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WHO OWNS YOUR DATA CONTINUED FROM PAGE 18

the session with a synopsis of “What I Heard This Morning.” He started out with a few disclaimers stating that some of the best of what he heard was not in the actual sessions, but out in the hallways where informal discussions take place, and then he cautioned all in attendance to keep things in perspective. “If you listened to the presentations as well as to what was said in the hallways, the discussion was about what is the next greatest, biggest frontier in the industry,” Schiefelbein said. “And if you read between the lines and listened to what people are actually shouting out loud, the answer to that is how do we get our arms around commercial data.” Schiefelbein suggested that the first company – be it a breed association or an AI company or some other entity – that can figure out how to utilize commercial data in a way that benefits the industry and give back to those supplying the data, will be the leader. CONTINUED ON PAGE 28  “Do I want to own my DNA data before I send it in? Yes I do. It infuriates me that they own my data. However, when I give the association my data and in turn they give me a genomic prediction of value that I can use to improve my operation and cattle, I am happy to give them the data.” – Don Schiefelbein

but do share information important to the association. In exchange, SGBI provides King Ranch with data. “People respond to incentives, particularly economic incentives,” Genho said. “Data exchange only works if the one contributing the data gets something in exchange for sharing that data. “If you’re asking breeders to contribute data and you can’t show them why it’s going to benefit them, then they won’t contribute. Nobody wants to share something if they don’t get value from that relationship.” The next frontier is the commercial sector, which is fertile territory due to volume, but is harder-pressed to collect data. Under current production systems, it’s simply not feasible for commercial producers to collect data on each animal utiliz- ing traditional collection methods. “Technology and innovation will help the commercial sector collect data,” Genho said. “Look at what camera grad- ing did for packing plants and what GrowSafe technology has done for intake evaluation for the feedlot sector. Innovation will help solve collection problems in the commercial sector.” The seedstock sector has made a considerable investment in data collection and a concerted effort to make sure that ownership has been carefully and fully addressed so that their data can benefit all. Putting it All Together Asked to “listen closely, and then be brief,” Don Schief- elbein of Schiefelbein Farms in Kimball, Minn., wrapped up

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SEPTEMBER 2018 • WWW.SANTAGERTRUDIS.COM