Technologies in agriculture

Smart technology is surprisingly well established in agriculture. Wearables are already being used all over the world to monitor cattle herds, for example.

While industry is still investigating, agriculture has acted: a survey by digital technology association Bitkom found that almost one in five of all farmers in Germany are already using digital applications classified as Industry 4.0-related. And among large farms with 100 staff or more, that figure even rises to one in three.

A thermometer in the ear

Wearables are especially useful for cattle husbandry. They can be used to continuously monitor the animals’ state of health, meaning that any disease can be picked up at an early stage. This reduces drug consumption, and often helps prevent the spread of disease through herds. One example of such a simple health-monitoring wearable is the system from TekVet. It comprises an ear-clip fitted on each animal, incorporating a thermometer which constantly measures the animal’s body temperature. A small radio transmitter sends the data from the sensor to solar-powered receivers installed in the farmyard or out in the fields. The receivers are connected to the farm’s network. This provides a continuous stream of data for analysis.

Cows can send text messages too

The solution from French real-time monitoring specialist Medria Technologies is somewhat more complex. Its Vel’Phone and HeatPhone products automatically send a message to the farmer when the cow is pregnant or is ready to mate. Special sensors in a collar measure the cow’s vital signs, record its activity and transmit the data to a collector installed in the cowshed or out in the field. The data collector is fitted with an M2M SIM card which enables it to send a text message to the farmer over the mobile network in the event of any irregularities in the cow’s health. The collected data is also transferred every 30 minutes via a mobile communications link to a server, where it is archived. The data is not only available as a text message on a mobile phone. Farmers are also able to track their cows’ vital signs online on the “Daily Web Services” Internet platform.
Rather than being a conventional wearable, the E-pill from Vital Herd is placed inside the body. The cow swallows the electronic pill, which remains in its stomach for the rest of its life. During that time, it continuously sends data to the farmer via a Cloud-based software program. Similarly to the Fitbit for humans, the E-pill collects data including body temperature, heart rate, respiratory rate, pH values and other health parameters, and alerts the farmer if any impending health problems are detected in the animal.

The GPS cowbell

There is always a risk that free-range cattle will escape or be eaten by predators. This is, incidentally, something which even farmers in Europe are experiencing more and more since the return of wild wolves. Wearable technology can offer a solution to such problems. For example, a South African company has developed a collar for sheep which emits a flashing light and a loud audible alarm when a predator approaches. The wearable detects the proximity of a predator based on the change in the sheep’s behaviour.
A Swiss study conducted in 2014 found that the traditional cowbell does not have a positive effect on the animal’s health, and instead recommended the use of GPS systems. A number of companies have since developed GPS trackers for cattle, including the Israeli firm Cattle Watch. It has created a comprehensive range of integrated solutions based on GPS transmitters. The collars not only monitor the animals’ vital signs and behaviour, but also use the GPS signal to detect cattle theft, for example. They also enable virtual fences to be set up, restricting the animals’ freedom of movement by giving them a slight electric shock as soon as they go somewhere they shouldn’t. If no wireless network is available, the farmer can also send up a drone to collect the data via a receiver from a height of up to 200 metres and then transmit it by Bluetooth to a smartphone.
These are just a few examples of how agriculture is getting more and more connected, but they do provide a glimpse into the future of wearables’ use in cattle husbandry.

(picture credits: Fotolia: texturewall)

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