In a headlock system having a plurality of n headlock cells, each of the n cells being adapted to enclose at least one animal; n is an integer greater than 1; a system for locating the position of at least one animal, the system comprising: at least one identification means adapted to transmit at least one identification signal associated with said at least one animal; at least one locating means adapted to generate at least one location signal associated with said at least one animal; and, a data processing system in communication with said at least one identification means and said at least one locating means, adapted to analyze said signals, said analyzed signals comprising the position within a predetermined region in said headlock system of each of said at least one animals as a function of time.

In a headlock system having a plurality of n headlock cells, each of the n cells being adapted to enclose at least one animal; n is an integer greater than 1; a system for locating the position of at least one animal, the system comprising: at least one identification means adapted to transmit at least one identification signal associated with said at least one animal; at least one locating means adapted to generate at least one location signal associated with said at least one animal; and, a data processing system in communication with said at least one identification means and said at least one locating means, adapted to analyze said signals, said analyzed signals comprising the position within a predetermined region in said headlock system of each of said at least one animals as a function of time.

Embodiments disclosed herein include devices for time release of measured quantities of an active ingredient and storage of animal management information. One embodiment disclosed herein releases an active ingredient, and then, at optionally varied intervals, releases additional doses into the same environment. The active ingredients are compartmentalized and, upon receiving an appropriate signal, open to dispense the active ingredient into the animal. Accordingly, in one embodiment, a device includes an engagement member to move a cap to dispense the active ingredient, and in another embodiment, includes a pellet that is attached to the cap to move the cap and dispense the active ingredient.

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.

Generally, an animal monitoring system including a bolus administered to reside in an animal operable to sense changes in one or more physiological parameters of the animal and generate and transmit encoded bolus sensor data to a tag affixed on the outside of the animal which operates to sense changes in one or more environmental parameters surrounding the animal and to generate encoded tag sensor data and to receive encoded bolus sensor data each of which can be analyzed by the tag or a remote data processor to generate environmental parameter values and physiological parameter values to assess an environmental or physiological condition of or about the animal.

A bolus that communicates with an external transceiver by way of radio waves produced by an electrically small H-antenna is described. The electrically small H-antenna is connected to a conductive cylindrical antenna that houses a battery and chipset that includes a transceiver, identification information and at least one sensor. The H-antenna and the conductive cylindrical antenna are arranged so that electrical currents that produce the radio waves are essentially always aligned to work together. The bolus is essentially a hermetically sealed capsule containing the antennas that is meant to be ingested by a cow or other ruminant animal. The bolus is configured to transmit radio waves in essentially an omnidirectional pattern more efficiently when the boluses inside of a cow stomach than when the boluses outside of the cow.

Eructations from ruminant animals is measured by use of an electronic bolus in the animals' reticulum, and a host processor which receives sensing data via a communication gateway. The bolus sensors provide physical 3D movement of the bolus in the animal's rumen, specifically ventral sac. By calibration according to general animal phenotypes, group quantitative data for volume of emissions can be determined for periods of time up to the full lifetime of an animal. The processor monitors, according to accelerometer signals, animal body activity to determine in real time periods in which it monitors with increased sensitivity contractions in an animal's rumen. It determines a monitoring period as a period when body activity is below a threshold and also rumination is taking place. It identifies low body activity primarily according to movement of the accelerometer; and identifies rumination according to a pattern of body activity and a condition that it follows immediately after feeding. It monitors rumination primary and secondary contractions during monitoring periods, and identifies a secondary contraction as representative of an eructation.

A detection device is retained in the rumen of a cow by being orally administered to the cow, and detects the state of the inside of the rumen. The detection device wirelessly transmits measured values of the rumen pH as detection results. A monitoring unit (receiver and monitoring server) acquires information transmitted from the detection device, and monitors the state of the inside of the rumen. The detection device is configured to be recoverable orally from the rumen of the cow. The operating conditions of the detection device are recorded in the detection device ahead of time, and can be updated by means of a wireless signal transmitted from a setting unit to the detection device.

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.

Generally, an animal monitoring device configured as a bolus for oral administration to reside in the reticulorumen of a ruminant animal having a memory element, a processor in communication with the memory element and a computer code contained in the memory element including a power management module executable by the processor to regulate power use by the bolus based on determination of remaining energy stored in an energy source and the determined power requirements over a pre-determined life cycle of the bolus.