Mobile application for livestock heat monitoring

Devices, systems, and methods for monitoring livestock can include a mobile platform arranged to present the user with an optimal breeding period based on mount activity of the livestock assets. Monitoring optimal breeding periods can increase likelihood of healthy breeding, including through real-time information.

FIELD

The present disclosure relates generally to devices, systems, and methods for managing livestock, and more specifically to devices, systems, and methods for livestock monitoring.

BACKGROUND

Monitoring livestock can provide valuable information regarding various livestock assets. Livestock information can be applied to benefit the health and well-being of the assets, and/or improve efficiency of livestock activities.

For example, monitoring livestock for breeding-related information can provide improved likelihood of healthy breeding. However, accurately monitoring livestock assets can present challenges in obtaining cost-effective, accurate information.

SUMMARY

According to an aspect of the present disclosure, a method of operating a mobile platform for monitoring breeding periods of livestock including receiving indication of mount activity of an individual asset of livestock, determining an optimal breeding time of the individual asset of livestock based on the received indication of mount activity, and presenting, on a display screen, the optimal breeding time of the individual asset of livestock to a user.

In some embodiments, receiving indication of mount activity of an individual asset of livestock may include receiving indication of time of mounting activity of the individual asset of livestock. Determining an optimal breeding time of the individual asset of livestock may include determining a time in the future based on the time of mount activity as the optimal breeding time for the individual asset of livestock. Determining the time in the future based on the time of mount activity may include forecasting the time in the future as the optimal breeding time. Determining the time in the future based on the time of mounting activity as the optimal breeding time for the individual asset of livestock may include determining a window of time as the optimal breeding time for the individual asset of livestock. Determining the time in the future based on the time of mounting activity as the optimal breeding time for the individual asset of livestock may include defining a beginning of the optimal breeding time by a predetermined period after the time of mounting activity of the individual asset of livestock.

In some embodiments, receiving indication of mount activity may include receiving indication of one or more mount incidents of the individual asset of livestock. Each indication of one or more mount incidents of the individual asset of livestock may include indication of time of the respective mount incident. Presenting may include presenting an indication of each mount incident to the user. Presenting may include indicating to the user one or more of the mount incidents as being presently selected for consideration in determining the optimal breeding time. In some embodiments, the method may further include enabling user input selection of one or more of the presented indications of the mount incidents for consideration in determining the optimal breeding time.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a mobile platform for monitoring breeding periods of livestock may include a display, and a communication system including a processor configured for executing instructions stored on the memory. The communication system may be configured to receive indication of mount activity of an individual asset of livestock, determine an optimal breeding time of the individual asset of livestock based on the received indication of mount activity, and/or to communicate with the display to present the optimal breeding time of the individual asset of livestock to a user.

In some embodiments, the communication system may be configured for receiving indication of mount activity of an individual asset of livestock by receiving indication of time of mounting activity of the individual asset of livestock. The communication system may be configured for determining an optimal breeding time of the individual asset of livestock by determining a time in the future based on the time of mount activity as the optimal breeding time for the individual asset of livestock. The communication system may be configured for determining the time in the future based on the time of mounting activity as the optimal breeding time for the individual asset of livestock by determining a window of time as the optimal breeding time for the individual asset of livestock. In some embodiments, the communication system may be configured for determining the time in the future based on the time of mounting activity as the optimal breeding time for the individual asset of livestock by defining a beginning of the optimal breeding time by a predetermined period after the time of mounting activity of the individual asset of livestock.

In some embodiments, the communication system may be configured for receiving indication of mount activity as one or more mount incidents of the individual asset of livestock. Each indication of one or more mount incidents of the individual asset of livestock may include indication of time of the respective mount incident. The communication system may be configured for communicating with the display to present an indication of each mount incident to the user.

In some embodiments, the communication system may be configured for communicating with the display to indicate to the user one or more of the mount incidents as being presently selected for consideration by the communication system for determining the optimal breeding time. The communication system may be configured for enabling user input selection of one or more of the presented indications of the mount incidents for consideration in determining the optimal breeding time. In some embodiments, the mobile platform may include a personal mobile device.

In some embodiments, the communication system may be configured to communicate a breeding instruction to conduct breeding based on user input. The communication may be configured to present with the display a breed button for user selection to indicate breed instruction. The communication may be configured to present with the display at least one of an artificial insemination button for user selection to indicate artificial instruction and/or an embryo transplant button for user selection to indicate embryo transplant, responsive to user selection of the breed button. Responsive to user selection of one the at least one of an artificial insemination button and/or the embryo transplant button, the communication system may be configured to communicate the breed instruction indicating the corresponding artificial insemination or embryo transplant instruction according to user selection.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Monitoring livestock, such as cattle, can be challenging. The number of livestock of typical commercial livestock operations, together with the amount of land area that livestock may require can present challenges in communication of monitoring information. Among other parameters of interest for monitoring in livestock, monitoring livestock for preferred breeding periods can assist in determining and/or selecting opportune breeding conditions. For example, monitoring estrus cycles for cows/heifers (cattle) can indicate a desirable time period for insemination, increasing the likelihood of healthy breeding. Systems, devices, and methods for overcoming the challenges of livestock monitoring are discussed herein.

Referring toFIG.1, a livestock monitoring system10is shown allowing monitoring of breeding periods of livestock assets. The monitoring system10includes a monitoring device12, embodied as a patch secured with an animal asset14. The patch12is adapted to sense that the asset is being mounted for breeding (intercourse), by other livestock, for example, mounting of a heifer or cow asset14(to which the patch12is secured) by a bull or another cow. Upon sensing of mounting, the patch12communicates an indication of mounting incident. Examples of suitable monitoring devices can include those disclosed within U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2020/0146263, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference, in their entirety, including at least those portions concerning livestock monitoring.

The patch12illustratively communicates indication of mount activity to a mounting platform16. The mounting platform16is illustratively embodied as a mobile device including a display18and control system20comprising processor22, memory24, and communication circuitry26. The processor22executes instructions stored on memory24, and sends/receives communications signals via the communication circuitry26. Examples of suitable mobile devices may include smartphones, tablets, portable computers, and/or wearable computing devices.

The patch12may communicate indication of mount activity to the mount platform16directly and/or indirectly. For example, the patch12may communicate with the mount platform16a network28, such as a mobile network, or other intermediary, and/or by direct transmission to the mount platform16. Examples of mobile networks may include 3G/4G/5G wireless networks, and/or any other suitable communications architecture or network.

Referring toFIG.2, the mount platform16as a mobile device is shown in additional detail. The display18is illustratively embodied as a touch screen display allowing user input by touch activation and/or by stylus. InFIG.2, the display18is presently displaying an indication of an optimal breeding time30determined in accordance with disclosed embodiments. The optimal breeding time30is illustratively embodied as a time window of preferred breeding determined by the control system20based on mount activity and presented for the user.

Referring now toFIG.3, operation of the mobile device16for monitoring breeding periods is shown. In box32, the mobile device16receives indication of mount activity. In some embodiments, box32may include sending indication of mount activity, for example, from a patch12secured to an animal asset. In box34, the mobile device34determines the optimal breeding time30. Box34may include receiving user input as discussed herein. The mobile device16illustratively determines the optimal breeding time30for an individual animal asset based on the indication of mount activity received.

In box36, the mobile device16presents the optimal breeding time to the user. In the illustrative embodiment, the mobile device16presents the optimal breeding time to the user by presentation on the display18. In some embodiments, any suitable presentation to the user may be included, for example but without limitation, projecting and/or transmitting an image and/or audio indicating the optimal breeding time30, for example, by a remote display.

Referring toFIG.4, an initial page for presentation on the display18of the device is shown indicating active cows. In the illustrative embodiment, three cows are presently being monitored as indicated by three different active patches12each indicated by their tag name “test 2,” “399 W,” and “test 01.” Each active patch12is indicated as currently active by a check mark in the Patch column which indicates recent communication with the patch12. Each active patch12indicates current heat rating including the number of heat cycles as shown in the Heat column. Each active patch12is indicated as being assigned to a pre-determined group as indicated under the Group column. In the illustrative embodiment, the patches12“test 2,” “399 W,” are assigned to the group “donor” and the patch12“test 01” is assigned to the group “Donor2”. Assigning patches to groups can assist in organizing the information received and/or in organizing asset management activities for user presentation.

The initial page includes a menu button40for user selection to present menu options as discussed in additional detail herein. The initial pages includes a scanner button42for user selection to allow scanning of patch information to register patches12with the mobile device16as active patches12. Selection of the scanner button42illustratively activates (with user authorization) a camera of the mobile device16to permit visual scanning of associated information of the patch12to be registered, such as by 1 or 2-dimensional barcode having identifying information of the associated patch12. Upon scanning the information of the patch12, the mobile device16can activate registration of the associated patch12, with pre-populated information, within the base application and/or through designated registration device, such as a website.

InFIG.4, the individual active patches12are available for user selection by user selection of the corresponding line item44. Referring now toFIG.5, a user has selected the “test 01” line item44which causes a transition to the information page for the test 01 patch12. The information page indicates that the mobile device16has determined that three different cycles have occurred for the cow associated with the test 01 patch12, including “Cycle 1,” “Cycle 2,” and “Cycle 3.” Each of the cycles 1-3 are designated by line item46and are available for user selection to expand the corresponding information section48.

In the present status as shown inFIG.5, the user has selected the line item46for the Cycle 2 as indicated by the up “A” symbol on the right hand side. User selection of the line item46expands the corresponding information section48on the display18. The information section for each of the Cycle 1 and Cycle 3 line items46remains collapsed but available for user selection.

In the information section48for the Cycle 2 line item, an optimal breeding time50is presented. The optimal breeding time is presently indicated as a time window from 9:40 AM on May 14 to 3:40 PM on May 14. The information section48indicates mount activities line items52. Each of the mount activities line items52indicates a time of mount activity, for example, a first mount activity52A at 9:40 PM on May 13, and second mount activity52B at 9:55 AM on May 14. The indicated time of mount activity for each line item52is associated with an indication of mount activity provided by the associated patch12, here the patch12corresponding with test 01. Within the information section48, a show more button56is presented for user selection to display additional mount activity, such as less recently mount activity of the Cycle 2.

Each line item52includes an activation indicator54indicating whether the line item52is presently selected. For example, inFIG.5, the line item52corresponding to mount activity at 9:40 PM May 13 is indicated as presently selected (as indicated by darkening) while the other line items52are indicated as deselected (as indicating by lightening). In the illustrative embodiment, present selection of the particular line item52indicates that the mount activity line item52is deemed a primary mount activity, used by the mobile device16to determine the optimal breeding time.

The mobile device16determines the optimal breeding time based on the presently selected primary mount activity. In the illustrative embodiment, the mobile device determines the optimal breeding time as a window of time in the future after the time indicated by the primary mount activity. In the example as depicted inFIG.5, the presently selected primary mount activity occurred at 9:40 PM May 13, and the mobile device16has determined that the optimal breeding time is between 9:40 AM on May 14 to 3:40 PM on May 14, representing a 6-hour window of time beginning 12 hours after the time of the primary mount activity and ending 18 hours after the primary mount activity.

In the illustrative embodiment, the mobile device16determines the optimal breeding time as predetermined period of time relative to the selected primary mount activity. In some embodiments, the mobile device16may determine the optimal breeding time based on any suitable manner in consideration of the mount activity indication, for example, by weighed analysis considering the frequency of mount activity indications within a pre-determined time period. For example, the mobile device16may determine that greater frequency of mount activity within a rolling 4-hour time period indicates greater likelihood that the corresponding cow is in heat, and therefore may apply a greater weighting value to mount activity indications within the rolling 4-hour window in determining the optimal breeding time.

In some embodiments, the user may select and/or adjust the predetermined period of time relative to the primary mount activity for the optimal breeding time, for example, the user may adjust the pre-determined 6-hour window to be a 4-hour window or a 6-hour window, and/or may adjust the beginning of the window of time, for example, to begin 8 hours or 13 hours after the time of the primary mount activity, and/or may adjust the ending of the window of time, for example, to begin 16 hours or 20 hours after the time of the primary mount activity. In some embodiments, the user may be permitted to select more than one line item54as a primary mount activity and the mobile device16may determine the optimal breeding time based on each primary mount activity for the corresponding patch12, for example, by average of the times, and/or by weighting of the times of the primary mount activities.

The information page includes a remove button60for user selection to remove a presently selected device from activity. The information page includes a reset button62for user selection to reset the mount activity line items52. The information page includes an edit button64for user selection to allow the user to edit the tag name and/or the assigned group of the presently selected patch12. The information page includes a cancel button73for closing the top level menu70. The information page includes a back button66for user selection to return to the initial page.

Returning briefly toFIG.4, the initial page includes a menu button68for user selection to call up a top level menu70as suggested inFIG.6. The top level menu70is embodied as a menu panned in from the left side of the display18. The top level menu70includes a create cow group button72for user selection to create a new group for patches12, a scan button74for user selection to scan a code from a patch12as mentioned above, a log out button for user selection to log out of a present account, and a list of available cow groups having line items76for each group for user selection to access the corresponding information page.

User selection of the create cow group button72causes presentation of the create group page as suggested inFIG.7. The create group page includes a text entry field78for user selection to enter text for the group name. Entry of text into the text entry field78cause responsive activation of the create group activation button80. Activation of the create group activation button80creates the new group for assignment of patches12and returns to the initial page.

Returning briefly toFIG.6, user selection of one of the cow group line items78causes presentation of the group page as suggest inFIG.8. The group page include a list of patch line items82indicating each patch12assigned to the presently selected group. Each line item82includes a patch status as being either currently active as indicated by a check mark or inactive as indicated by an x mark, in the Patch column. Each line item82indicates current heat rating for the corresponding patch12including the number of heat cycles as shown in the Heat column.

Each line item82includes an alert button84indicating a present state of alerts. In the present example depicted inFIG.8, the alert button84of each line item82is presently set to active as indicating by the alert buttons84being shifted to the right. When alerts are set to active for a given patch line item82, upon receiving mount activity indication from the corresponding patch12, the mobile device16delivers a notification, such as a tone, vibration, and/or message on display18according to the settings of the mobile device16. The group page includes an edit alerts button86for user section to activate toggling of the alert buttons84for user selection to toggle each alert button86between the active and inactive positions, activating and inactivating alerts for each line item82, respectively.

The group page includes an edit group button88for user selection to edit the presently selected group. User selection of the edit group button88presents a text entry box with the group name for user selection for editing, and confirmation button for user selection to confirm changes to the presently selected group name.

Returning briefly toFIG.5, the information page includes a breed button90for user selection to consider breed options for the presently selected livestock asset for communicating breeding instruction to conduct breeding for that asset. Responsive user selection of the breed button90, a breed window92is presented as suggested inFIG.9. The breed window92presents an artificial insemination (AI) button94for user selection to provide instruction for artificial insemination for the asset and an embryo transplant (ET) button96for user selection to provide instruction for embryo transplant for the asset.

Responsive to user selection of the embryo transplant button96, the display18presents an ET page as suggested inFIG.10. The ET page includes indication that the ET option has been selected by parenthetical “(ET)”. The ET page can indicate the presently selected tag number, group (if assigned), and/or indication of the starting time of the optimal breeding time. The ET page includes an implant date field98for user entry of the date of implant desired, a bull name field102for user entry of a desired bull sire name, and a notes field104for user entry of additional notations. User entry into fields98,102,104illustratively as alpha-numeric fields includes user selection of the corresponding entry field which prompts display of a corresponding alpha-numeric keyboard for user entry of information. The ET page includes a save button106for user selection to save entries to the ET fields98,102,104.

From the breed option window92as shown inFIG.9, responsive to user selection of the AI button94, the display18presents an AI page as suggested inFIG.11. The AI page includes indication that the AI option has been selected by parenthetical “(AI)”. The AI page can indicate the presently selected tag number, group (if assigned), and/or indication of the starting time of the optimal breeding time. The AI page includes a bull name field112for user entry of a desired bull sire name, and a notes field114for user entry of additional notations. User entry into fields112,114illustratively as alpha-numeric fields includes user selection of the corresponding entry field which prompts display of a corresponding alpha-numeric keyboard for user entry of information. The ET page includes a save button116for user selection to save entries to the AI fields112,114.

Responsive to user selection of the save button106,116for either of the AI or ET pages, the communication system26communicates a breeding instruction signal indicating either the AI or ET selection according to the user's input. The breeding instruction is embodied as a communication signal indicating either the ET or AI selection, identifying information (e.g., tag number, group (if assigned), heat time), and/or the information entered into the respective fields96,102,104,112,114. The breeding instruction is illustratively communicated to remote systems, such as a cloud-based computer system, via network28, but in some embodiments may be communicated with any suitable remote device, including but not limited to a centralized computer and/or personal mobile devices. The breeding instruction can be communicated to others, for example, by viewing via a display, and/or implemented as wholly or partly automated, for example, by configuring access of the asset to relevant farm areas (e.g., allowing electronic gate access to confined spaces or certain fields) as a command for breeding of the particular asset.

Responsive to successful saving of a new breeding instruction (and/or responsive to selection of the breeding list button128onFIG.9), the display18presents a breeding list as suggested inFIG.12. The breeding list illustratively includes breed command entries120. Each breed command entry120can include the corresponding tag number, bull name, impant (or insemination) date, heat date, and/or notes as entered. Each breed command entry120includes a check box122for user selection. Upon user selection of one or more check boxes, a create report button124is activated for user selection to create a printable output of the selected breed command entries120.

Returning briefly toFIG.6, responsive to user selection of a seasons button130the display18presents a seasons window132. The seasons window132presents a previous seasons button134for user selection to present information regarding previous seasons and an end current season/begin new season button136for user selection to complete the existing season and begin a new season. Responsive to user selection of the previous seasons button134, the display18presents a past seasons list as suggested inFIG.14. The past seasons list includes past season entries138indicating the corresponding season year, each of which is available for user selection to access the information for mount activity, breeding, and related information for previously saved season years. In the illustrative embodiment, selecting a previous season entry138allows user access to the information of the corresponding year in similar manner as described for current season information.

Accordingly, within the present disclosure monitoring of livestock can be achieved including determining and/or presentation of optimal breeding times to a user. In some embodiments, determination of optimal breeding time may be conducted remotely and communicated to the mobile device for presentation to the user. In such embodiments, mount activity may be presented to the user for user selection of primary mount activity and communicated remotely for determination of optimal breeding time. Within the present disclosure, examples of suitable processors may include one or more microprocessors, integrated circuits, system-on-a-chips (SoC), among others. Examples of suitable memory, may include one or more primary storage and/or non-primary storage (e.g., secondary, tertiary, etc. storage); permanent, semi-permanent, and/or temporary storage; and/or memory storage devices including but not limited to hard drives (e.g., magnetic, solid state), optical discs (e.g., CD-ROM, DVD-ROM), RAM (e.g., DRAM, SRAM, DRDRAM), ROM (e.g., PROM, EPROM, EEPROM, Flash EEPROM), volatile, and/or non-volatile memory; among others. Communication circuitry58includes components for facilitating processor operations, for example, suitable components may include transmitters, receivers, modulators, demodulator, filters, modems, analog to digital converters, operational amplifiers, and/or integrated circuits.