The Technology Strategy Board has given a substantial grant towards the £1.4m project to develop the technology, which could make huge savings for farmers. It is the result of a joint project between The University of Strathclyde, Morrisons, Scottish Agricultural College (SAC), NMR, Harbro, Well Cow and Embedded Technology Solutions (a Strathclyde spin-out company) – who are developing the technology.
The equipment involves each cow wearing an intelligent collar that picks up on subtle movements with the same sensor used in Wii gaming and generates a continuous record of their activity patterns. Results will then be sent back using a range of wireless technologies like 3G, with a full update accessible via a hub or even through a mobile phone. Farmers can set up alerts for their phone to receive a text when a cow is in distress, coming in to heat or entering labour.
Wireless technology means that the signal from the cow’s collar can be accessible from anywhere, so farmers can check on their cattle’s status using their phone wherever they are.
By accurately sensing the cow’s head positions in three dimensions, the collar is able to detect if the animal’s hind legs begin to lower – one of the initial signs of illness.
The sensor on the collar will also detect when a cow is coming into heat and alert the farmer so he can optimise the process of insemination, increasing cow pregnancy rates. Without this technology, close monitoring of each cow, which can take hours every day, is required to look for the signs of heat.
The collar technology is now entering its next phase thanks to a grant from the Technology Strategy Board and a commitment by Morrisons to provide its farm at Dumfries House in Scotland for the testing of the technology.
Annette MacDougall, embedded technology solutions CEO, said: “The Silent Herdsman platform is a decision support tool for farmers, alerting them to take action on specific animals within their herd. By advancing the platform to the next generation alongside our industry partners, we are leading in this segment by continuing to produce innovative solutions that are relevant for farmers today and the global dairy industry at large.
“Meeting the demands of traceability and sustainability in the food chain can be addressed long term using wireless and sensor technologies at the core.”
Source: Morrisons
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