The numbers: Thirty-nine sensors send unique, animal-specific data points from the beef and dairy research centres to University of Guelph servers.
Behind the numbers: The Research Station Data Access Portal makes it easier for researchers to access data generated at the Ontario Dairy Research Centre [1] and Ontario Beef Research Centre– Elora [2]. This project not only facilitates researcher access to relevant data but also ensures data is consolidated, archived and made available for future research. Here is how it works:
- Thirty-nine sensors and data sources, including those that track feed consumption and milk yield, send data to on-site servers at the research centres.
- Every night, data is sent from these servers to secure servers at the University of Guelph.
- Sensor data is combined with data from other sources, including Dairy Farmers of Ontario, which tracks milk quality and composition through its bulk tank sampling program.
- Data is cleaned, organized and made available to researchers through a secure online portal. Data is available by cow ID. Researchers see only data related to their projects.
#BehindtheNumbers is a series of stories from the Ontario Agri-Food Innovation Alliance 2019-20 Annual Report, Growing Ontario Solutions [3], that showcases how the Alliance drives impact in Ontario.
