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Introduction
This white paper describes the findings of a usability test of two cattle management softwares:
Practical Systems Stockbook and Livestock Managers MDI Cow-Calf 007. These softwares are
designed to be used by the seedstock producer with less than 50 head of cattle to the
commercial cattle producer with more than 3,000 head of cattle. The usability test was
conducted by Cinda Mattrocce as a course assignment in English 317. The cognitive
walkthrough evaluates the two products based upon results from ten tasks.
Methods
The test was done by a single individual on a laptop. In order to eliminate disturbances during
the testing process the test location was a study room on the University of Idaho campus. The
tests were based upon the software free trial versions. The following is the list of ten tasks
developed to test on each product:
1) Set Up Producer Profile
2) Enter Individual Animal Data
3) Search for Individual Animals
4) Enter Pasture Data and Track Movements
5) Calculate Animal Weights
6) Enter Treatments and View Veterinary History
7) Enter and Compare Progeny Data
8) Generate Sales Reports
9) List Expenses per Animal
10) Use of the Help Screen
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Results
Stockbook
Task 1: Set Up Producer Profile

Affordances: The set up was a relatively simple task considering the set up menu was
the first window that popped up when the software loaded. This menu allows you to
select the type of producer depending on the size of your herd and then customizes the
profile to your specific needs.

Constraints: None Encountered
Task 2: Enter Individual Animal Data

Affordances: On the top of the main screen page there is an animals icon. I found that
this visual icon allows quick access to the edit animal box where animal data could be
entered. Below is the edit Animal box that opens on the screen after the icon is clicked.
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
Constraints: None Encountered
Task 3: Search for Individual Animals

Affordances: On the main screen I noticed a filter button and clicked on it. This button
enabled me to narrow my search for specific animals. I found this helpful to sort animals
by location or other categories.

Constraints: None Encountered
Task 4: Enter Pasture Data and Track Movements

Affordances: Pastures in this software are referred to as Paddocks. This task was fast to
perform because there was a visual icon on the main screen that opens the paddock
information. Task 2 gave me a clue on another way to enter paddock data by clicking the
movement tab on the bottom of the edit animal box.

Constraints: The paddocks did not include details about rangeland forage. There is no
way to keep track of forage availability, whether paddocks had been grazed, or if and
when there was a rest period.
Task 5: Calculate Animal Weights

Affordances: There was an animal tab for weights. The weights screen allows you to
calculate the Average Daily Gain for several animals. This data entered for animal weight
could be used to generate a graph for comparisons. Creating a graph is simple to do, just
have to click on the selected animals and then click ok.

Constraints: None Encountered
Task 6: Enter Treatments and View Veterinary History
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
Affordances: This task took little time to figure out. Treatments can be made for animals
within a paddock or individual animals. The treatments are saved in the records for each
individual animal.

Constraints: None Encountered
Task 7: Enter and Compare Progeny Data

Affordances: There was a tab for quick access to this data per animal. This software
provides many categories for progeny data such as status, price, reason sold, total sales.

Constraints: None Encountered
Task 8: Generate Sales Reports

Affordances: This software has many features for generating sales reports. Once the
data is entered it is effortless to make reports. There is even a feature that makes a
sales catalogue with animal profiles organized by lot numbers in a matter of seconds.

Constraints: None Encountered
Task 9: List Expenses per Animal

Affordances: There is a place for costs within the edit animal box that you can input and
then total costs per animal.

Constraints: Limited options for labeling the type of expenses.
Task 10: Use of the Help Screen

Affordances: The help screen was accessed by a question mark icon which was on
almost every screen. If there was any confusion at all this help screen provides more
than adequate information to understand the software. Below is a screen shot of the
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opened help menu with links to titles.

Constraints: None Encountered
MDI Cow-Calf 007
Task 1: Set Up Producer Profile

Affordances: This was a simple task because the software opens to the profile page. The
information is organized by ranch names.

Constraints: None Encountered
Task 2: Enter Individual Animal Data

Affordances: This was a quick task to perform when accessed by the main tabs located
on the left of the screen. The individual animal info page includes all the necessary
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information and nicely displays pictures. Below is an example.

Constraints: None Encountered
Task 3: Search for Individual Animals

Affordances: This software has a streamlined process, just click the down arrow and find
by animal name or Tag number.

Constraints: None Encountered
Task 4: Enter Pasture Data and Track Movements

Affordances: The software has impressive capabilities for keeping pasture data. It is easy
to manage number of animals per pasture, has columns for values of forage before and
after grazing, history of ranch weather data, and even a section for noxious weeds.
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Screenshot of pasture summary

Constraints: None Encountered
Task 5: Calculate Animal Weights

Affordances: Weight calculations are automatic after entering values into a spreadsheet.

Constraints: Software doesn’t allow for calculation of average daily gain, only difference
in weight from previous weight entered. There is no way to graph weights.
Task 6: Enter Treatments and View Veterinary History

Affordances: Treatments is abbreviated as meds in the animal info area. This
information is easy to find and includes history of procedures and total costs.

Constraints: None encountered
Task 7: Enter and Compare Progeny Data

Affordances: The tab for this was very visible on the screen and includes many helpful
features. The pedigree tab produces a family tree with pictures.
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
Constraints: None Encountered
Task 8: Generate Sales Reports

Affordances: Data for sales can be exported to excel, printed, or emailed.

Constraints: You have to click save or you will not be allowed to go to a new page.
Task 9: List Expenses per Animal

Affordances: This task took little time to go through. The categories of expenses even
included feed purchases and inventory.

Constraints: None Encountered
Task 10: Use of the Help Screen

Affordances: Was available, but the software was pretty self explanatory with a user
friendly layout that eliminated confusion.

Constraints: Has limited descriptions when describing certain features of the software.
The following screenshot shows how brief the descriptions can be.
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Recommendations
The test reveals both softwares are valuable management tools for cattle producers. Although,
I believe the MDI Cow-Calf 007 is tailored more to the needs of a cattle producer with a herd
size of 100 or less. Reviewing the MDI Cow-Calf 007 I saw a Shows tab. This tab included names
of animals and the shows where they won an award. Show data would be important for the
seedstock breeder that wants to sell their genetics. The Stockbook software can be used by the
small producers, but provides more features for the commercial producers or feedlot
operations. The Stockbook software has additional features for pen moves, treatments and
customizing reports.
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