The present invention relates to a method for long term, continuous, monitoring of pregnant mammals particularly to detect the onset of labor. For The example, the method enables communication of data representing impedance through tissue of a cervix of a pregnant mammal an external module for display and monitoring of the collected data by a clinician.

A method to determine a body condition score of an animal including: providing a three-dimensional camera system configured and arranged to record at least one three-dimensional image of the animal, and an image processing device to process the image; recording at least one three-dimensional image of the animal; processing the image. The processing the image includes: forming a three-dimensional surface representation of a part of the animal from the three-dimensional image recorded by the three-dimensional camera system; determining, in the image, reference points of the animal, at least including hook bone points and pin bone points of the animal; selecting a surface part of the animal representative for a body condition of the animal using the reference points; analyzing a first parameter representative for a body condition of the animal of the selected surface part; and determining the body condition score based on the first parameter.

An apparatus and method directionally administers at least one medication directly onto livestock while also monitoring the effect of the medication and tracking the movement and orientation of the livestock. The apparatus periodically administers the medication at a predetermined dosage. The apparatus also tracks the position and orientation of the livestock as an indication of whether the medication is effective. A solar cell provides renewable energy for powering the apparatus. A dispenser directionally and topically sprays medication on the wither area of the livestock. The medication is stored in at least one reservoir. A tracking portion tracks the position of the livestock in a predetermined range. The orientation of the livestock is also determined. The apparatus can be controlled directly from a control portion, or remotely from a remote processor. The apparatus minimize time and costs for managing livestock, especially over large areas and large numbers of livestock.

Disclosed are a system, device and process for monitoring physical and physiological features of livestock through a unique monitoring system and device. Basic and Smart tags are placed on livestock to monitor, among other things, temperature, movement, location, posture, pulse rate, and other physical and physiological features. Information is relayed from Basic tags, in one embodiment, to Smart tags that requests the information and receives the information from the basic tags. Smart tags send information to a mobile unit controller and/or home base so that requested information is sent to an end user that monitors the livestock for signs of illness. Potentially ill animals are segregated from the herd for further evaluation and minimization of exposure risk to the rest of the herd. This early detection system saves livestock and ensures a healthier herd for livestock farmers.

Disclosed are a system, device and process for monitoring physical and physiological features of livestock through a unique monitoring system and device. Basic and Smart tags are placed on livestock to monitor, among other things, temperature, movement, location, posture, pulse rate, and other physical and physiological features. Information is relayed from Basic tags, in one embodiment, to Smart tags that requests the information and receives the information from the basic tags. Smart tags send information to a mobile unit controller and/or home base so that requested information is sent to an end user that monitors the livestock for signs of illness. Potentially ill animals are segregated from the herd for further evaluation and minimization of exposure risk to the rest of the herd. This early detection system saves livestock and ensures a healthier herd for livestock farmers.

A bovine estrus detection device includes a generally rectangular base having sides and ends, the base having a predetermined length and a predetermined width, and the width being less than the length, the base having a first side and a second side. The first side of the base has a central region having a first color and end regions having a second color. The second color is different from the first color. An adhesive is disposed on the second side of the base for coupling the base to a female cow or heifer. A removable coating is disposed over the first side of the base. The removable coating is exposed for contact by male or female cows mounting the female cow or heifer to which the device is attached. The coating is adapted to being removed by mounting male or female cows, whereby the first and second colors become visible. Exposure of the first color in the central region is an accurate predictor of activation and estrus.

Disclosed herein is a method for determining a pregnancy state of an animal. The method comprises detecting an amount of one or more biomarkers in a breath sample from the animal, the amount of the or each biomarker being indicative of a pregnancy state of the animal.

The present disclosure relates to the field of livestock farming, and specifically provides a feeding method for gilts in batch for promoting onset of puberty and alleviating estrus disorder of gilts, which is aiming at an industrial problem that a large number of gilts are culled due to delayed puberty onset or estrus disorder. The method includes: feeding, prior to onset of puberty for gilts with vitamin A combined with lactic acid; and performing, subsequent to the puberty onset of gilts, estrus synchronization treatment and insemination treatment on the gilts. By applying vitamin A combined with lactic acid, the present disclosure alleviates the delayed puberty onset or estrus disorder of the gilts, reduces the feeding duration and feeding cost of the gilts, facilitates synchronous estrus treatment of the gilts.

Accurate estrus detection of sows is critical to achieving a high farrowing rate and maintaining good reproductive performance. However, the conventional method of estrus detection uses a back pressure test by farmers, which is time-consuming and labor-intensive with a significant degree of error. This disclosure is of an automated estrus detection method by monitoring the change in vulva swelling around the estrus using a three-dimensional measurement device, e.g., LiDAR camera, which includes an RGB camera and a depth camera. This sow estrus detection improves accuracy and efficiency, reduces labor and cost, and improves the sustainability of swine production using a data-driven decision-making system based on a robotic cyber-physical system (CPS) that can utilize deep learning detection based on a deep learning model.

The present invention relates to a method of improving a reproductive potential of a male mammal using an ultra-weak photon. The ultra-weak photon according to the present invention is in a visible light spectrum but is transmitted as weak light that is not visually recognized so that the ultra-weak photon does not provoke stress and can be irradiated safely for a long time, thereby improving the reproductive potential of male mammals. Unlike an existing material feeding method of improving a reproductive potential, in which a material is supplied wastefully and environmental pollution problems are caused due to tolerance and misuse, the present invention relates to a useful alternative technology that can be used for a long time and ensure the sustainability of livestock industries.