Cattle Feed Intake Monitoring via Head-Movement Feature Extraction

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for determining cattle feed intake are inaccurate, particularly for cows with high or low intake, and existing tracking devices face sustainability and battery life issues due to large data storage and communication needs.

Innovation Solution

A system with sensors on collars and ear-tags that collect data on cow head movements, preprocess signals to classify behaviors, and calculate feed intake using algorithms, without requiring rumination calculations, while storing data efficiently and sending it intermittently to a receiver.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If tracking devices continuously monitor and store cattle movements for long periods, then measurement precision of feed intake is improved, but use of energy and battery life are worsened due to large data storage and communication needs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefeed intake measurement accuracyVSAvoidbattery consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts only the essential data elements needed for feed intake calculation (eating time and eating pace) from continuous movement data, storing and transmitting only these processed features rather than raw continuous signals. This selective extraction maintains measurement precision while dramatically reducing energy consumption for storage and communication.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary processing of movement signals on the collar device itself, classifying behaviors and extracting features before transmission. This preliminary action reduces the data volume that needs to be stored and communicated, thereby reducing energy consumption while preserving the accuracy needed for feed intake determination.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Device complexity

If existing calculation methods use basic animal factors, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision of feed intake deteriorates especially for cows with highest and lowest intake

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecalculation method simplicityVSAvoidfeed intake accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces simple factor-based calculation methods with a sensor-based measurement system that captures actual eating behavior through movement detection. This substitution uses accelerometer data to objectively measure eating time and pace, providing accurate feed intake determination for all cows regardless of intake level, while keeping the device relatively simple through use of off-the-shelf components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Device complexity

If eating time alone is used as predictor, then device complexity is minimized, but measurement precision deteriorates due to high eating rate variability within herd

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemonitoring method simplicityVSAvoidfeed intake prediction accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges two key eating behavior parameters - eating time and eating pace (chewing rate) - into a combined measurement approach. By combining these two factors, the system achieves accurate feed intake prediction that accounts for individual eating rate variability within the herd, while maintaining relatively simple monitoring through collar-based sensors.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Accurately tracks feed intake over extended periods with minimal power consumption, enabling precise monitoring and decision-making for herd management.

Implementation Method 1

the sensor is configured to collect data associated with head movements of the cow... the sensor includes an accelerometer, and wherein the signal is associated with the kinematics of the cow

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAccelerometer: Accelerometer

Data Source

PatentUS12471569B2Systems and methods for determining feed intake of cattle

Publication Date: 2025.11.18 AFIMILK AGRI COOP

AI summary

A system for determining feed intake of a cow, the system including: at least one sensor configured to be positioned on a collar and/or ear-tag of a cow, wherein the sensor is configured to collect data associated with head movements of the cow, a processor in communication with a memory module, the memory module having stored thereon program code, the program code executable by the processor to: receive signals from the at least one sensor, preprocess the received signals by classifying different time blocks of the received signal into classes of behaviors of the cow, extract a plurality of features based, at least in part, on the classified time blocks, and calculate the feed intake of the cow based on the one or more extracted features.