Method and system for monitoring the condition of livestock

• US 8,979,757 B2
• Filed: 04/18/2007
• Issued: 03/17/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Eisai R & D Management Company Limited (Eisai Medical Research Incorporated), Silent Herdsman Holdings Limited
• Original Assignee: ITI Scotland Limited (Scottish Government)
• Inventors: Devlin, Paul Edward George, Mottram, Toby
• Primary Examiner(s): Thomson, William
• Assistant Examiner(s): SORIANO, BOBBY GILES
• Application Number:
  US12/226,464
• Publication Number:
  US 20100030036A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,890 Days
• Field of Search: 600300-301
• US Class Current: 600/301
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 11/00 Marking of animals marking poultry or other birds A01K35/00
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 11/001 Ear-tags
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 11/007 Boluses
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 11/008 incorporating GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 29/005 Monitoring or measuring activity, e.g. detecting heat or mating
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 10/0012 Ovulation-period determination for animals A61D17/002
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2503/40 Animals
• 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: A61B 5/0011 Foetal or obstetric data
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0024 for multiple sensor units attached to the patient, e.g. using a body or personal area network
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/01 Measuring temperature of body parts ; Diagnostic temperature sensing, e.g. for malignant or inflamed tissue clinical contact thermometers G01K13/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02055 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular condition and temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02438 with portable devices, e.g. worn by the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0816 Measuring devices for examining respiratory frequency measuring frequency of electric signals G01R23/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1107 Measuring contraction of parts of the body, e.g. organ, muscle apparatus for measuring work or force in general G01L
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1112 Global tracking of patients, e.g. by using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1114 Tracking parts of the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1116 Determining posture transitions
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1118 Determining activity level
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14507 specially adapted for measuring characteristics of body fluids other than blood devices for taking samples of body liquids A61B10/0045
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14539 : for measuring pH
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4519 : Muscles A61B5/389, A61B5/224 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4866 : Evaluating metabolism A61B5/083 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6815 : Ear
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6822 : Neck
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6828 : Leg
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6831 : Straps, bands or harnesses
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6833 : Adhesive patches
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6838 : Clamps or clips
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7282 : Event detection, e.g. detecting unique waveforms indicative of a medical condition A61B5/4094, A61B5/4818, A61B5/349, A61B5/0823 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/98 : using electromagnetic means, e.g. transponders
• CPC Class Codes: A61D 17/002 : for detecting period of heat of animals, i.e. for detecting oestrus for humans A61B10/0012
• CPC Class Codes: A61D 17/006 : for detecting pregnancy of animals
• CPC Class Codes: A61D 17/008 : for detecting birth of animals, e.g. parturition alarm

Abstract

A method and system for monitoring the condition of livestock comprises a plurality of sensors (115, 103, 113, 111, 107, 105) for sensing a plurality of different behavioral parameters of an animal. The sensed data is transmitted by a unit (115), wirelessly, t a central processor (119) and a plurality of status conditions of the animal is determined on the basis of the transmitted, sensed data such as the onset of parturition, fertility status and other health status conditions. The unit (115) may be permanently worn by the animal and may keep an electronic record of the status conditions of the animal.

Claims

1. A method for monitoring the condition of livestock, the method comprising the steps of:

sensing, with a plurality of sensors, a plurality of orientation and movement parameters of an animal'"'"'s head;

using a processor configured with computer executable instructions to derive a plurality of different behavioural parameters of said animal from said sensed plurality of orientation and movement parameters, said plurality of different behavioural parameters including at least one of walking activities of said animal, standing activities of said animal and lying activities of said animal,

using said processor to determine a plurality of status conditions of said animal from said derived behavioural parameters, said status conditions including at least one of fertility, oestrus and prediction of onset of parturition; and

transmitting, with a transmitter, said plurality of orientation and movement parameters, said plurality of different behavioural parameters, or said determined plurality of status conditions, wirelessly, to a central computer.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of different behavioural parameters further includes at least one of:

absolute location of said animal;

relative location of said animal to another animal;

feeding activities of said animal; and

drinking activities of said animal.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the method further comprises the step of:

sensing at least one physiological parameter of said animal; and

wherein said sensed physiological parameter is transmitted, wirelessly, to said central computer; and

wherein said plurality of status conditions are determined on the basis of said transmitted, sensed, behavioural conditions or said transmitted, sensed, physiological parameter.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein said at least one physiological parameter includes one of:

breathing rate;

heart rate;

heart rate variability;

body temperature;

breath contents;

saliva contents;

change of state of at least one muscle or muscle group; and

degree of contraction of at least one muscle or muscle group.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the conditions include:

lameness;

infection; and

nutritional disorders.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the method further comprises:

storing said determined status conditions of said animal in a unit, permanently attached to said animal.

7. A system for monitoring the condition of livestock, the system comprising:

a plurality of sensors configured to sense a plurality of orientation and movement parameters of an animal'"'"'s head;

a processor configured with computer executable instructions to derive a plurality of different behavioural parameters of said animal from said sensed plurality of orientation and movement parameters, said plurality of different behavioural including at least one of walking activities of said animal, standing activities of said animal and lying activities of said animal, and determine a plurality of status conditions of said animal, said status conditions including at least one of fertility, oestrus and prediction of onset of parturition; and

at least one transmitter configured to transmit said plurality of orientation and movement parameters, said plurality of different behavioural parameters, or said determined plurality of status conditions, wirelessly, to a central computer.

8. The system according to claim 7, wherein said plurality of sensors are attached to said animal.

9. The system according to claim 8, wherein said plurality of sensors are attached non-invasively.

10. The system according to claim 7, wherein said plurality of sensors are connected in a network.

11. The system according to claim 7, wherein the system further comprises at least one fixed antenna configured to receive said transmitted orientation and movement parameters, behavioural parameters, or status conditions.

12. The system according to claim 11, wherein the transmitted orientation and movement parameters, behavioural parameters, or status conditions received by the antenna is downloaded to said central computer.

13. The system according to claim 7, wherein the system further comprises at least one receiver for receiving data from said central computer.

14. A device for monitoring the condition of livestock, the device comprising:

attachment means for attaching the device to an animal;

a plurality of sensors configured to sense a plurality of orientation and movement parameters of an animal'"'"'s head;

a processor configured with computer executable instructions to derive a plurality of different behavioural parameters of said animal from said sensed plurality of orientation and movement parameters, said plurality of different behavioural parameters including at least one of walking activities of said animal, standing activities of said animal and lying activities of said animal, and determine a plurality of status conditions of said animal, said status conditions including at least one of fertility, oestrus and prediction of onset of parturition; and

a transceiver configured to transmit said plurality of orientation and movement parameters, said plurality of different behavioural parameters, or said determined plurality of status conditions, wirelessly, to a central computer.

15. The device according to claim 14, wherein said plurality of sensors are attached non-invasively.

16. The device according to claim 14, wherein at least one of said plurality of sensors is reusable.

17. The device according to claim 14, wherein said plurality of sensors are connected in a network.

18. The device according to claim 14, wherein the device is remotely programmable.

19. The device according to claim 14, wherein said attachment means comprises a collar, ear tag, halter, belt, tail tag or adhesive patch.

20. The device according to claim 14, wherein said transceiver receives data from said central computer.

21. The device according to claim 20, wherein said received data includes sensed data, condition data, environmental data, manually entered status condition data, or programming data.

22. The device according to claim 14, wherein said device further comprises:

storage means configured to store status condition data of said animal.