an animal tag comprising: a one-piece animal tag retaining member made of molded material, having: a first part comprising a female opening connectable to a male member for coupling the animal tag to a body part of an animal; a second part configured to accommodate one or more electronical components capable of obtaining information relating to the animal to which the animal tag is coupled; an intermediate part, located between the first tag part and the second tag part, having a form of a latitudinal recess for enhancing a flexibility of the animal tag.

The present invention relates to a pesticidal control device that includes at least one pesticidal active ingredient, cellulose fibers, and a polymer or polymer matrix. The combination of the cellulose fibers with the polymer allows for a higher loading of liquid pesticidal active ingredients within the pesticidal control device, maintains the active ingredient within the control device during transportation, storage and handling, and provides higher efficacy or control of pests during treatment. The pesticidal control device may be an ear tag, collar, or bee strip.

A system and method are disclosed for tracking animals, which may include production animals as well as pets. The system and method may comprise a tag system that is attached to an animal that generally has at least a near-field-communication (NFC) tag. The tag system comprises at least an NFC tag and a radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag. For NFC tags, such tags may be read with a portable computing device, such as a mobile telephone running NFC reader application software. The phone may communicate with a communications network and ultimately a computer server in order to relay information received from a respective electronic tag. The electronic tags may be fastened, embedded, or ingested by an animal. The electronic tags may be part of a mechanical coupling. Each mechanical coupling may comprise a different structure depending on the whether the tags are fastened to, embedded in, or ingested by the animal.

Autonomously administering a pharmaceutical agent to an animal. A tag assembly is affixed to an animal. The tag assembly may be an ear tag, although other configurations can be used. The tag assembly has a reservoir that houses a pharmaceutical agent. An actuator and an application mechanism are provided. A control signal is generated responsive to an input, which may be from a sensor associated with the tag assembly or may be from an external circuit located apart from the tag assembly. Receipt of the control signal causes the actuator to apply a force to the reservoir, which in turn induces a flow of the pharmaceutical agent, via the application mechanism, to a body of the animal. The pharmaceutical agent may be topically or intravenously applied. The pharmaceutical may be an insecticide or some other agent. Multiple reservoirs can be provided to dispense the same or different pharmaceutical agents.

Systems and methods for tracking certain activities of a plurality of animals in a feedlot involve a plurality of RF asset tags attached to the plurality of animals and a plurality of RF detector stations that are operable to read unique identifier codes associated with each of the plurality of RF asset tags. Members of the plurality of RF detector stations are positioned, at least for some, proximate to at least one water trough and at least one feed trough, and are operable to transmit data concerning the RF asset tags detected over a communication link to an asset management subsystem. Duplicate signals may be reduced, signal filtered and smoothed, and energy conserved with certain approaches taken with the RF detector stations. Other systems and devices are presented.

Apparatus and method for autonomously administering a pharmaceutical agent, such as an insecticide, to an animal. A tag assembly is attached to the animal at a suitable location such as through an outer ear thereof. The tag assembly includes a reservoir to retain the pharmaceutical agent. An actuator of the tag assembly is configured to open the reservoir responsive to a control signal from a control circuit. An application mechanism facilitates a transfer of the pharmaceutical agent to the animal in response to the actuator. In some cases, the control signal may be transmitted to the tag assembly from an external source via a wireless connection. In other cases, the control signal may be generated internally using a sensor of the tag assembly. The tag assembly may include multiple reservoirs so that applications of the agent can be carried out at different times and under different conditions as required.

A platform technology has been designed to provide a means for controlled delivery of single or multiple doses of therapeutic, prophylactic, diagnostic or identifying agents to livestock. The delivery system is based on a livestock ear tag that releases therapeutic and/or prophylactic agent when applied to the ear or other desired anatomical target of the animal. The agent to be delivered is encapsulated in or on microneedles and or microparticles and or nanoparticles or combination thereof on a surface thereon of the male or female part of the tag, which is pressed into the skin so that the microneedles penetrate into the epidermis and dermis layers of the skin. The agent is then released into the animal from the microneedles and or microparticles and or nanoparticles or combination thereof at the site of contact into the epidermis and dermis layers of the skin.

Systems and methods for detecting that the animal has the allergy condition, determining a first quantity of a topical application medium and a first quantity of an allergen based at least in part on one or more attributes of the animal, providing a first topical application compound, the first topical application compound comprising the first quantity of the allergen and the first quantity of the topical application medium, and applying the first topical application compound to one or more ears of the animal one or more times to treat the allergy condition.

A physiological condition determination system and method can include: attaching a tag to animal tissue; emitting light into the animal tissue; detecting a first optical signal; extracting a first measurement of peripheral capillary oxygen saturation from the first optical signal; qualifying the first measurement of peripheral capillary oxygen saturation as a baseline; detecting a second optical signal with the optical sensor; extracting a second measurement of peripheral capillary oxygen saturation from the second optical signal; qualifying the second measurement of peripheral capillary oxygen saturation; storing the second measurement of peripheral capillary oxygen saturation as a tag feature set; storing a history; determining animal distress based on the difference between the second measurement of peripheral capillary oxygen saturation and the baseline; and sending an instruction to the tag.

An animal wellness notification system includes an attachment body configured to securely engage with an ear of the animal; an elongated temperature probe secured to the attachment body and configured to extend within the ear of the animal; a housing secured to the attachment body; a power module electrically connect to and configured to provide power to (or recharge) at least one other element of the animal wellness notification system; a computer disposed within the housing and operably associated with the temperature probe; and a notification device in data communication with the computer, the notification device being configured to provide notice if a temperature of the animal goes beyond a determined.