Abstract:
Real-time data are an essential part of successful dairy cattle farming. Hence, the
objective of the present study was to develop a real-time database management system
(DBMS) for Badulla Veterinary Division. This aims to enhance the efficiency of data
recording and data retrieval by field officers engaged in routine field work related to
animal husbandry. Initially, information on currently used DBMS was gathered using
key informant interviews held with veterinarians and LDIs in Badulla Veterinary
Division. A need analysis was conducted and the most vital data required to be recorded
and retrieved (i.e. farm registration, disease management, breeding, and artificial
insemination, vaccinations, and individual animal health status) through real-time
DBMS were identified using a questionnaire. Based on the above information, a realtime database management mobile application was developed using Android Studio®
3.5.0.0, which consists of optimized user interfaces and an online database. Afterward,
the mobile application was tested for its usability, conformance, and performance using
identified end-users (Field Officers, n=10) of the application, and the data were collected
using a structured questionnaire. Results had shown that 100% agreement with quality of
information (exactness, reliability, completeness, usefulness, actuality, format, clarity,
and complexity) and quality of the system (accessibility, integration, flexibility,
timeliness, perceived, usefulness, user-friendly and user satisfaction level) and 80%
overall satisfaction on the application. Hence, the real-time Android database
management application has the potential to be used as an efficient DBMS in the dairy
farming sector of Sri Lanka. A field trial is suggested in the future to assess the longterm usability of the developed DBMS at the field level.
Keywords: Android, Field officers, Mobile application, Veterinarian, Database
