Patent ID: 7026941

Claim:
A system for monitoring body temperatures in a plurality of herd animals, said system comprising: a plurality of radio frequency identification transponders, each said transponder having a temperature sensor for sensing animal temperature, each herd animal provided with one of said radio frequency identification transponders, each transponder positioned such that said temperature sensor is in a viable sensing location for sensing the animal's temperature; a reader/interrogator for: transmitting radio frequency signals to said transponders; receiving radio frequency signals from said transponders, said received radio frequency signals containing animal temperature data from said temperature sensors; and demodulating said received radio frequency signals into animal temperature data; a memory for storing said animal temperature data; and a microcontroller in communication with said reader/interrogator and said memory wherein said microcontroller is for: processing said animal temperature data and determining a baseline temperature for each animal by averaging aid temperature data for each animal over time; and providing an alarm indication when temperature data from any herd animal deviates a set percentage from said baseline temperature for said animal.