What
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| What is APHIN |
APHIN is an internet-based,
information delivery service. It currently provides services for hog producers in
Prince Edward Island and Ontario. The service is currently being extended to the
salmon industry (initially in New Brunswick) and is being developed for the lobster
industry. APHIN began a research project in the late
1980's and early 1990's with its first fee-for-service from Prince Edward Island hog
producers in March 1994. The service was extended to Ontario hog producers in
November 1996. Data, such as animal weight and meat yield, are collected at the
slaughterhouse. In addition, health information is collected by a technician who
examines the viscera (or internal organs). These data are sent to APHIN where they
are processed into a central database, and are offered back to hog producers and their
veterinarians through a confidential internet-based service. Using either a standard
Internet "browser" [eg. Microsoft Internet Explorer, Netscape Navigator] or
APHIN's Windows "grapher" program, farm & industry trends are viewed
as easy-to-read graphs.
APHIN allows producers to compare the productivity and
health of their animals with other farms of a similar size. The service allows
producers to detect any adverse trends or developments, to pinpoint the exact timing of
positive or negative changes in health or productivity, and to evaluate the effect of new
animal feeds or drug treatments. The bench marking and health information has helped
reduce the prevalence of disease in swine. The success and quality of this service
for hogs were key factors in the desire of the salmon and lobster industries to request
development of similar services. |
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As a complement to its main
service, APHIN designs, constructs, hosts and maintains websites on a fee-for-service
basis. This service is currently provided the following organizations:
In summary, APHIN contributes to the development of
information technology and the knowledge economy in Atlantic Canada and promotes the
productivity and health of an increasing number of animal and fish sectors within the
region. A recent business study has also confirmed the potential to extend APHIN
both in terms of its geographic and product markets.
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| SERVICES |
Two major services are
available:
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DOWNLOAD
SERVICES |
[1] Download Summarized
Datasets
Designed for professional service providers (such as
veterinary practitioners with many clients for whom they are preparing APHIN graphs) or
large-scale operators (with multiple locations), this service provides for the
"downloading" of APHIN summarized datasets (weekly and/or monthly summaries)
over the Internet as required. The dataset includes, in addition to APHIN summary
information, all producers for whom "release forms" have been received. The
datasets are used to make and view graphs using an APHIN microcomputer-based software
program [next]. [2] Download Software Updates
To make & view graphs from the summarized datasets([1]
above), users may download a copy of the microcomputer software program APHIN Windows
Grapher (© Copyright University of Prince Edward Island). This APHIN-developed software
product is available for downloading at the APHIN website.
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GRAPHING
SERVICES |
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These
services provide a producer with interactive on-line access to their own APHIN data from
which APHIN graphs (sample at left) can be prepared immediately while on the
Internet. For a "designated individual", eg. a practitioner who may have
obtained permission to access multiple producers, each producer's data will be available. |
| This hog
producer had an ongoing disease problem. The effects of a preventive treatment program (in
the fall of 1994) are easily monitored on this APHIN graph. |
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