Livestock Birthing Coordination System with Automated Risk Monitoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current livestock monitoring systems are inefficient in addressing complications and ensuring proper care during farrowing, particularly due to the challenges of manual inspections and the need for real-time monitoring of multiple sows simultaneously, which can lead to increased mortality and reduced birthing rates.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a backend platform and personal electronic devices that utilize operations coordination software for data analytics, risk identification, and automated task scheduling, enabling real-time monitoring and dynamic adjustment of check-ins based on animal health and environmental conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manual inspection methods are used to monitor sows during farrowing, then the system complexity is low, but the monitoring efficiency and reliability deteriorate due to time-consuming inspections and inability to quickly address complications
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical inspection with an automated electronic monitoring system that uses sensors, processors, and communicators to automatically detect farrowing complications and environmental conditions, eliminating the need for continuous manual walking and visual inspection while significantly improving monitoring efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-monitoring and self-alerting functionality where the monitoring system automatically detects complications such as prolonged labor, stuck piglets, and environmental hazards, then autonomously generates alerts to appropriate personnel without requiring constant human intervention or inspection
2Reliability
If real-time monitoring of multiple sows is implemented, then the reliability of farrowing operations improves, but the loss of time increases due to the need for frequent check-ins and rapid response to complications
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors farrowing progress and environmental conditions, then provides real-time feedback through automated alerts that notify personnel of complications such as prolonged labor, stillborn piglets, or environmental hazards, enabling rapid response without requiring manual check-ins and reducing time loss
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary monitoring and detection of potential complications before they become critical, automatically identifying at-risk situations and alerting personnel in advance to intervene promptly, thereby improving reliability while minimizing time loss through proactive rather than reactive monitoring
3Productivity
If automated monitoring systems are deployed, then the productivity and reliability of farrowing operations improve, but the device complexity increases due to multiple sensors, processors, and communication components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a multi-functional integrated system where a single processor handles multiple tasks including receiving data from various sensors (temperature, humidity, motion), analyzing farrowing progress, detecting complications, and generating alerts through different communication channels, thereby improving productivity while managing complexity through consolidation of functions
Data Source
AI summary
In one or more arrangements, a system for tracking, coordination, and/or control of livestock birthing operations is presented. In one or more arrangements the system includes a backend system and one or more personal electronic devices communicatively connected to the backend system. The personal electronic devices are configured to provide a user interface for workers to monitor and update information for a set of farrowing livestock animals in the backend system. In one or more arrangements, the system provides a platform implemented by operations coordination software on the backend system and the user interface on the personal electronic devices. The platform is designed to serve as the epicenter of day-to-day operations in livestock operations, tracking and providing critical information about employee performance, animal health, animal production, and link with and/or control performance of automated agricultural equipment and/or third-party technologies.