used by any individual user, but the diversity of users means that differentcombinations of functions and reports are needed. The level of use by users also variesconsiderably. With the exception of a few isolated reporting functions, respondents indicatedthat the functions in the system are easy to use and of much value.The FarmRec system succeeds in addressing a wide range of record-keeping facets. The usersindicated that the magnitude and integration are more than sufficient. The system resulted in an improvement in the keeping of grazing records - an aspect that otherwise went unrecorded.Record keeping in respect of grazing was made possible for the user by means of simple noteson animal movement. The total record keeping of the users furthermore improved from theiroriginal record-keeping systems. The improvement in record keeping occurred without the usershaving to spend more time on record keeping. This is regarded as a very positive reaction, asmany users indicated that the time available for record keeping is extremely limited.

[发布机构] University of the Free State