In the day or two prior to "transition" day, you'll use the Transition Assistant to get ready to start using Fusion. It is also used early in the morning on transition day to make the transition. This video explains how it works.
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Once a location is set up in Fusion, you'll need to use the Transition Assistant before actively using Fusion for day-to-day activities. The final use of the Transition Assistant, which triggers the actual transition, should be done first thing in the morning on transition day before feeding begins. However, you'll begin entering information into this window a day or two prior to transition. Let's guide you through how it works.
In the Fusion Setup Assistant window, make sure the Transition Assistant section is selected. Next, ensure you've chosen the correct location and then click the button to open the Transition Assistant window . The idea here is to inform Fusion about the number of cattle you will have in each pen on transition morning, which lot they belong to, and a few other details. Enter as much of this information as possible a day or two before transition, and then you'll only need to make minor adjustments on transition morning, making the process much quicker.
Start by clicking the plus button to add a row. Let's begin with pen 1, which contains two lots. Enter the first lot, along with the head count and average weight for these cattle. It's important to note that the count and weight should only include the cattle in this specific pen/lot combination.
Continue by entering the assigned ration, and if you're using feeding protocols, the protocol and step. Additionally, input the bunk call. The goal is to enter this information as it will be on the morning of the transition day. Enter it as accurately as possible beforehand, so you'll only need to make minor adjustments on transition morning. This preparation will save you time and effort.
Now, let's add another row for the other lot in pen 1, including the head count and average weight for that group. Notice that the ration, feeding protocol, and bunk call information are already entered? That's because this information applies to the entire pen, so it must be consistent for every pen/lot combination in the same pen. If you make a change to, for example, the bunk call, Fusion will automatically update that information for every other row with the same pen.
If you are new to dry matter per head bunk calls, the Bunk Call Calculator button can be helpful. Here you can enter the as-fed bunk call you are used to and then select whether it is a per animal or per pen amount. With the per pen amount, Fusion will suggest the head count you've entered for that pen, but you can modify it as well. When you click Calculate, Fusion will perform the calculations to determine what the dry matter per head bunk call is. Of course, for this to work, you must have specified a ration and previously set up the dry matter percentages for each ingredient in the ration.
Let's click the Save For Later button so Fusion saves what we have so far. Over the day or two before you transition, you can return to this window as often as you like to continue filling it out.
Now, let's jump forward to transition day. It is early in the morning, and your crew will begin feeding soon. With this window open, walk down the list of entries and ensure each is correct as of that moment—especially the head counts! This is really important to get right, and you may need to adjust a few head counts, especially if there have been some moves or some animals sent to a sick pen or back to their home pen. Try to get the rest of the information correct as well, but if a bunk call is wrong, it will be easy to correct by making another bunk call later in the day.
When you are sure that everything is correct, enter the transition safety code, which you will receive from our support team. This is a safety mechanism, especially crucial for your first location transition, so we can help ensure that everything is in order ahead of time.
After you click the Make Transition Now button and confirm, Fusion will create records reflecting the pens and lots you have entered, along with bunk calls for each pen. After that, you can begin using Fusion. The feed trucks should perform a full sync, and once they do so, they can begin feeding.
Our support team is happy to work closely with you prior to and on transition day to ensure a smooth transition.
