Technology in agriculture is advancing at such a pace that it is now easy for farmers to monitor the health and welfare of livestock by simple digital devices. Our reporter selected 3 of them.
In the past farmers had to personally inspect cattle on a regular basis to keep an eye out for any sicknesses. However, nowadays technology, influenced by AI, can identify problems in individual animals and send the details to the farmer’s phone.
Various technologies are available. But most of them measure and monitor the eating and movement times of cattle, and work out any irregular feeding or drinking patterns.
This information can be sent to the farmer who then can isolate the animal for further investigation. Other technologies can actually treat diseases when identified.
1/ Urban: Sip Control
Urban SipControl is a system for determining the welfare of suckling calves at automatic feeders. It records the animal’s sucking strength and the individual swallowing processes.
It uses a high-resolution, inductive flow sensor to scan the pulsating volumetric flow that occurs in the suction line of suckling calves at microsecond intervals.
During the drinking process, the number of swallows, the volume consumed per swallow and the calf’s sucking strength are recorded and evaluated with high precision. The length of the suckling process can be adapted to the individual animal as required.
Deviations from the animals’ individual sucking patterns can be used for predictive health monitoring.
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2/ Moonsyst: M9814 Smart Bolus
Referred to as a fitbit for cows, Irish company Moonsyst developed a new smart bolus that collects real time information from the rumen. Armed with this data, farmers can accurately detect heats, monitor health conditions and ultimately improve productivity. The Moonsyst system is supported by cloud based software that can be accessed on a phone and PC.
The software uses artificial intelligence to predict health and heat events related to the animal. The more information collected the more accurate predictions become, helping the farmer with livestock management 24/7.
The boluses are maintenance-free devices that stay in the rumen of the animal for its lifetime. Each bolus has a unique ID that can be associated with the animal.
Made of an acid proof resin which protects the electronic parts and causes no harm inside the animal, the bolus is equipped with a battery that has a life span of over 6 years.
3/ Neeo Bovis: Laser Treatment Mastitis
Danish company Neeo Bovis has developed a laser tool that can treat mastitis in cattle.
The laser light penetrates deep into the tissue of the udder, right down to the individual cell. The cells utilise the energy from the laser light and activate the cow’s natural repair mechanisms. According to the company, this results in an enhanced healing process and strengthening of the immune system.
Magnus Timmermann, an instructor with Neeo Bovis, said:
“Our laser treatments are gentle, non-invasive and painless. We offer a safe and effective method to strengthen the cow’s healing potential and improve its general health and well-being. We find that the cow expresses well-being from the start of the treatment. Among other things, we have seen rumination, and that the cow follows the laser, as it can feel pain relief from the start.”
The company says that with 15 seconds laser treatment per teat, acute mastitis can be treated within 3 days and cellular mastitis in 5-7 days.
