CATTLE MONITORING FOR ILLNESS

• US 20150282457A1
• Filed: 04/08/2015
• Published: 10/08/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medisim Limited
• Original Assignee: Medisim Limited
• Inventors: Yarden, Moshe
• Granted Patent: US 9,538,729 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 11/004 with electronic identification means, e.g. transponders
• 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: A61D 17/00 Devices for indicating trouble during labour of animals ; Methods or instruments for detecting pregnancy-related states of animals monitoring or measuring activity of animals A01K29/005
• CPC Class Codes: A61D 17/002 for detecting period of heat of animals, i.e. for detecting oestrus for humans A61B10/0012

Abstract

Disclosed are a system, device and process for monitoring physical and physiological features of livestock through a unique monitoring system and device. Basic and Smart tags are placed on livestock to monitor, among other things, temperature, movement, location, posture, pulse rate, and other physical and physiological features. Information is relayed from Basic tags, in one embodiment, to Smart tags that requests the information and receives the information from the basic tags. Smart tags send information to a mobile unit controller and/or home base so that requested information is sent to an end user that monitors the livestock for signs of illness. Potentially ill animals are segregated from the herd for further evaluation and minimization of exposure risk to the rest of the herd. This early detection system saves livestock and ensures a healthier herd for livestock farmers.

Claims

1. A system for monitoring livestock animals and early detection of animal illness, comprising:

at least one basic tag attached to a first animal for monitoring and collecting information regarding various physical and physiological features of the animal that is attached to the basic tag;

at least one smart tag attached to a second animal;

the smart tag receiving the information from the basic tag and processing information related to the health of the first and second animals;

a mobile unit controller in communication with the smart tag;

said mobile unit controller sending instructions to the smart tag to collect specific information and receiving specific information; and

a stationary unit for providing instructions to the mobile unit controller for monitoring of different signs or symptoms which are characteristic to ill livestock animals.

2. The system in claim 1, wherein the smart tag holds animal identification information of animals with the basic tag and send the identification information to the mobile controller.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the smart tag receives the information from the basic tag and the smart tag compares the information to previous information collected.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the mobile unit receives the information from the smart tag and the mobile unit compares the information to previous information collected.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the information sent includes at least one of:

temperature reading, appetite behavior, movement increase or decrease, chewing behavior, stomach noises, tilting of animal, location of animal, posture of animal, pulse rate, and any combination thereof.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the basic tag and the smart tag have an audible alarm that sound off when an animal has information sent that is not normal for that specific animal.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the basic tag and the smart tag have a visual alarm that blinks on and off when an animal has information sent that is not normal for that specific animal.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the basic tag and the smart tag have an audible alarm that sound off and a visual alarm that blinks on and off when an animal has information sent that is not normal for that specific animal.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the stationary unit is a personal computer and stores history health data of the livestock animals and produces statistics concerning the health of the livestock.

4. The system of claim 4 wherein the comparison information generated by the smart tag is transmitted to the mobile control unit.

11. A device for monitoring livestock animals and early detection of animal illness, comprising:

a housing having a transparent window;

the housing holding a printed circuit board having a printed antenna disposed thereabout;

the printed circuit board further including a microchip controller containing animal identification information;

the printed circuit board further including at least one external sensor relative to the housing, and at least one internal sensor relative to the housing; and

the printed circuit board further having a transmitter or transceiver for transmission of data collected by the internal and external sensors.

12. The device of claim 11, further includes a gripper attached to the case for attaching the device to an animal.

13. The device of claim 11, further includes a buzzer alarm on the printed circuit board for audible warning of a potentially ill animal.

14. The device of claim 11, further includes a light emitting diode (LED) alarm for visual warning through the transparent window of the housing to warn of a potentially ill animal.

15. The device of claim 11, further includes a rechargeable battery attached to the printed circuit board that is rechargeable by solar energy as the animal is in an open lot.

16. The device of claim 11, wherein the at least one external sensor is selected from the group consisting of:

ambient temperature sensor, animal temperature sensor, motion sensor, accelerometer, tilt sensor, piezo electric/piezo resistive sensor, proximity sensor, ambient light sensor, GPS and any combination thereof.

17. The device of claim 11, wherein the at least one internal sensor is selected from the group consisting of:

ambient temperature sensor, animal temperature sensor, motion sensor, accelerometer, tilt sensor, piezo electric/piezo resistive sensor, proximity sensor, ambient light sensor, GPS and any combination thereof.

18. A method for monitoring livestock animals and early detection of animal illness, comprising:

using a basic tag attached to a first animal, the basic tag transmitting information regarding animal temperature, motion, and eating behavior and tag functionality;

using a smart tag attached to a second animal, the smart tag receiving information from the basic tag and transmits identification data about the first animal;

said smart tag further comparing the received information from the basic tag for the first animal to previously transmitted information for the first animal; and

using a mobile control unit to receive the compared information from the smart tag and isolate the first animal if any signs of illness are reported by the basic tag.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the smart tag also transmits information about the second animal to the mobile control unit.

20. The method of claim 18, further including using a stationary computer unit to collect the data from the mobile control unit and prepare statistics regarding the heath of the livestock animals.