Data logging apparatus for livestock

Abstract: A data-logging apparatus for fitting to an animal, said apparatus comprising sensing means (8,10,12,14,16) for sensing one or more conditions or activities of the animal, processing means (2) arranged to process output signals from said sensing means and to store data relating to said one or more activities or conditions, and timing means (6) to control the instant of time at which said processing means commences and/or ceases to operate.

Description: The present invention relates to data logging apparatus for fitting to an animal to monitor its behaviour, and particularly, but not exclusively the grazing behaviour of sheep or other livestock. Several data logging devices are known for attaching to livestock so that various sensed conditions relating to an animal's behaviour may be processed and stored. Such data-logging devices are typically used to study the behaviour of animals in order to develop more effective methods of livestock management or husbandry. See e.g document SU-A-1648367. A significant limitation of such devices is that the data-logging cycle of each device must be initiated at the time of fitting the device to an animal. This restriction may be undesirable for one of two reasons. Firstly, the instant of time available for fitting the device may not coincide with the period of interest for which data-logging is required. For instance, climatic or geographic considerations may restrict access to certain animal habitats at certain times. Secondly, if a plurality of animals is to be simultaneously monitored, a common requirement is for the respective results to be compared and contrasted. If, for instance, a large number of devices are to be fitted or if certain of the animals are some distance apart, it may be extremely difficult to synchronise the various data acquisition cycles and therefore to accurately correlate the results obtained. We have now devised data-logging apparatus which alleviates the above mentioned limitations of previously proposed data logging devices. We have now devised data-logging apparatus which alleviates the above mentioned limitations of previously proposed data logging devices. In accordance with the present invention, there is provided data-logging apparatus for monitoring animals, comprising sensing means for sensing one or more conditions or activities of a respective animal, processing means arranged to process output signals from said sensing means and to store data relating to said one or more conditions or activities and timing means characterised in that said animals comprise a grazing herd or flock of livestock and that said apparatus is to be fitted to each animal of the herd or flock and said timing means is arranged to control simultaneous commencement and/or termination of operation of said processing means for each said animal of said herd or flock. The timing means is preferably arranged to regulate periodic or intermittent data acquisition cycles of the data-logging apparatus. The sensing means is preferably arranged to sense one or more of the following parameters: whether the jaws of the animal are moved, and/or how often the jaws are moved, and/or the type of jaw movement; the geographical location of the animal; whether the animal is standing upright or lying down (for example, using a tilt switch or the like suspended from the animal's body); and whether the animal is moving (for example, using a tilt switch or the like which is secured to one of the animal's legs). In use, a group such as a herd or flock of livestock may each be fitted with one such data-logging apparatus, each apparatus being programmed to commence data-logging at the same predetermined instant so that the stored data, obtained by the sensor of the respective apparatus, may be accurately correlated at some later time. An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIGURE 1 is a schematic block diagram of the electronic system of a data-logging apparatus in accordance with the present invention; and FiGURE 2 is an illustration of a sheep fitted with the data-logging apparatus of Figure 1. Referring to Figure 1 of the drawings, there is shown schematically the electronic system of a data-logging apparatus for fitting to an animal to record its behaviour. The apparatus comprises a microprocessor 2 supplied with power from a rechargeable battery pack 4 and arranged to operate, according to signals from a clock or timer circuit 6, toprocess signals received from a plurality of sensors 8,10,12,14,16 and to output the resulting data to an electronic data store 18. Of the plurality of sensors, a satellite positioning sensor 8 monitors the geographical location of the animal, a sensor 10 (in the form of a tilt switch) provides a signal depending on whether or not the animal is standing or lying down, a jaw movement sensor 12 provides a signal according to either the grazing or mastication action of the animal's jaw, and a movement sensor 14 (typically a further tilt switch, to be attached to the animal's leg) provides a signal depending on whether or not the animal is in ambulatory motion. Other sensors such as sensor 16 may be provided for other purposes, such as, for example, to indicate whether or not the animal's head is lowered, etc. The inputs from the various sensors are first digitised and then processed by the processor 2 to provide data which is stored in the data store 18, which may comprise electronic or magnetic storage media such as RAM (random access memory) on disc or the like, or magnetic tape. Alternatively the data may be relayed, for example by radio signals, to a remote data store. In either case, the stored data may be retrieved from the data store 18 later to be analysed in greater detail. The clock or timer circuitry 6 enables the whole or part of the data-logging apparatus to be switched on or off, or to go into a low-power consumption standby mode, according to a program executed by the processor 2 and/or by the clock or timer circuit 6. Whereas conventional data-logging devices commence a data-logging cycle immediately the device is switched on, the apparatus according to the present invention is arranged so that a finite, predetermined period of time may elapse before the data-logging cycle is initiated. Therefore, for convenience, the timer circuit 6 may operate according to a 'calendar' type date/time value as opposed to an elapsed time measure, with the device being initialised to the current date/time at the time of fitting. Figure 2 shows a sheep 20 fitted with the data-logging apparatus of Figure 1 by means of a pannier arrangement 22. The satellite positioning sensor 8 and the tilt switch 10 are attached to the top and to the underside strap parts 24 of the pannier respectively. A further tilt switch 14 is attached to a leg of the animal. First and second pannier compartments, containing an electronic data processor and rechargeable battery-pack respectively, are situated either side of the sheep: one such compartment is shown at 26. The movement sensor 12 extends around the animal's jaw parts and communicates an electronic signal to the processor via a flexible conductive connection 28. Tilt switches 10 and 14 are also connected to the processor via respective conductive connections 30 and 32.

Claims: Data-logging apparatus for monitoring animals, comprising sensing means (8,10,12,14,16) for sensing one or more conditions or activities of a respective animal, processing means (2) arranged to process output signals from said sensing means and to store data relating to said one or more conditions or activities and timing means (6) characterised in that said animals comprise a grazing herd or flock of livestock and that said apparatus is to be fitted to each animal of the herd or flock and said timing means (6) is arranged to control simultaneous commencement and/or termination of operation of said processing means (2) for each said animal of said herd or flock. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said timing means(6) is arranged to regulate periodic or intermittent data acquisition cycles of the data-logging apparatus. Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said sensing means (12) is arranged to sense whether the jaws of the animal are moved, and/or how often the jaws are moved, and/or the type of jaw movement. Apparatus according to claims 1 to 3, wherein said sensing means (8) is arranged to sense the geographical location of the animal. Apparatus according to claims 1 to 4, wherein said sensing means (10) is arranged to sense whether the animal is standing upright or lying down. Apparatus according to claim 5, which includes means for suspending a tilt switch (10) from the animal's body. Apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein said sensing means (14) is arranged to sense whether the animal is moving. Apparatus according to claim 7, which includes means for securing a tilt switch (14) to one of the animal's legs. A method of monitoring a herd or flock of livestock wherein each member is fitted with a data logging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each apparatus is programmed to commence data-logging at the same predetermined instant so that stored data, obtained by the sensor (8, 10, 12, 14, 16) of the respective apparatus, may be accurately correlated at some later time.

Inventors: PENNING PETER DALE, RUTTER STEVEN MARK, PENNING, PETER DALE, RUTTER, STEVEN MARK
Applicants: INST OF GRASSLAND AND ENVIRONM, INSTITUTE OF GRASSLAND AND ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
Application year: 1997
Main classification: A01K29
IPC codes: A01K29