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Synchronisation with automatic calf feeder Alma Pro

Import all animals from the feeder to the VitalControl device and transfer recorded temperatures, weights and animal ratings to the feeder.

1: One-time Activation and Configuration of the Device in the automatic feeder Settings
2: Data synchronisation between VitalControl and Alma Pro

1 - One-time Activation and Configuration of the Device in the automatic feeder Settings

Before using the VitalControl for the first time, you must activate and properly configure it once in the settings of Alma Pro feeder.

Requirements

We recommend using a firmware version 24-xx-xx or higher with the VitalControl device.
To check which firmware version is installed on your device:

Navigate to the feeder’s home page by clicking the top Home button ➀ in the navigation bar in the left-hand area of the screen.
On the home screen, click the Help button ➁ in the top-right area of the screen.
The version number ➂ is now displayed to the left of the language switch button.

Screenshot 1: Alma Pro: check of firmware version

Attention
If the firmware version of your feeder is lower than 24-xx-xx, there may be discrepancies between the screenshots below and the display on your touchscreen, so that you may not be able to follow the instructions. In this case, contact your service technician to update the firmware on your feeder.

Navigation to settings menu `VitalControl`

Attention

To activate and set up the VitalControl device, you must be logged in as the Site manager user role at the automatic feeder. Otherwise, some of the buttons shown and described below will not be visible to you.

Click on the bottom button Settings➀ in the left sidebar of the touch terminal. If you are in the main menu where no sidebar is visible, press the button Feederto display the sidebar.
Click on the second button from the left Touch terminal settings➁ in the bottom toolbar of the touch terminal.
A series of menu items now appears on the left half of the central screen area. Click on the bottom button Accessories ➂.
A menu item (or possibly several) now appears on the right half of the central screen area. Click on the top button VitalControl ➃. The button now switches to the left screen half.
At the bottom of the right side of the screen, the button Open settings➄ is now displayed. Click this button, and a popup window will open, displaying Page 1 of the VitalControl settings menu.

VitalControl settings: Access — Screenshot 1: Accessing the VitalControl settings menu

The VitalControl settings menu is spread across two pages:

`VitalControl` Settings Menu - Page 1

Page 1 of the VitalControl settings menu is presented as follows:

On this page, you can perform the following actions and settings.

Activation of the VitalControl Device

In the default state of the machine, the VitalControl is deactivated. Set the NO/YES switch ➀ to the right position YES to activate the VitalControl device. Subsequently, in the right sidebar of the feeder menu, below the icon(s) for the connected machine(s), the icon for the VitalControl device will be displayed (see Screenshot Feeder Menu, figure ➁ there).

Synchronisation automatic feeder 🠲 VitalControl

On the left side of the screen, there are two checkboxes:

Checkbox Register new on VitalControl device ➁.
This option controls the behavior in the event that animals are present on the feeder during synchronisation that are not yet known to the VitalControl device. This option is enabled by default and should generally remain set. If you register your purchased animals by scanning their animal passports, this option must be disabled.
Enable this option:
- if you have a brand-new VitalControl in front of you, onto which you want to transfer all animals from a feeder. After synchronisation, all animals known to the feeder will also be present on the VitalControl.
- if you continuously bring new calves to the feeder during ongoing operations. These animals will then also be created on the VitalControl device during synchronisation.
Disable this option:
- if you have newly created animals on your VitalControl by scanning their animal passports, where
- these animals have not yet been assigned a transponder and
- these animals are already being fed at the feeder and are therefore registered there.
  Attention
  If the option remains set in the above configuration, animals will be present twice on the VitalControl after synchronisation.
Checkbox Delete from VitalControl ➂
This option controls whether animals that are only present on the VitalControl but not on the feeder are deleted from the VitalControl during the next synchronisation. If you use the VitalControl only during the animals’ milk period, this option should be enabled. If you want to track the animals beyond the milk period, you must disable this option.
Enable this option:
- if you only collect data for the animals during the milk period,
- if you want the animals to be deleted from the VitalControl during the next synchronisation after they have been deleted from the feeder. This way, animals do not accumulate on the VitalControl over time.
Attention
If this option is activated and the checkbox ⑤ Register new on automatic feeder is also activated, no animals will be deleted that are younger than specified in the number field ➃ Do not delete animals younger than.
Disable this option:
- if you want to continue collecting data for the animals after the milk period, for example, during a weighing,
- if you are willing to manually delete the animals from the VitalControl yourself.
Attention
If you disable this option, you must unlink the transponder for weaned animals on VitalControl device at the latest when the collar is removed from the weaned calf to another, younger calf. If the transponder is not removed, the data records of the younger animal -which is now wearing the former collar of the weaned animal- are incorrectly added to the weaned animals dataset.

Synchronisation VitalControl 🠲 Automatic Feeder

On the right side of the screen, there is a checkbox and two input fields:

Checkbox Register new on automatic feeder ⑤

This option controls whether animals present on the VitalControl, which are unknown to the feeder, will be created on the feeder during the next synchronisation. By default, this option is not activated.
Deactivate this option or leave it deactivated:
- if you use your VitalControl device on multiple feeders simultaneously,
- if you bring your animals directly to the feeder without registering them via the VitalControl device first. Your animals will then be automatically created during registration when they are fed at the feeder for the first time.
Attention
If the VitalControl is used on multiple machines and this option is checked, animals will be unintentionally transferred from one machine to another during synchronisation.
Activate this option:
- if the initial registration of their newborn animals with the VitalControl takes place before the first feeding at the feeder.
- if you record your purchased animals by scanning their animal passports on the VitalControl.
Attention
Activate this option only if you use the VitalControl on a single machine! If you want to perform synchronisation with multiple machines with this option set, you must use a separate VitalControl device for each machine.

Dropdown menu ⑥ Feeding curve assigned to imported animals.
In this drop-down menu, you can select the feed curve that is assigned to animals that are newly created on the feeder during synchronisation.
Numeric input field⑦ Do not import animals older than.
In this number field, you can specify the minimum age (in days) from which animals are newly created on the feeder during synchronisation. Animals that are younger than the specified minimum age are not created during synchronisation.

Press button ⑧ to switch to page 2 of the settings menu VitalControl.

Settings Menu `VitalControl` - Page 2

How to deal with data conflicts during synchronisation

Data conflicts can occur when synchronising the data between the feeder and VitalControl device. A data conflict occurs when the data contradict each other on the VitalControl device and on the feeder (e.g. concerning the Animal number ➁). On this page 2 of the settings menu, you can specify whether and if, how data conflicts are resolved during synchronisation. There are three options here:

Priority is given to the feeder data, data on the VitalControl device are overwritten with that of the feeder. Activate this option by selecting the radio button in the left-hand column below the feeder symbol ➃.
Priority is given to the VitalControl data, data on the feeder are overwritten with that of the VitalControl device. Activate this option by selecting the radio button in the left-hand column below the VitalControl ⑤.
No changes are made, both the feeder data and VitalControl device data remain unchanged.
Activate this option by selecting the radio button in the right-hand column ⑥.

Example
After you have purchased a batch of calves, you register your purchased animals on the VitalControl by scanning all their animal passports. The animal numbers for these animals on the VitalControl are then – depending on the device settings – the last 3-5 digits of the animal's passport. You then place collars with Urban transponders on the newly purchased animals and feed them at the automatic feeder. During the initial visit to the station, the animals are registered using their transponder and newly created at the feeder. However, the animal numbers for these new animals on the feeder are derived from the transponder number or corresponds to the animal number stored for this transponder in the feeder. This means that a different animal number has now been assigned to the same animal on the VitalControl device and on the feeder, resulting in a data conflict. Using the radio buttons for the Animal number ➁, you can now specify in the settings menu which of the two parallel animal numbers has priority and which will be deleted during synchronization.

Settings Menu VitalControl: Page 2 — Screenshot 3: Settings Menu VitalControl, Page 2

Attention
For internal reasons, changes can currently only be made to the Animal number ➁. In later firmware versions, you can also make changes to the Ear tag number ➀ and the Date of birth ➂.

By pressing the button ⑧ you will return to page 1 of the VitalControl settings menu.

2 - Data synchronisation between VitalControl and Alma Pro

Synchronise the animals stored on VitalControl device with animals registered on the automatic feeder and transfer measured values recorded with VitalControl device to the feeder for evaluation purposes and better visualisation.

To carry out synchronisation between the Alma Pro automatic feeder and the VitalControl device, proceed as follows:

Open USB port

Use a small screwdriver to loosen the locking screw on the flap of the USB port and fold it down:
Figure 1: Open USB port

Connect VitalControl

Switch on the VitalControl device by pressing the top centre On/Off button .
Connect the USB-C socket of the VitalControl device using the USB cable supplied with the USB-A socket of the touchscreen .
Figure 2: Connecting VitalControl to Alma Pro

Start synchronisation

Attention
In order to start the synchronisation of the VitalControl device, you must be logged on to the machine in the user role Site manager. Otherwise, the Synchronise button in the Synchronisation menu is disabled.

In the left side bar of the touch terminal, click the second button from the top Feeder . If you are in the main menu where no sidebar is visible, press the button Feeder to open the feeder menu.
In the right sidebar of the touchscreen terminal, below the symbol(s) for the connected feeder(s), the symbol for the VitalControl device is now displayed. Click on this symbol.
Attention
If the symbol for the VitalControl device in the right sidebar not displayed, the device is still deactivated in the settings. In this case, follow the instructions for one-time activation of the device.
The synchronisation screen will now appear. Click on the button Synchronise in the middle at the bottom to start synchronisation with the VitalControl device.
Figure 3: Synchronisation of VitalControl with Alma Pro automatic feeder
Attention
If many animals need to be transferred, synchronisation can take some time. You can see the synchronisation progress on the display of the VitalControl device.
Figure 4: Synchronisation VitalControl Alma Pro, progress indicator

Close USB port

After successful synchronisation, unplug the USB cable from the USB port on the touchscreen. Fold the protective cover of the port back up and secure it by tightening the locking screw using a small screwdriver.
Figure 5: Close USB port again
Note
Make sure to close the flap of the USB port after each synchronisation to prevent moisture from entering the port and to protect the port from the corrosive air present in your barn!
Figure 6: Mandatory closing of USB port