Cinda Mattrocce · Web viewThe usability test was conducted by Cinda Mattrocce as a course assignment in English 317. The cognitive walkthrough evaluates the two products based upon

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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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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.


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.


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.


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.


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.


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.


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.


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.


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.


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


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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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.


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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Cinda Mattrocce · Web viewThe usability test was conducted by Cinda Mattrocce as a course assignment in English 317. The cognitive walkthrough evaluates the two products based upon

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