Exemplary embodiments are directed to sensor apparatuses for attachment to an animal that include a housing and a sensor assembly. The housing can be attachable to the animal and includes an internal cavity formed therein. The sensor assembly can be disposed within the internal cavity of the housing. The sensor assembly includes a force sensor and an accelerometer arranged to detect force data and accelerometer data representative of a physiological state of the animal. Exemplary embodiments are also directed to method and sensor systems for detecting a physiological state of an animal.

A bovine monitoring system may include a rumination sensor, a motion sensor, a posture sensor. The rumination sensor may detect chewing by sensing jaw motion. The motion sensor may detect motion. The posture sensor may detect orientation of the bovine asset through detection of gravitational acceleration, detection of gyroscopic rotation, or a combination of gravitational acceleration and gyroscopic rotation. Using the recorded rumination, motion, arid posture sensors, the bovine asset monitoring system may identify aberrations in the estrous cycle or physical or mental health of the bovine assets. A bovine monitoring system may include a thermal scanning device to detect localized heating of the vulva area of the bovine asset, which may he used to identify aberrations in the estrous cycle or physical or mental health of the bovine assets.

Devices, systems, and methods for detecting estrus in subjects are provided. Devices include a housing configured for intravaginal/intrauterine deployment and retention and a sensor disposed in or on the housing, and are configured to use condition information sensed by the sensor to determine an estrus condition of the subject. Methods include deploying a device in the subject, sensing the condition information, and determining an estrus condition using the condition information. Systems include a device configured to communicate with a base station and/or with other implanted devices, which are located within a reception radius thereof, regarding the determined estrus condition.

A method of operating a smartphone for monitoring an animal, the method comprising the steps of: monitoring a position and orientation of the smartphone; determining that a detection event indicative of the animal lying down from a standing position has occurred corresponding to a change in position and/or a change in orientation satisfying a predetermined criteria; and in response, communicating, at least in part via a public mobile telecommunications communication network, to one or more receiver devices a message indicative of identification of a detection event, and corresponding device and system.

An animal condition indication assembly includes a panel with a plurality of layers. The panel includes a first edge, a second edge, a first lateral edge and a second lateral edge. The layers include an adhesive to be attached to a first animal. A substrate has an upper surface and a lower surface and the adhesive is positioned on the lower surface to adhesively secure the substrate to a rump of the first animal. An intermediate layer is positioned on the upper surface and includes a first color permanently affixed to the substrate. The first color is UV fluorescent. A flood coat is removably positioned on and covers the intermediate layer. Portions of the flood coat are removed by a second animal upon mounting of the first animal by the second animal. The flood coat is opaque and has a different color than the intermediate layer.

Monitoring activity of an animal in a system for housing freely moving animals including a plurality of animal ID stations, includes the steps of a) recording a first visit of said animal at a first of said animal ID stations, b) recording a subsequent second visit of said animal at a second of said animal ID stations, and c) determining a distance covered by said animal as the distance between said first animal ID station at said first visit and said second animal ID station at said second visit. With such simple means, parts of which are already present in e.g. most robot dairy stables, important information about activity of animals can easily be gathered.

Apparatus for managing animals such as but not limited to livestock. In some embodiments, a tag assembly is configured for attachment to an outer ear of an animal. The tag assembly has a main body and a shaft that extends through an aperture extending through the outer ear to attach the main body to a facing surface of the outer ear. A primary temperature sensor of the tag assembly is configured to obtain outer ear temperature data indicative of an outer ear temperature of the outer ear. A control circuit is configured to receive the outer ear temperature data via a wireless communication link with the tag assembly. The control circuit determines a health state of the animal in response to a localized change in a magnitude of the outer ear temperature data in relation to a set of ambient temperature data over a selected time interval.

This invention relates to a method for monitoring estrus and ovulation, and for determining time for insemination of an animal, preferably a pig. The present invention furthermore relates to a system for monitoring estrus and ovulation, and for determining time for insemination of an animal, preferably a pig.

A system and a method for observing piglet birth is provided. The method comprises detecting at a first detection zone, infrared electromagnetic radiation from a first radiation zone including at least a first area of a first delivery zone of a first farrowing sow or gilt, identifying a first event indicative variation in the detected infrared electromagnetic radiation, the first event indicative variation being indicative of a piglet birth, and determining a first piglet birth event by means of the identification of the first event indicative variation.

A system for automatically determining pregnancy toxaemia in at least one animal in a group of animals comprises a sensor for obtaining at least one value representative of a liquid or water uptake of the at least one animal, said sensor being adapted to be positioned in the vicinity of a liquid or water supply station or on the at least one animal; and a processing unit configured for comparing the obtained at least one value representative of a liquid or water uptake of the at least one animal to a mean value representative of an average of the at least one value for the group of animals or to a value deduced therefrom; and for generating a signal and/or alert when the obtained at least one value representative of a liquid or water uptake exceeds the mean value or the value deduced therefrom by a pre-determined threshold value.