METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MONITORING ANIMAL CONDITION
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Abstract
A method and system for monitoring the condition of animals provides for current height and weight measurements taken from an animal in order to automatically derive a height-to-weight ratio. The height-to-weight ratio thus obtained may be used to determine whether or not an animal'"'"'s overall physical condition lies inside tolerance limits in relation to its predetermined expected development. An apparatus for implementing the method of the invention may include a control system configured to determine the height-to-weight ratio and may within a control system of an animal installation. The supply of feed to an animal may be adjusted in response to a deviation of its measured height weight ratio from a target or benchmark value.
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Citations
33 Claims
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1-14. -14. (canceled)
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15. A method for automatically determining a condition of an animal, the method comprising the steps of:
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moving an animal to be measured adjacent a height gauge, the height gauge configured for measuring a height of the animal located on a level reference surface, the height gauge comprising a control device (10), comprise memory storing an algorithm, and a processor, and animal files relating to individual animals; automatically determining a identity of the animal using the height gauge, the height gauge further comprising a transponder receiver (14), by the transponder receiver co-operating with a transponder (20) worn by the animals; automatically determining a current height of the animal using the height gauge, the height gauge further comprising five receivers (7) positioned vertically spaced from each other at a regular interval (a) along a length direction axis (29) of the height gauge, the receivers measuring one of a signal emitted from the animal and a reflected signal reflected from at least one of a reflector panel and animal, based on signals received by the receivers and using the algorithm in the memory of the control device, making a determination of the height of the animal; automatically storing the determined current height in the control device; automatically determining a current weight of the animal and storing the determined current weight in the control device; automatically deriving, using the processor, a height-to-weight ratio of the animal from the stored current height and stored current weight; automatically storing the derived height-to-weight ratio in the control device; automatically comparing the derived height-to-weight ratio value with a predetermined expected height-to-weight ratio to obtain a result; automatically storing the result in the control device; and automatically using the stored result to determine a condition of the animal. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. A method for automatically determining a condition of an animal, the method comprising the steps of:
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moving an animal to be measured between a height gauge and a reflector panel, the height gauge configured for measuring a height of the animal located on a level reference surface, the height gauge comprising a control device (10), comprise memory storing an algorithm, and a processor, and animal files relating to individual animals; determining a identity of the animal using the height gauge, the height gauge further comprising a transponder receiver (14), by the transponder receiver co-operating with a transponder (20) worn by the animals; emitting signals toward the animal and the reflector panel by using plural emitters incorporated in the height gauge, the plural emitters emitting the signals toward the animal and the reflector panel, the emitters positioned vertically spaced from each other at a regular interval (a) along a length direction axis (29) of the height gauge; determining a current height of the animal using the height gauge, the height gauge further comprising plural receivers (7) positioned vertically spaced from each other along the length direction axis (29) of the height gauge, the receivers measuring a reflected signal reflected from the reflector panel and plural reflected signals reflected from the animal, based on the reflected signals received by the receivers and using the algorithm in the memory of the control device, making a determination of the height of the animal; storing the determined current height in the control device; determining a current weight of the animal and storing the determined current weight in the control device; deriving, using the processor, a height-to-weight ratio of the animal from the stored current height and stored current weight; storing the derived height-to-weight ratio in the control device; comparing the derived height-to-weight ratio value with a predetermined expected height-to-weight ratio to obtain a result; storing the result in the control device; and using the stored result to determine a condition of the animal.
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33. A method for automatically determining a condition of an animal, the method comprising the steps of:
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moving an animal to be measured into an animal stall and adjacent a height gauge, the height gauge configured for measuring a height of the animal located on a level reference surface; using a control device (10), comprising a memory and a processor to storing an algorithm and animal files relating to individual animals; determining a identity of the animal using a transponder receiver (14) by the transponder receiver co-operating with a transponder (20) worn by the animals; storing the determined animal identity in the control device; determining a current height of the animal using the height gauge, the height gauge comprising plural receivers (7) positioned vertically spaced from each other along a length direction axis (29) of the height gauge, the receivers measuring one of a signal emitted from the animal and a reflected signal reflected from at least one of a reflector panel and animal, based on signals received by the receivers and using the algorithm in the memory of the control device, making a determination of the height of the animal; storing the determined current height in the control device; determining a current weight of the animal, using a weighing device located in the animal stall, and storing the determined current weight in the control device; deriving, using the processor, a height-to-weight ratio of the animal from the stored current height and stored current weight; storing the derived height-to-weight ratio in the control device; comparing the derived height-to-weight ratio value with a predetermined expected height-to-weight ratio to obtain a result; storing the result in the control device; and using the stored result to determine a condition of the animal.
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Specification