Ovi-Bovi
IoT-based cow activity monitoring system for dairy farms
Description
Ovi-Bovi is an IoT-based cow monitoring system developed and manufactured in Belarus by Distributed Sensing (Minsk). The system uses wearable tags on cow collars with accelerometers to detect estrus (heat) cycles and monitor activity.
Technology
Ovi-Bovi uses lightweight wearable tags with accelerometers attached to standard cow collars. Tags communicate wirelessly to base receivers covering 1-5 km range. The system detects estrus patterns through activity analysis and transmits alerts to farm management software and mobile devices. Optional rumination sensors provide additional health indicators. Each tag transmits activity data every 20 minutes over the 433.05–434.79 MHz license-free band to a receiver node connected via PoE. Data is stored in a cloud database and accessed through a platform-independent web app; heat is detected from accelerometer readings and alerts are delivered via SMS/Telegram. Tags are IP67-rated, designed for standard 4 cm collars, and specified for ~10 years of battery life; basic tags can include NFC (ISO 15693) for compatibility with farm scanners and smartphones.
Target
Intended for herd reproduction and health management teams (farm managers, breeders, veterinarians) who need timely heat detection and early signals of health issues at herd scale. It’s relevant for advisory services supporting fertility programs and for research groups studying animal behavior using commercial wearable sensors. The system targets dairy farms of medium and large size seeking to automate estrus detection and health monitoring.
Business model
The solution operates under a subscription model with hardware purchase (tags at EUR 60, receivers at EUR 750) and optional add-ons. Five-year warranty included.
Impact
Ovi-Bovi improves reproductive efficiency in dairy herds by automating estrus detection, reducing missed heats and improving insemination timing. The system also enables early illness detection through activity monitoring, lowering veterinary costs and supporting animal welfare.
Partners
Science and Practical Center on Animal Husbandry of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus; Minsk plant “Thermoplast” (sensor housings manufacturing – cited in academic article); Institute of Technical Acoustics of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus (ultrasonic sealing – cited in academic article)
Four Betters
Better production
Better nutrition
