Method and System for Monitoring the Condition of Livestock

Abstract

A method and system for monitoring the condition of livestock comprises a plurality of sensors (115, 103, 113, 111, 107, 105) for sensing a plurality of different behavioural parameters of an animal. The sensed data is transmitted by a unit (115), wirelessly, to a central processor (119) and a plurality of status conditions of the animal is determined on the basis of the transmitted, sensed data such as the onset of parturition, fertility status and other health status conditions. The unit (115) may be permanently worn by the animal and may keep an electronic record of the status conditions of the animal.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION[0001]The present application is a continuation application of co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12 / 226,464, filed on Feb. 12, 2009, which is a national stage application under 35 U.S.C. §371 of International Patent Application Number PCT / GB2007 / 001423, filed Apr. 18, 2007, which claims the benefit of Great Britain Patent Application Serial No. 0607657.4, filed Apr. 18, 2006, each of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT[0002]Not ApplicableTHE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT[0003]Not ApplicableINCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC[0004]Not ApplicableBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0005]1. Field of the Invention[0006]The present invention relates to a method and system for monitoring the condition of livestock. In particular, it relates to remotely monitoring the behavioural and physiological states of lives...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The invention provides a system for remote, continuous monitoring of livestock using sensors that detect various parameters relating to the condition of the livestock. The monitored data is transmitted to a processor, which can be linked through wireless communication to a central database. The detected parameters can be used to predict and react to the onset of conditions, such as fertility status, parturition, and lameness, and to detect, at an early stage, lameness and disease. The system can be extended to predict the onset of disease and its epidemiological spread by links to national or other level databases. The monitor unit is designed to be strong and can be worn for long periods, allowing for continuous monitoring of the animal's health and welfare as it moves through the food chain. The recorded data can include birth data, birth location, subsequent lactations, and health incidents.

Problems solved by technology

As the size of farms increase, the ability of a stockman to keep records and track individual animals becomes increasingly difficult.

Further only a single condition, oestrus, is monitored and the system does not provide data concerning other health related matters.

Further some existing systems require sensors to be attached invasively which is distressing to the animal and requires the skill of a veterinary surgeon.

Further such forms of attachment to the animal have limited ability to transmit information from the animal for use by the stockman.

However, these require complex and, invariably, temperamental sensory instruments in order to monitor the physiological parameters making the system overall very expensive and hence impractical for monitoring all animals in a very large herd or group in a farming environment.

Furthermore due to the complexity of these systems, they require professional assistance, such as a veterinary surgeon, to set up, program and maintain the system which is impractical for an extremely large number of animals.

Further, as such systems monitor physiological parameters, it is less intuitive to the stockman, who traditionally relies on observation to monitor health, to confirm the condition indicated by the system, thus making it more difficult for the stockman to verify the accuracy of the system.

None of the existing systems disclose specific monitoring during such periods.

At present there is no system that can do any of the condition based monitoring of cattle necessary to improve both the health and fertility monitoring of animals.

With the increasing scale of farming, it has become increasingly difficult and impractical for stockmen to rely on traditional observation techniques to ensure health and welfare of their stock.

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