System and Method for Estrus Detection Using Real-Time Location

• US 20120238912A1
• Filed: 03/17/2011
• Published: 09/20/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Technologies Holdings Corporation (Teleflex Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Technologies Holdings Corporation (Teleflex Incorporated)
• Inventors: Rajkondawar, Parimal G., Erdman, Roger K., Johnson, David A., Nelson, William S., Thompson, Paul D.
• Granted Patent: US 9,044,297 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/588
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 11/006 Automatic identification systems for animals, e.g. electronic devices, transponders for animals identification systems for access to feeding pens A01K1/0209; ear tags with electronic identification means A01K11/004
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 29/005 Monitoring or measuring activity, e.g. detecting heat or mating
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0002 Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network A61B5/07 takes precedence; transmission systems for measured values G08C; transmission H04B; transmission of digital information H04L; wireless communication networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: A61D 17/002 for detecting period of heat of animals, i.e. for detecting oestrus for humans A61B10/0012

Abstract

In certain embodiments, a method for estrus detection includes storing location information associated with a dairy livestock. The stored location information includes a coordinate location of the dairy livestock within a free stall pen at each of a plurality of times during a time period. The method further includes determining, based on at least a portion of the stored location information, one or more movement parameters associated with the dairy livestock. The method further includes determining, based on one or more movement parameters associated with the dairy livestock, whether the dairy livestock is likely to be in estrus.

Claims

1. A method for estrus detection, comprising:

storing location information associated with a dairy livestock, the location information comprising a coordinate location of the dairy livestock within a free stall pen at each of a plurality of times during a time period;

determining, based on at least a portion of the stored location information, one or more movement parameters associated with the dairy livestock; and

determining, based on one or more movement parameters associated with the dairy livestock, whether the dairy livestock is likely to be estrus.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the location information is generated by a real-time location system (RTLS) comprising a plurality of identification devices positioned throughout the free stall pen, the plurality of identification devices each operable to, at each of a plurality of times during the time period, generate a signal corresponding to a tag affixed to the dairy livestock.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein communication between plurality of identification devices and the tag affixed to the dairy livestock is facilitated by ultra-wide band (UWB) technology.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the RTLS is operable to determine the coordinate location of the dairy livestock within the free stall pen at each of the plurality of times during the time period by triangulating the signals generated by at least three of the plurality of identification devices at each of a plurality of times during a time period.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein:

determining one or more movement parameters comprises;

determining an alley walking parameter corresponding to the percentage of the time period that the dairy livestock was walking in a walking alley of the free stall pen; and

determining a mobility count parameter corresponding to the number of times during the time period that the dairy livestock moved greater than a predefined distance during a time interval within the time period; and

determining, based on one or more movement parameters associated with the dairy livestock, whether the dairy livestock is likely to be in estrus comprises determining whether a heat index for the dairy livestock is in excess of a baseline heat index by more than a predefined amount, the heat index for the dairy livestock corresponding to the product of the alley walking parameter and the mobility count parameter.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the baseline heat index comprises an average heat index for a plurality of other dairy livestock in the free stall pen during a previous time period.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the baseline heat index comprises a heat index for the dairy livestock during a previous time period.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein:

determining one or more movement parameters comprises determining a distance traveled parameter corresponding to the distance traveled by the dairy livestock during the time period; and

determining, based on one or more movement parameters associated with the dairy livestock, whether the dairy livestock is likely to be in estrus comprises determining whether the determined distance traveled parameter is in excess of a baseline distance traveled by more than a predefined amount.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the baseline distance traveled corresponds to an average distance traveled for a plurality of other dairy livestock in the free stall pen during a previous time period.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the baseline distance traveled corresponds to a distance traveled by the dairy livestock during a previous time period.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein:

determining one or more movement parameters comprises determining a turn index parameter corresponding to the number of times the dairy livestock reverses directions during the time period; and

determining, based on one or more movement parameters associated with the dairy livestock, whether the dairy livestock is likely to be in estrus comprises determining whether the determined turn index parameter is in excess of a baseline turn index parameter by more than a predefined amount.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the baseline turn index parameter corresponds to an average number of times each of a plurality of other dairy livestock in the free stall pen reversed directions during a previous time period.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the baseline turn index parameter corresponds to the number of times the dairy livestock reversed directions during a previous time period.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein:

determining one or more movement parameters comprises;

determining a stall standing parameter corresponding to the percentage of the time period that the dairy livestock was standing in a stall of the free stall pen;

determining a stall lying parameter corresponding to the percentage of the time period that the dairy livestock was lying in a stall of the free stall pen;

determining an alley walking parameter corresponding to the percentage of the time period that the dairy livestock was walking in a walking alley of the free stall pen;

determining an alley lying parameter corresponding to the percentage of the time period that the dairy livestock was lying in a walking alley of the free stall pen;

determining an alley standing parameter corresponding to the percentage of the time period that the dairy livestock was standing stationary in a walking alley of the free stall pen;

determining a feeding parameter corresponding to the percentage of the time period that the dairy livestock was located within a predefined distance of a feed lane of the free stall pen; and

determining a watering parameter corresponding to the percentage of the time period that the dairy livestock was located within a predefined distance of a water trough of the free stall pen; and

determining, based on one or more movement parameters associated with the dairy livestock, whether the dairy livestock is likely to be in estrus comprises determining whether a heat index for the dairy livestock is in excess of a baseline heat index by more than a predefined amount, the heat index for the dairy livestock corresponding to a function of the stall standing parameter, the stall lying parameter, the alley walking parameter, the alley lying parameter, the alley standing parameter, the feeding parameter, and the watering parameter.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the baseline heat index comprises an average heat index for a plurality of other dairy livestock in the free stall during a previous time period.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the baseline heat index comprises a heat index for the dairy livestock during a previous time period.

17. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining, in response to determining that the dairy livestock is likely to be in estrus, whether the dairy livestock is a member of a sexually-active group.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein determining whether the dairy livestock is a member of a sexually-active group comprises:

accessing current coordinate locations for each of a plurality of other dairy livestock in the free stall;

identifying one or more of the plurality of other dairy livestock that are within a predefined distance of the dairy livestock by comparing the current coordinate locations for each of the plurality of other dairy livestock with a current coordinate location of the dairy livestock; and

tracking the coordinate locations of the dairy livestock and the identified one or more of the plurality of other dairy livestock to determine if the identified one or more of the plurality of other dairy livestock remain within a predefined distance of the dairy livestock.

19. A system for estrus detection, comprising:

one or more memory modules operable to store location information associated with a dairy livestock, the location information comprising a coordinate location of the dairy livestock within a free stall pen at each of a plurality of times during a time period; and

one or more processing modules operable to;

determine, based on at least a portion of the stored location information, one or more movement parameters associated with the dairy livestock; and

determine, based on one or more movement parameters associated with the dairy livestock, whether the dairy livestock is likely to be in estrus.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the location information is generated by a real-time location system (RTLS) comprising a plurality of identification devices positioned throughout the free stall pen, the plurality of identification devices each operable to, at each of a plurality of times during the time period, generate a signal corresponding to a tag affixed to the dairy livestock.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein communication between plurality of identification devices and the tag affixed to the dairy livestock is facilitated by ultra-wide band (UWB) technology.

22. The system of claim 20, wherein the RTLS is operable to determine the coordinate location of the dairy livestock within the free stall pen at each of the plurality of times during the time period by triangulating the signals generated by at least three of the plurality of identification devices at each of a plurality of times during a time period.

23. The system of claim 19, wherein:

determining one or more movement parameters comprises;

determining an alley walking parameter corresponding to the percentage of the time period that the dairy livestock was walking in a walking alley of the free stall pen; and

determining a mobility count parameter corresponding to the number of times during the time period that the dairy livestock moved greater than a predefined distance during a time interval within the time period; and

determining, based on one or more movement parameters associated with the dairy livestock, whether the dairy livestock is likely to be in estrus comprises determining whether a heat index for the dairy livestock is in excess of a baseline heat index by more than a predefined amount, the heat index for the dairy livestock corresponding to the product of the alley walking parameter and the mobility count parameter.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the baseline heat index comprises an average heat index for a plurality of other dairy livestock in the free stall pen during a previous time period.

25. The system of claim 23, wherein the baseline heat index comprises a heat index for the dairy livestock during a previous time period.

26. The system of claim 19, wherein:

determining one or more movement parameters comprises determining a distance traveled parameter corresponding to the distance traveled by the dairy livestock during the time period; and

determining, based on one or more movement parameters associated with the dairy livestock, whether the dairy livestock is likely to be in estrus comprises determining whether the determined distance traveled parameter is in excess of a baseline distance traveled by more than a predefined amount.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein the baseline distance traveled corresponds to an average distance traveled for a plurality of other dairy livestock in the free stall pen during a previous time period.

28. The system of claim 26, wherein the baseline distance traveled corresponds to a distance traveled by the dairy livestock during a previous time period.

29. The system of claim 19, wherein:

determining one or more movement parameters comprises determining a turn index parameter corresponding to the number of times the dairy livestock reverses directions during the time period; and

determining, based on one or more movement parameters associated with the dairy livestock, whether the dairy livestock is likely to be in estrus comprises determining whether the determined turn index parameter is in excess of a baseline turn index parameter by more than a predefined amount.

30. The system of claim 29, wherein the baseline turn index parameter corresponds to an average number of times each of a plurality of other dairy livestock in the free stall pen reversed directions during a previous time period.

31. The system of claim 29, wherein the baseline turn index parameter corresponds to the number of times the dairy livestock reversed directions during a previous time period.

32. The system of claim 19, wherein:

determining one or more movement parameters comprises;

determining a stall standing parameter corresponding to the percentage of the time period that the dairy livestock was standing in a stall of the free stall pen;

determining a stall lying parameter corresponding to the percentage of the time period that the dairy livestock was lying in a stall of the free stall pen;

determining an alley walking parameter corresponding to the percentage of the time period that the dairy livestock was walking in a walking alley of the free stall pen;

determining an alley lying parameter corresponding to the percentage of the time period that the dairy livestock was lying in a walking alley of the free stall pen;

determining an alley standing parameter corresponding to the percentage of the time period that the dairy livestock was standing stationary in a walking alley of the free stall pen;

determining a feeding parameter corresponding to the percentage of the time period that the dairy livestock was located within a predefined distance of a feed lane of the free stall pen; and

determining a watering parameter corresponding to the percentage of the time period that the dairy livestock was located within a predefined distance of a water trough of the free stall pen; and

determining, based on one or more movement parameters associated with the dairy livestock, whether the dairy livestock is likely to be in estrus comprises determining whether a heat index for the dairy livestock is in excess of a baseline heat index by more than a predefined amount, the heat index for the dairy livestock corresponding to a function of the stall standing parameter, the stall lying parameter, the alley walking parameter, the alley lying parameter, the alley standing parameter, the feeding parameter, and the watering parameter.

33. The system of claim 32, wherein the baseline heat index comprises an average heat index for a plurality of other dairy livestock in the free stall during a previous time period.

34. The system of claim 32, wherein the baseline heat index comprises a heat index for the dairy livestock during a previous time period.

35. The system of claim 19, wherein the one or more processing modules are further operable to determine, in response to determining that the dairy livestock is likely to be in estrus, whether the dairy livestock is a member of a sexually-active group.

36. The system of claim 35, wherein determining whether the dairy livestock is a member of a sexually-active group comprises:

accessing current coordinate locations for each of a plurality of other dairy livestock in the free stall;

identifying one or more of the plurality of other dairy livestock that are within a predefined distance of the dairy livestock by comparing the current coordinate locations for each of the plurality of other dairy livestock with a current coordinate location of the dairy livestock; and

tracking the coordinate locations of the dairy livestock and the identified one or more of the plurality of other dairy livestock to determine if the identified one or more of the plurality of other dairy livestock remain within a predefined distance of the dairy livestock.

37. A method for estrus detection, comprising:

storing location information associated with a dairy livestock, the location information comprising a coordinate location of the dairy livestock within a free stall pen at each of a plurality of times during a time period, the location information having been generated by a real-time location system (RTLS) comprising a plurality of identification devices positioned throughout the free stall pen, the plurality of identification devices each operable to, at each of the plurality of times during the time period, generate a signal corresponding to a tag affixed to the dairy livestock;

determining a stall standing parameter corresponding to the percentage of the time period that the dairy livestock was standing in a stall of the free stall pen;

determining a stall lying parameter corresponding to the percentage of the time period that the dairy livestock was lying in a stall of the free stall pen;

determining an alley walking parameter corresponding to the percentage of the time period that the dairy livestock was walking in a walking alley of the free stall pen;

determining an alley lying parameter corresponding to the percentage of the time period that the dairy livestock was lying in a walking alley of the free stall pen;

determining an alley standing parameter corresponding to the percentage of the time period that the dairy livestock was standing stationary in a walking alley of the free stall pen;

determining a feeding parameter corresponding to the percentage of the time period that the dairy livestock was located within a predefined distance of a feed lane of the free stall pen; and

determining a watering parameter corresponding to the percentage of the time period that the dairy livestock was located within a predefined distance of a water trough of the free stall pen; and

determining whether a heat index for the dairy livestock is in excess of a baseline heat index by more than a predefined amount, the heat index for the dairy livestock corresponding to a function of the stall standing parameter, the stall lying parameter, the alley walking parameter, the alley lying parameter, the alley standing parameter, the feeding parameter, and the watering parameter.