Sensors for livestock monitoring and management
This software solution makes use of location data collected from solar-powered GPS ear tags, providing location data and GPS coordinates with an accuracy of 30–40 meters every two hours. The tags allow animals in the pasture to be located via a mobile application, while also providing proxy indicators on the health and biological status of the animals, and more.
Description
This software solution makes use of location data collected from solar-powered GPS ear tags, providing location data and GPS coordinates with an accuracy of 30–40 meters every two hours. The tags allow animals in the pasture to be located via a mobile application, while also providing proxy indicators on the health and biological status of the animals, and more.
Technology
- Mobile app
- Desktop/web-based application
- GPS
- GIS
- Sensor
- Internet of things (IoT)
- Artificial intelligence (AI)
- Cloud
- Broadcasting and radio communication
The "Digital Solutions in the Pastured Beef Sector" research project incorporates four technologies: mOOvement solar-powered GPS ear tags, produced by a Dutch company; the Moonsyst Smart Rumen Monitoring System (boluses), produced by a Hungarian company; cattle collars produced by AllFlex in the United States; and pedometers produced by ENGS, Israel. Data from the devices are transmitted to the corresponding farm management software and the data can then be visualized in real-time or at intervals of 2–3 hours. Rumen bolus devices are “swallowed” by an animal and remain in the foregut for the rest of its life. The device provides information about the animal’s fever status, as well as its water intake, or lack thereof, and any significant changes in activity, and can be used to predict calving or risk of miscarriage. Pedometers provide step count and lying-to-standing ratio data, as well as health-related data on such factors as estrus disorder, lameness, calving prediction, miscarriage, increased lying, excessive activity, etc. The software automatically lists animals that deviate from their usual behaviour automatically. Similarly, the collars provide information on activity, rumination, health index, heat stress and miscarriage, and indicates the owner of a potential emergency if animal’s behaviour differs significantly from normal. The ear tags provide similar information to the collars. The linked software allows the animals to be located on a map by their identification number, and the map also warns the user if an individual animal leaves a virtually fenced area and highlights the most popular and less frequented pasture areas. The data are collected in the field through solar-powered mobile radio receivers.
Target
- Medium size farms
- Large size farms
- Academia and research institutions
The initial research was carried out on-farm in Zala county in southwestern Hungary, with 120 Charolais cattle heads and their offspring .
Business model
- Donor support
The research was funded by the Research Institute of Organic Agriculture.
Impact
The research aims to provide efficient ICT solutions to meet the tracking, monitoring and data collection needs of livestock farmers. As of September 2022, the research is continuing. According to the Institute, the solution has made it possible to identify and prevent hazards on several occasions, and to limit the overgrazing of a particular pasture.
