WO2024189623A1

WO2024189623A1 - System for monitoring live weight and water consumption of farm-livestock animals

Info

Publication number: WO2024189623A1
Application number: PCT/IL2024/050272
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ilan Halachmi; Assaf GODO; Joseph LEPAR; Tzach GLASSER; Alon BAR SHAMAI
Original assignee: The State Of Israel, Ministry Of Agriculture & Rural Development, Agricultural Research Organization (Aro) (Volcani Institute)
Priority date: 2023-03-15
Filing date: 2024-03-13
Publication date: 2024-09-19

Abstract

A system for monitoring livestock of small ruminants comprises: (a) a physically limited receptacle configured for singly accessible by the small ruminants; (b) a drinking trough configured for metering water consumed by an animal; (c) a weighbridge configured for weighing the animal; (d) an IR animal presence sensor; (e) an RFID identification reader; and (f) a control unit. The drinking trough is cooperatively arranged with the weighbridge such that the small ruminant during drinking from the drinking trough stand on the weighbridge. The IR animal presence sensor and RFID identification reader are disposed in proximity of the drinking trough. The control unit is configured for attributing water consumption readings measured by the water meter and live weight readings measured by the weighbridge of the small ruminant identified by the RFID identification reader within a time period of presence detected by the IR animal presence sensor.

Description

SYSTEM FOR MONITORING LIVE WEIGHT AND WATER CONSUMPTION OF

FARM-LIVESTOCK ANIMALS

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to devices and methods for livestock husbandry and, more particularly, to early warning systems for breeding small ruminants such as sheep and goats.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

As it is stated in (Marcella Guarino, T. N. (2017), A blueprint for developing and applying precision livestock farming (PLF) tools: A key output of the EU-PLF project. Animal Frontiers), the precision livestock farming approach aims to help and adapt the process management on the spot in real-time for the animal that is followed continuously during the production process and warns the farmer immediately. Collecting data at the individual animal level, such as parentage, birth date, production, pregnancy status, health records, and vaccinations, are crucial for modern farm management (Halachmi, I. G. (2019). Smart animal agriculture: application of real-time sensors to improve animal well-being and production. Annu. Rev. Anim. Biosci,, 403-425). Such data may provide farmers with the necessary information to make proper individual-animal or herd management decisions (Voulodimos, A. S. (2010), A complete farm management system based on animal identification using RFID technology. Computers and electronics in agriculture, 70(2), 380-388). In addition, it facilitates animal handling, improved husbandry practices, and reduced labor requirements.

While the usage of PLF tools in dairy cows is practiced and researched widely (Maatje, K. D. (1997). Cow status monitoring (health and oestrus) using detection sensors. Computers and electronics in agriculture, 16(3), 245-254, Moallem, U. G. (2002). Graphic monitoring of the course of some clinical conditions in dairy cows using a computerized dairy management system. Israel journal of veterinary medicine Edwards, J. L. (2004). Using activity and milk yield as predictors of fresh cow disorders. . Journal of dairy science, 87(2), 524-531), and despite recent advances in PLF and digital technologies to facilitate farm management, there is a slow rate of uptake by small ruminants’ producers (Davies, C. M. (2021). Sm@ RT: small ruminant technology-PLF and digital technology for small ruminants. Annual Meeting of the European Federation of Animal Science). A low value per animal and costly per animal sensors are considered the main reasons for the slow uptake.

US10893663 and US11013216 disclose a method for obtaining information about a farm animal.

A device is attached to the head region of an animal. The device contains at least one acceleration sensor by means of which recurring acceleration data is measured. The acceleration data is evaluated using automatic data processing means. The obtained data are indicative of the activities and/or conditions of the animals. The acquired acceleration data is evaluated in order to detect the swallowing processes carried out by the animal.

The methods and devices known in the art are designed for obtaining data relating to consuming fodder by the animals to be bred. This approach is not able to provide data about the weight of individual animals which is the main indicator of breeding efficiency. Thus, there is a long-felt and unmet need for providing a system for weight monitoring of the fed animals.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide an arrangement for monitoring livestock of small ruminants. The aforesaid system comprises: (a) a physically limited receptacle configured for singly accessible by said small ruminants; (b) a drinking trough provided with a water meter configured for metering water amount consumed by said small ruminants; (c) a weighbridge configured for weighing said small ruminants; (d) an IR animal presence sensor; (e) a plurality of unique RFID tags attachable to said small ruminants in an individual manner; (f) an RFID identification reader; (g) a control unit; (h) a memory configured for storing breeding history.

The drinking trough is cooperatively arranged with said weighbridge such that said small ruminant during drinking from said drinking trough stands on said weighbridge. The IR animal presence sensor and RFID identification reader are disposed in proximity of said drinking trough. The control unit is configured for attributing water consumption readings measured by said water meter and live weight readings measured by said weighbridge of said small ruminant identified by said RFID identification reader within a time period of presence detected by said IR animal presence sensor. It is another object of the present invention to provide the arrangement comprising a communication unit configured for providing remote access to said breeding history.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a method of monitoring livestock of small ruminants. The aforesaid method comprises steps of: (a) providing an arrangement for monitoring livestock of small ruminants; said system further comprising: (i) a physically limited receptacle configured for singly accessible by said small ruminants; (ii) a drinking trough configured for metering water consumed by an animal; (iii) a weighbridge configured for weighing said animal; (iv) an IR animal presence sensor; (v) a plurality of unique RFID tags attachable to said small ruminants in an individual manner; (vi) an RFID identification reader; (vii) a control unit; (viii) a memory configured for storing breeding history; said drinking trough is cooperatively arranged with said weighbridge such that said small ruminant during drinking from said drinking trough stand on said weighbridge; said IR animal presence sensor and RFID identification reader are disposed in proximity of said drinking trough; said control unit is configured for attributing water consumption readings measured by said water meter and live weight readings measured by said weighbridge of said small ruminant identified by reading said unique RFID identification tag by said RFID identification reader within a time period of presence of said identified small ruminant detected by said IR animal presence sensor; (b) disposing said system within a farm facility for breeding said livestock of said small ruminants; (c) successively accessing said receptacle by small ruminants; (d) real-time measuring said water consumption and live weight of said small ruminant identified by reading said unique RFID identification tag by said RFID identification reader within a time period of presence of said identified small ruminant detected by said IR animal presence sensor; (e) storing obtained water consumption and live weight data in said memory.

It is further object of the present invention to provide a system for early warning a smallruminant breeder; said system comprising: (a) a plurality of arrangements for monitoring livestock of small ruminants; each of said arrangement further comprising: (i) a physically limited receptacle configured for singly accessible by said small ruminants; (ii) a drinking trough configured for metering water consumed by an animal; (iii) a weighbridge configured for weighing said animal; (iv) an IR animal presence sensor; (v) an RFID identification reader; (vi) a control unit; (vii) a communication unit; said drinking trough is cooperatively arranged with said weighbridge such that said small ruminant during drinking from said drinking trough stand on said weighbridge; said IR animal presence sensor and RFID identification reader are disposed in proximity of said drinking trough; said control unit is configured for attributing water consumption readings measured by said water meter and live weight readings measured by said weighbridge of said small ruminant identified by said RFID identification reader within a time period of presence detected by said IR animal presence sensor; (b) a plurality of unique RFID tags attachable to said small ruminants in an individual manner; (c) a central server being in communication with said control units of said plurality of arrangements via said communication units thereof; said central server configured for processing, analyzing and storing obtained data of water consumption and live weight characterizing breeding history of said small ruminants; said central server configured generating early warning messages in response to recognizing a predetermined data pattern in breeding history of any small ruminant; (d) at least one user device configured for accessing said breeding history and receiving said early warning messages.

It is further object of the present invention to provide at least one user device selected from the group consisting of a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a tablet computer, a smartphone and any combination thereof.

It is further object of the present invention to provide a method of early warning a smallruminant breeder. The aforesaid method comprises: (a) providing a system for early warning a small-ruminant breeder; said system further comprising: (i) a plurality of arrangements for monitoring livestock of small ruminants; each of said arrangement further comprising: (1) a physically limited receptacle configured for singly accessible by said small ruminants; (2) a drinking trough configured for metering water consumed by an animal; (3) a weighbridge configured for weighing said animal; (4) an IR animal presence sensor; (5) an RFID identification reader; (6) a control unit; (7) a communication unit; said drinking trough is cooperatively arranged with said weighbridge such that said small ruminant during drinking from said drinking trough stand on said weighbridge; said IR animal presence sensor and RFID identification reader are disposed in proximity of said drinking trough; said control unit is configured for attributing water consumption readings measured by said water meter and live weight readings measured by said weighbridge of said small ruminant identified by said RFID identification reader within a time period of presence detected by said IR animal presence sensor;

(ii) a plurality of unique RFID tags attachable to said small ruminants in an individual manner;

(iii) a central server being in communication with said control units of said plurality of arrangements via said communication units thereof; said central server configured for processing, analyzing and storing obtained data of water consumption and live weight characterizing breeding history of said small ruminants; said central server configured generating early warning messages in response to recognizing a predetermined data pattern in breeding history of any small ruminant; (iv) at least one user device configured for accessing said breeding history and receiving said early warning messages; (b) disposing said system within farm facilities for breeding said livestock of said small ruminants; (c) successively accessing said receptacle by small ruminants; (d) real-time measuring said water consumption and live weight of said small ruminant identified by reading said unique RFID identification tag by said RFID identification reader within a time period of presence of said identified small ruminant detected by said IR animal presence sensor; (e) storing obtained water consumption and live weight data in said memory; (f) interrogating said water consumption and live weight data by said central server; (g) processing and analyzing said water consumption and live weight data by said central server; (h) recognizing a predetermined data pattern corresponding to anomalous breeding history of any small ruminant; (j) generating an early warning message to said small-ruminant breeder.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order to understand the invention and to see how it may be implemented in practice, a plurality of embodiments is adapted to now be described, by way of non-limiting example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which

Fig. 1 is a schematic view of a system for monitoring livestock of small ruminants;

Fig. 2 is a flowchart of a method of monitoring livestock of small ruminants;

Fig. 3 is a schematic view of a system for early warning a small-ruminant breeder;

Fig. 4 is a flowchart of a method of early warning a small-ruminant breeder; and

Figs 5a and 5b show exemplary breeding histories of a standard sheep and a sheep to be disseminated, respectively. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following description is provided, so as to enable any person skilled in the art to make use of said invention and sets forth the best modes contemplated by the inventor of carrying out this invention. Various modifications, however, are adapted to remain apparent to those skilled in the art, since the generic principles of the present invention have been defined specifically to provide

Reference is now made to Fig. 1 presenting system 100 for monitoring livestock of small ruminants. System 100 includes receptacle 5 physically limited from three sides by walls 10. Receptacle 5 is configured for receiving a small ruminant (not shown) during it drinks. Numeral 30 refers to a drinking trough provided with a water meter (not shown) configured for metering the water amount consumed by the small ruminants. In order to reach drinking trough 30, the small ruminant enters receptacle 10 and steps up to weighbridge 20. IR presence sensor 40 and RFID reader 50 are mounted in the proximity of drinking trough 30. System 100 also includes a plurality of RFID tags (not shown) which are attached to each small ruminant of the flock in an individual manner. Therefore, the presence of each small ruminant entered into receptacle 5 is detected by IR presence sensor 40. Concurrently to that, each small ruminant is identified by reading the unique RFID tag attached thereto. Control unit 60 attributes water consumption readings measured by the water meter and live weight readings measured by weighbridge 20 of said small ruminant identified by said RFID identification reader within a time period of presence detected by said IR animal presence sensor. The personalized data are stored in a memory unit (not shown). Thus, an individual breeding history of each small ruminant is created.

Reference is now made to Fig. 2 presenting method 200 of monitoring livestock of small ruminants. Method 200 starts with providing a system for monitoring the livestock of small ruminants described above (step 210) and disposing it in a farm facility for breeding the small ruminants (step 220). Then, the small ruminants enter the receptacle of the system of their volition in order to drink water in a successive manner (step 230). At step 240, the water consumption and live weight of the small ruminant are measured in real-time concurrently with identifying the aforesaid small ruminant by reading the attached unique RFID identification tag by the RFID identification reader within a time period of presence of the identified small ruminant detected by the IR animal presence sensor (step 240). The obtained data are stored in the memory (step 250). Reference is now made to Fig. 3 presenting a schematic view of system 300 for early warning a small-ruminant breeder. System 300 includes central server 330 and a plurality of systems 100- 1/100-2/100-3 for monitoring livestock of small ruminants disposed in breeding areas 300-1/300- 2/300-3 (farm facilities). As described above, systems 100-1/100-2/100-3 collect individual breeding histories of the small ruminants within areas 300-1/300-2/300-3. Central server 330 continuously interrogates the data collected in 100-1/100-2/100-3. Central server 330 server processes and analyzes obtained data of water consumption and live weight characterizing breeding history of the small ruminants. Then, central server 330 generates early warning messages in response to recognizing a predetermined data pattern in the breeding history of any small ruminant. The aforesaid predetermined data pattern can include drop in live weight and/or median growth ratio. Central server 330 is configured for sending the generated early warning to at least one user device 320-1/320-2/320-3. The user can access the breeding history of any small ruminant in real time.

Reference is now made to Fig. 4 presenting a flowchart of method 400 of early warning a smallruminant breeder. Method 400 starts with providing a system for early warning a small-ruminant breeder (step 410) and disposing the system within farm facilities for breeding the livestock of small ruminants (step 420). As described above, the small ruminants access the receptacles of their volition. The real-time readings of water consumption and live weight are attributed to a specific recognized small ruminant (step 440). The obtained data are stored in local memory units (step 450). The central server continuously interrogates and further processes and analyses the water consumption and live weight data (step 460). If a predetermined data pattern (such as drop in live weight and/or median growth ratio) is recognized (step 480), an early warning message is generated and sent to at least one user device such as a smartphone, a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a tablet computer or like.

Data was collected in a fattening sheep pen, on a group of 150 lambs between Nov 2022 and Jan 2023, using 2 identical data collection devices, data was collected automatically 24 hours a day. Each individual sheep arrived voluntarily, two to five times per day, at various hours. In the beginning, the sheep were approx, two months old and weighing about 25 kg. For each visit, data included the animal individual ID, date and time of visit, weight as recorded by weighing sensor, water consumed in milliliters, duration of the visit, device’s unique identifier. A dataset of all visits was created by each data collection device and sent to a cloud location periodically (every hour) for pre-processing. Device dataset files merged, and each visit tagged with original device id for later use.

The merged dataset was then processed using various statistical models and imputation of null values to derive a calculated weight for each animal. Various farmer defined queries performed on the data to answer specific questions and generate action lists and alerts.

The early warning system (EWS) is comprised of farm information, animal data and farmer credentials (to be able to get customized alerts). Following registration to the system with personal details, farmer gets access to EWS generated alerts.

Device(s) which were installed in the farm submit data to the processing server, data is processed, and an alert set is created. The alerts are sent to the dissemination server (web server) to provide a decision support mechanism.

Reference is now made to Figs 5a and 5b presenting general data of two groups of pregnant sheep in the last month of pregnancy. Fig. 5a shows data relating to the control group while Fig. 5b to the experimental group. In the experimental group, there was the sheep gain about 140 grams per day on average in the last two weeks, while at the same time, the control group provided sheep gained about 530 grams.

In terms of drinking, in the experimental group, the animals drink a little over 6 liters per day (a liter per visit) while, in the control group, water consumption was a little over 7 liters. In both groups, the average water consumption per visit was about 1 liter.

Following the full EWS process, we highlight events with direct financial value such as: (1) acute negative change in growth such as failing to grow more than 50 grams per day in three consecutive days as a farmer indication; (2) inefficient growth rate such as having daily growth (in monetary value) less than daily feed cost (calculated on the basis of daily feed cost divided by price per kg marketed) and (3) not appearing at the water trough as indication of illness.

It is experimentally shown that continuously recording individual weight and water intake may improve farmer profitability by more than 50% by means of (1) reduction in the feed cost. (2) Early identification and treatment of ill small ruminants, and (3) Fine tuning labor and feed stock management.

Claims

Claims:

1. An arrangement for monitoring a livestock of small ruminants; said system comprising: a. a physically limited receptacle configured for singly accessible by said small ruminants; b. a drinking trough provided with a water meter configured for metering water amount consumed by said small ruminants; c. a weighbridge configured for weighing said small ruminants; d. an IR animal presence sensor; e. a plurality of unique RFID tags attachable to said small ruminants in an individual manner; f. an RFID identification reader; g. a control unit; h. a memory configured for storing breeding history; said drinking trough is cooperatively arranged with said weighbridge such that said small ruminant during drinking from said drinking trough stands on said weighbridge; said IR animal presence sensor and RFID identification reader are disposed in proximity of said drinking trough; said control unit is configured for attributing water consumption readings measured by said water meter and live weight readings measured by said weighbridge of said small ruminant identified by said RFID identification reader within a time period of presence detected by said IR animal presence sensor.

2. The arrangement according to claim 1 comprising a communication unit configured for providing remote access to said breeding history.

3. A method of monitoring livestock of small ruminants; said method comprising steps of: a. providing an arrangement for monitoring livestock of small ruminants; said system further comprising: i. a physically limited receptacle configured for singly accessible by said small ruminants; ii. a drinking trough configured for metering water consumed by a small ruminant; iii. a weighbridge configured for weighing said small ruminants; iv. an IR animal presence sensor; v. a plurality of unique RFID tags attachable to said small ruminants in an individual manner; vi. an RFID identification reader; vii. a control unit; viii. a memory configured for storing breeding history; said drinking trough is cooperatively arranged with said weighbridge such that said small ruminant during drinking from said drinking trough stand on said weighbridge; said IR animal presence sensor and RFID identification reader are disposed in proximity of said drinking trough; said control unit is configured for attributing water consumption readings measured by said water meter and live weight readings measured by said weighbridge of said small ruminant identified by reading said unique RFID identification tag by said RFID identification reader within a time period of presence of said identified small ruminant detected by said IR animal presence sensor; b. disposing said system within a farm facility for breeding said livestock of said small ruminants; c. successively accessing said receptacle by small ruminants; d. real-time measuring said water consumption and live weight of said small ruminant identified by reading said unique RFID identification tag by said RFID identification reader within a time period of presence of said identified small ruminant detected by said IR animal presence sensor; e. storing obtained water consumption and live weight data in said memory.

4. A system for early warning a small-ruminant breeder; said system comprising: a. a plurality of arrangements for monitoring livestock of small ruminants; each of said arrangement further comprising: i. a physically limited receptacle configured for singly accessible by said small ruminants; ii. a drinking trough configured for metering water consumed by a small ruminant; iii. a weighbridge configured for weighing said small ruminants; iv. an IR animal presence sensor; v. an RFID identification reader; vi. a control unit; vii. a communication unit; said drinking trough is cooperatively arranged with said weighbridge such that said small ruminant during drinking from said drinking trough stand on said weighbridge; said IR animal presence sensor and RFID identification reader are disposed in proximity of said drinking trough; said control unit is configured for attributing water consumption readings measured by said water meter and live weight readings measured by said weighbridge of said small ruminant identified by said RFID identification reader within a time period of presence detected by said IR animal presence sensor; b. a plurality of unique RFID tags attachable to said small ruminants in an individual manner; c. a central server being in communication with said control units of said plurality of arrangements via said communication units thereof; said central server configured for processing, analyzing and storing obtained data of water consumption and live weight characterizing breeding history of said small ruminants; said central server configured generating early warning messages in response to recognizing a predetermined data pattern in breeding history of any small ruminant; d. at least one user device configured for accessing said breeding history and receiving said early warning messages.

5. The system according to claim 4, wherein said at least one user device is selected from the group consisting of a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a tablet computer, a smartphone and any combination thereof.

6. A method of early warning a small-ruminant breeder; said method comprising: a. providing a system for early warning a small-ruminant breeder; said system further comprising: i. a plurality of arrangements for monitoring livestock of small ruminants; each of said arrangement further comprising:

1. a physically limited receptacle configured for singly accessible by said small ruminants;

2. a drinking trough configured for metering water consumed by a small ruminant;

3. a weighbridge configured for weighing said small ruminants;

4. an IR animal presence sensor;

5. an RFID identification reader;

6. a control unit;

7. a communication unit; said drinking trough is cooperatively arranged with said weighbridge such that said small ruminant during drinking from said drinking trough stand on said weighbridge; said IR animal presence sensor and RFID identification reader are disposed in proximity of said drinking trough; said control unit is configured for attributing water consumption readings measured by said water meter and live weight readings measured by said weighbridge of said small ruminant identified by said RFID identification reader within a time period of presence detected by said IR animal presence sensor; ii. a plurality of unique RFID tags attachable to said small ruminants in an individual manner; iii. a central server being in communication with said control units of said plurality of arrangements via said communication units thereof; said central server configured for processing, analyzing and storing obtained data of water consumption and live weight characterizing breeding history of said small ruminants; said central server configured generating early warning messages in response to recognizing a predetermined data pattern in breeding history of any small ruminant; iv. at least one user device configured for accessing said breeding history and receiving said early warning messages. b. disposing said system within farm facilities for breeding said livestock of said small ruminants; c. successively accessing said receptacle by small ruminants; d. real-time measuring said water consumption and live weight of said small ruminant identified by reading said unique RFID identification tag by said RFID identification reader within a time period of presence of said identified small ruminant detected by said IR animal presence sensor; e. storing obtained water consumption and live weight data in said memory; f. interrogating said water consumption and live weight data by said central server; g. processing and analyzing said water consumption and live weight data by said central server; h. recognizing a predetermined data pattern corresponding to anomalous breeding history of any small ruminant; i. generating an early warning message to said small-ruminant breeder.