Managing Sessions and Mobs

Managing Sessions and Mobs

Notes
Use this article as a guide to managing sessions and mobs with the Optiweigh web portal and the Optiweigh app. 

Introduction

For the purposes of recording weights and reporting data, Optiweigh uses two concepts:

Mobs

A group of animals that can have access to an Optiweigh unit at any point
If a unit stays with the same mob, a new session does not need to be started. However, if the composition of that mob changes, the mob must be updated!
Warning
Ensure mobs are edited any time the composition changes. E.g. When the heavies are taken off and sold

Sessions

The period of time for which one mob has uninterrupted access to an Optiweigh unit
The mob composition can change many times throughout a session, and the session won't need restarting. However, any time the Optiweigh is moved to a new mob, a new session must be started.
Warning
Ensure a new session is started when the unit is moved to a separate mob E.g. Moving the unit from steers to heifers
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To learn more about sessions, follow this link: Understanding Sessions

Managing Mobs and Sessions

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There are multiple ways to start/manage mobs and sessions, choose whichever makes the most sense to you!
Log in to the web portal or app, on the main banner, click 'Manage'.

Then select 'Mobs' or 'Sessions'.

Mobs

Info
In the mob management page you can create, edit, retire, delete, and filter mobs

New Mobs
To create a new mob, from the 'Mob management' page, select the button '+ New Mob' and fill out the required fields:
  1. Mob Name
  2. Head Count
  3. Species
  4. Breed
  5. Sex
  6. Age
  7. Creation Date
Alternatively, new mobs can be created when starting a new session by clicking 'New mob' when selecting a mob.

Edit / Retire / Delete Mobs
To edit, retire, or delete a mob, click the mob settings icon on the chosen mob, then choose the respective action.
 
Mobs that have either left the farm or aren't being used anymore can be retired or deleted depending on preference.
Generally, if a mob is still on the farm but you don't want to see it in the active mobs OR if a mob has left the farm but you may want to analyse it's data in the future, it is best to retire the mob.
If there was a mistake during mob creation or you never need to interact with the mob or it's data again, it is best to delete the mob.
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To learn more about mobs, follow this link: Mobs and Sessions FAQ

Sessions

The other way of managing sessions is through the 'Session Status' Card, click 'Manage sessions'.
It is also possible to start a new session directly from the home page by clicking 'Start new session', or 'Add session' on the app.
Info
In the session management page you can open, close, edit, or exclude sessions, hide closed sessions, upload yard files, and edit the time zones / names of your units
New Sessions
Warning
Sessions don't need to be started immediately in the paddock, feel free to head back home and backdate the start time when you're in service. No data will be lost!
From the session management page, click 'New session'.
If you have multiple Optiweigh Units, tick the checkbox beside the Unit you are creating the session for. 
Fill out the required fields:
  1. Weigher
  2. Session name
  3. Select or create a mob
  4. Timezone (should automatically fill out after selecting a weigher)
  5. Session start (defaults to Now, but can be backdated)
  6. Paddock size (Ha)
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Backdate the session start time to when the unit was put in the paddock to ensure no records are missed!
There are some additional fields, these can be found by pressing the 'Show more' button underneath the 'Adjusted weight' field.

Additional fields include:
  1. Adjusted weight
      Can be used for displaying expected discounts to yards, carcass weights, etc. For more information follow this link: Showing Adjusted Weights
  1. Display Units
      Changing between kilograms and pounds
  1. Animals have EID tags
      For untagged mobs, will show an average without individuals
  1. Minimum/Maximum weight bounds
      Often used to isolate a certain class from multi-class sessions e.g. calves in a cow/calf session or ewe lambs during joining season (excluding rams).


Once all the fields are filled out correctly click 'Save changes' and the new session will start. 
Warning
The opening date/time of a session can't overlap with the previous session's closing date/time on the same unit
Editing / Closing Sessions
Info
Edit or close sessions from the session management page.
Edit a session to change any of the optional fields, if the required fields have changed, it is best to start a new session
Close sessions when you won't be using the unit for a while to stop the daily email coming for that session.
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When a new session is started, it will automatically close the previous session for that weigher at the new session's start date
Excluding Sessions
Sessions can be excluded if you don't want them to contribute to your data.
This can be done by clicking 'Exclude', next to 'Edit' for the respective session.
Uploading Files
In the session management page, next to 'New session', click 'Upload file' and fill out the required fields.
For more detailed information follow this link: Uploading Yard Weights
Editing Weighers
In the session management page, underneath the 'Account' dropdown, click 'Edit weighers'.
A pop up will appear with the ability to edit the 'Name' and 'Timezone' of the unit. 
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If you have any questions, don't hesitate to contact Optiweigh Support on 1300 678 493