It is cold - bitterly cold.  Abruptly, you hear the heavy breathing and persistent crying of your pregnant cow.  Staggering to your feet, you pluck the soiled straw from your hair and look around anxiously.  Has she finally decided to give birth after all?  It seems like an eternity since she began showing signs of labor, and still, no results.  As your eyes adjust to the darkness, you distinguish your cow preparing to calf.  It is midnight, and as you race to gather the supplies together, you face the biting cold air.  Weary from a sleepless night in your barn, you wait with grim determination for heavy labor to begin. 
How many of us have spent such nights of restless wakefulness in our birthing stalls waiting for that moment?  I distinctly remember many such cold nights of early spring, sleeping in the barn loft listening for one of my does to go into labor.  Exhausted and shivering, I would look into the eyes of my frightened goats and wonder, “Isn’t there an easier way?”  Thankfully, there is.

A little research led to the discovery of a new, innovative way of completely revolutionizing the way we deal with birthing livestock.  Not only does this help with the birthing process; it in fact has multiple other applications as well.  What is this indispensable piece of equipment?  It is nothing other than a farm surveillance camera system.  While I was researching this interesting piece of technology, I unearthed a flood of practical applications for this device.  With such a system, you can monitor your equipment and animals with your own high quality video camera system.  Instead of spending the night on the straw in your calving barn, you can stay warm inside while watching a high-definition video of what’s going on in the birthing stall on your computer.

Naturally, when I realized with excitement the impact that this could have, I was eager to explore other uses of such a camera system.  Whether you are trying to protect your farm equipment from being stolen, or are keeping an eye on pregnant livestock who will soon go into labor, you may find that having your own surveillance camera system is essential for your farm.  The cameras can be set up to monitor your barn, feeding stations, birthing stalls, workshop, milking facilities, equipment, driveway, and home, to name a few.  These camera systems provide economical, cost-effective solutions and have literally hundreds of applications.  I tend to be frugal and thrifty when it comes to farming, but I judge a surveillance camera system to be a worthy investment for any rancher, worth every penny. 

What to Look For
Predictably, there are a vast quantity of different types and models of surveillance camera systems.  Some are expensive while some are very affordable - some have a few basic features; others are more complex.  So, what kind of features should you look for in a camera system?  Naturally, each farm or ranch has its own unique needs and therefore it would be impossible to make a broad generalization.  Even so, I’ve narrowed down the variables to what I think are some of the most important features for any farming operation.  While some indoor surveillance camera systems do not need to be weather-resistant, for any farm or ranch where the camera may be exposed to the elements, a waterproof system is essential.  A surveillance cam can take one of several different shapes, and some are mounted on walls, others to the ceiling or roof.  Commonly, basic video surveillance systems feature a single camera that you can monitor from your computer.  If you need to monitor several areas at once, however, it would be wise to purchase a system with four cameras, which enables you to view up to four different videos at once on your computer.  One of my favorite models that I came across during my research is a system that allows you to view remotely the videos from four different cameras.  By clicking on one of the four video clips, you have the ability to bring it to full screen or zoom in on specific areas.  Personally, I consider camera systems that allow you to view multiple locations at once to be the most effective. 

The quality of the video footage is also an important feature.  Most high-quality cameras are high resolution, include night vision, and have targeted viewing options.  Most high-quality systems need to be used with cables and wires to set up the cameras but some wireless options are available.  Although most camera systems only have the option to watch the videos on your computer, some actually come with a portable wireless camera observation system with full color and sound.  Almost any surveillance camera system you find should also have a motion detection feature as well as the capability to set off an alarm when suspicious motion is detected, if you should choose to use it. Of course, these features are a great way to keep intruders out and to protect valuable livestock and equipment.  Additionally, you have the option to receive cell phone notifications that alert you if suspicious motion is detected.  With a video farm surveillance system, you can keep an eye on the things you need to, without ever having to step outside.  As long as you have an Internet connection on your laptop, you can remotely view your camera system from anywhere in the world.  This is made possible by the fact that most camera systems, once they have been installed, simply require you to login with a special password to access your data and videos.  Some of the best camera systems available have playback options, a search feature, and ways to sort through the storage of older videos.  High-quality systems often also have the option for you to adjust the settings yourself, such as the brightness/contrast.  You can record continuously, or at scheduled times.  Most systems have customizable software to fit your needs, easy installation, and simple instructions.  Of course, there are numerous other features available and I couldn’t possibly list them all, but these are a few ideas to get you started.

Theft Prevention
With a rapidly accelerating national unemployment rate, theft is spreading like an infection throughout the United States.  The economic recession has crippled the economy.  Times are hard.  Consequently, in numerous parts of the country where the unemployment rate is dangerously high, there has recently been a dramatic increase in the amount of agricultural equipment and livestock stolen.  With a fragile economic situation and with robbery festering in our country, purchasing a farm surveillance camera system becomes even more necessary.  Protecting valuable livestock and expensive agricultural equipment is challenging—perhaps even unfeasible—without a surveillance system.  If you were to purchase a camera system to prevent theft, it would be wise to choose a system that allows you to view multiple locations at once.  You would also need a system capable of detecting motion or setting off an alarm in the case of an intruder. 

Unfortunately, with the economy the way it is, it is no longer safe to blindly hope for the best while unemployment and theft grow more prevalent every day.

Although your concern may be focused on theft from outsiders, you may want to keep an eye on your own employees as well.  Especially if you have a large farming operation, it is likely that you have numerous workers and hired hands on your land every day.  Often, there is no way to monitor your hired hands to ensure that they are working honestly and diligently. Obviously, you can’t be everywhere at once, so there is simply no way to supervise everything that you need to.  How can you keep an eye on your employees?  Setting up a hidden surveillance camera system allows you to ascertain that the job is getting done properly and scrupulously.  From the office to the fields, a camera system can completely transform the way you work in a positive way.

In the milking facilities, among the calving stalls, or near the feeding stations, it is a good idea to set up cameras to keep an eye on animals.  Setting up cameras in the milking facilities makes checking to see that everything is going smoothly easy.  In the case that something does go wrong, you can without difficulty assess the cause of the problem by playing back the video footage.  This can be extremely helpful.  When cows or other livestock are being milked, you can watch the live videos on your computer to make sure that employees are doing their jobs, milking machinery is working properly, and everything is under control.  Of course, this also applies to feeding stations and livestock stalls.  Perhaps one of the most important uses of the surveillance camera system is the ability to keep a close watch on any pregnant animal that could soon go into labor.  Without the pains of having to spend a sleepless night in your calving barn, you can watch your cows from your computer screen until the time for labor begins.  Equally important is the capability to keep an eye on your cow and its baby post-birth.  This is especially important to make sure that the calf is safe, healthy, and feeding properly.  An unwatched calf could be trampled, strangled, or could starve itself without proper attention, and keeping a live video of what is going on in the stall close at hand is a good idea.

While each farming operation has its own unique needs, a surveillance system is an important investment that has the capacity to make a tremendously beneficial difference. Fortunately, there are numerous options and features available at affordable prices. This one piece of technology could make all the difference in how you farm.  No more restless nights sleeping in the hay.  No more anxiety over stolen equipment or livestock.  No more wondering if your employees are doing their jobs.  With countless applications and positive results, these camera systems are paving the way to better security, stress-free farming, and safer lives.

Three Willows Ranch, a division of Best Used Tractors LLC, sells goat, sheep, cattle, dairy, and poultry supplies.   (www.threewillowsranch.com)