System and method for estrus detection using real-time location
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A system for estrus detection, comprising:
- a plurality of identification devices positioned in a free stall pen;
one or more tags attachable to each of a plurality of dairy livestock in the free stall pen;
one or more memory modules that stores location information obtained from one or more of the plurality of identification devices and the one or more tags, the location information associated with a particular dairy livestock from the plurality of dairy livestock and comprising a plurality of coordinate locations of the particular dairy livestock within the free stall pen at each of a plurality of times during a time period including a first time and a second time, wherein the plurality of coordinate locations comprises at least a first (X, Y, Z) location of the particular dairy livestock at the first time and a second (X, Y, Z) location of the particular dairy livestock at the second time; and
one or more processors that;
determine, based on at least the first and second (X, Y, Z) locations, a turn index parameter indicating a number of times the particular dairy livestock reverses directions during the time period; and
determine whether the particular dairy livestock is likely to be in estrus based at least in part upon whether the determined turn index parameter is in excess of a baseline turn index parameter by more than a first predefined amount.
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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.
31 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A system for estrus detection, comprising:
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a plurality of identification devices positioned in a free stall pen; one or more tags attachable to each of a plurality of dairy livestock in the free stall pen; one or more memory modules that stores location information obtained from one or more of the plurality of identification devices and the one or more tags, the location information associated with a particular dairy livestock from the plurality of dairy livestock and comprising a plurality of coordinate locations of the particular dairy livestock within the free stall pen at each of a plurality of times during a time period including a first time and a second time, wherein the plurality of coordinate locations comprises at least a first (X, Y, Z) location of the particular dairy livestock at the first time and a second (X, Y, Z) location of the particular dairy livestock at the second time; and one or more processors that; determine, based on at least the first and second (X, Y, Z) locations, a turn index parameter indicating a number of times the particular dairy livestock reverses directions during the time period; and determine whether the particular dairy livestock is likely to be in estrus based at least in part upon whether the determined turn index parameter is in excess of a baseline turn index parameter by more than a first predefined amount. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A system for estrus detection, comprising:
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a plurality of identification devices positioned in a free stall pen; one or more tags attachable to each of a plurality of dairy livestock in the free stall pen; one or more memory modules that stores location information obtained from one or more of the plurality of identification devices and the one or more tags, the location information associated with a particular dairy livestock from the plurality of dairy livestock and comprising a plurality of coordinate locations of the particular dairy livestock within the free stall pen at each of a plurality of times during a time period including a first time and a second time, wherein the plurality of coordinate locations comprises at least a first (X, Y, Z) location of the particular dairy livestock at the first time and a second (X, Y, Z) location of the particular dairy livestock at the second time; and one or more processors that; determine an alley walking parameter indicating a percentage of the time period that the particular dairy livestock was walking in a walking alley of the free stall pen; and determine a mobility count parameter indicating a number of times during the time period that the particular dairy livestock moved greater than a predefined distance during a time interval within the time period; and determine whether the particular dairy livestock is likely to be in estrus based at least in part upon whether a heat index for the particular dairy livestock is in excess of a baseline heat index by more than a predefined amount, the heat index for the particular dairy livestock corresponding to a multiplication product of the alley walking parameter and the mobility count parameter. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A system for estrus detection, comprising:
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a plurality of identification devices positioned in a free stall pen; one or more tags attachable to each of a plurality of dairy livestock in the free stall pen; one or more memory modules that stores location information obtained from one or more of the plurality of identification devices and the one or more tags, the location information associated with a particular dairy livestock from the plurality of dairy livestock and comprising a plurality of coordinate locations of the particular dairy livestock within the free stall pen at each of a plurality of times during a time period including a first time and a second time, wherein the plurality of coordinate locations comprises at least a first (X, Y, Z) location of the particular dairy livestock at the first time and a second (X, Y, Z) location of the particular dairy livestock at the second time; and one or more processors that; determine a stall standing parameter indicating a percentage of the time period that the particular dairy livestock was standing in a stall of the free stall pen; determine a stall lying parameter indicating a percentage of the time period that the particular dairy livestock was lying in the stall of the free stall pen; determine an alley walking parameter indicating a percentage of the time period that the particular dairy livestock was walking in a walking alley of the free stall pen; determine an alley lying parameter indicating a percentage of the time period that the particular dairy livestock was lying in the walking alley of the free stall pen; determine an alley standing parameter indicating a percentage of the time period that the particular dairy livestock was standing stationary in the walking alley of the free stall pen; determine a feeding parameter indicating a percentage of the time period that the particular dairy livestock was located within a predefined distance of a feed lane of the free stall pen; and determine a watering parameter indicating a percentage of the time period that the particular dairy livestock was located within a predefined distance of a water trough of the free stall pen; and determine whether the particular dairy livestock is likely to be in estrus based at least in part upon whether a heat index for the particular dairy livestock is in excess of a baseline heat index by more than a predefined amount, the heat index for the particular dairy livestock being 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. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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Specification