EP4120827A1

EP4120827A1 - Grazing animal farming method and grazing animal farming arrangement

Info

Publication number: EP4120827A1
Application number: EP21714813.9A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Martin Holm
Original assignee: Highland Stall & Weide GmbH
Current assignee: Highland Stall & Weide GmbH
Priority date: 2020-03-17
Filing date: 2021-03-15
Publication date: 2023-01-25
Also published as: WO2021185412A1; DE102020107269A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a grazing animal farming method for grazing animals (2) on a pasture (1), wherein each grazing animal (2) has at least one individual identification characteristic, and at least one identification location (5) is located on the pasture (1), characterised by the steps of: sensing the grazing animals (2) at the identification location (5) according to their individual identification characteristic as an event; monitoring the frequency of the events of appearing; and transmitting the events and/or outputting warning signals. The invention also relates to a grazing animal farming arrangement for grazing animals on a pasture (1) delimited by an electric pasture fence (3) having a voltage supply unit (30), wherein each grazing animal (2) has at least one individual identification characteristic, and at least one identification location (5) is located on the pasture (1), more particularly for a grazing animal farming method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein at the identification location (5), first sensors for sensing the presence of a grazing animal (2) and for sensing the respective individual identification characteristic are provided, said sensors being operatively connected to a data capture and transmission device (4), wherein the data capture and transmission device (4) is connected to the voltage supply unit (30).

Description

DESCRIPTION

Grazing animal husbandry procedures and grazing animal husbandry arrangements

The invention relates to a method of keeping grazing animals for grazing animals on a pasture bordered by an electric pasture fence, each pasture animal having at least one individual identification feature and at least one identification location being arranged on the pasture. Furthermore, the invention relates to a grazing animal keeping arrangement for grazing animals on a pasture bordered by an electric pasture fence with a power supply unit, each grazing animal having at least one individual identification feature and at least one identification location being arranged on the pasture, with first sensors at the identification location for detecting the presence of a grazing animal and the respective individual identification features are provided, which are operatively connected to a data acquisition and transmission device.

Pasture animal husbandry meets the highest social requirements in terms of animal welfare, preservation of biodiversity and species protection. However, this type of husbandry is characterized by low economic returns, especially with regard to the remuneration of the hours spent on grazing animals and monitoring. Therefore, useful tools for localizing and / or checking the health of farm animals are required in order to limit the farmer's on-site work in the pastures to acute individual cases.

The localization of animals in stables for agricultural use is already well advanced. Manufacturers can use various radio technologies for localization, whereby the limited space and the available electrical network energy make it easy to create an infrastructure for radio localization. Depending on the technology used in buildings, localization accuracies of around 30 cm can be achieved. Such a method and device for automatically observing the behavior of animals in a room in which the animals are housed is known from EP 0624313 A1. An automatic identification device with an antenna device is provided which can automatically recognize animals provided with an identification means as soon as they are in a predetermined zone near the antenna device, the number of visits per animal or per group of animals being registered in a predetermined zone per period of time.

EP 3552487 A1 describes a method and system for monitoring free-range dairy cows, the frequency and duration of stay at a brush station being measured as a daily activity of the second order and conclusions about the state of health of the respective animal.

WO 2013/147678 A1 relates to an automatic animal care system and method for monitoring a herd of animals, in which the animal identity is again recorded at a brush station and the times of use are registered.

DE 103 56538 A1 describes a method and device for monitoring the state of health of animals, in which the respective monitored animal monitors the intake of food at a feeding station.

DE 601 12 365 T2 relates to a system for the successive picking up and / or treatment of individual animals from a group of animals and a method for increasing the use capacity of the system, in which the use of the system is to be made more uniform.

From FR 2 759541 A1 a method and an arrangement for the automatic remote detection of the activity of animals in free halls is known, in which, in particular, a period detection for successful artificial insemination is to be made possible. GB 2 076259 A describes a device for recognizing the heat of animals.

In the outdoor area, on the other hand, there are problems with the location infrastructure for livestock husbandry, since relatively large areas have to be covered and there is neither stable electrical network energy nor sufficiently stable radio networks for data transmission.

It is therefore the object of the invention to provide a method for keeping grazing animals and a keeping arrangement for grazing animals in which the grazing animals on a pasture are adequately monitored and the data determined are transmitted to the farmer for further treatment.

This object is achieved with a grazing animal keeping method according to claim 1 and with a grazing animal keeping arrangement according to claim 8.

Because the means for detecting, monitoring and transmitting are supplied by the electric pasture fence, the required data acquisition and transmission arrangement can be installed at any point on the pasture fence, namely selected according to a location where data transmission, for example sufficient cellular network reception, is given and there is a detection location to be monitored nearby. The first sensors and the data acquisition and transmission device are connected either directly to the voltage supply unit or indirectly supplied to the electric pasture fence. The power supply unit of the electric pasture fence is usually supplied by a battery in pastures that are far away from the farm. Alternatively, units supplied by the public power grid are also possible.

If a certain grazing animal is detected at a detection location according to its individual identification features, its presence on the pasture can be detected. Since the frequency of the occurrences of the appearance can also be monitored, the regular recurrence can also be monitored This detection location or between different detection locations can be detected and evaluated. It is important that these events are transmitted for further monitoring and evaluation or evaluated on site and at least a warning signal is output if problems can be derived from the recorded events. The problems can be defined in advance and / or recognized by a learning system.

The detection location can be, for example, a watering place on the pasture, to which every grazing animal has to appear regularly to take up water.

As an alternative or in addition, the detection location can also be a feeding station to which each grazing animal appears from time to time to take up food. Of course, other detection locations at which a grazing animal will appear regularly are also conceivable.

According to the device, this can be organized in a pasture bordered by an electric pasture fence with a power supply unit in that first sensors for detecting the presence of a grazing animal and the respective individual recognition feature are provided at the detection location, which are operatively connected to a data acquisition and transmission device, the data acquisition and transmission device is connected to the power supply unit. This makes it possible for the data acquisition and transmission device to be connected to the power supply unit for the electric pasture fence and to receive a sufficiently stable power supply. Such power supply units on electric pasture fences are known as units supplied with rechargeable batteries, in which the batteries are regularly exchanged by the farmers or charged on the spot by solar power and / or small wind turbines.

In addition, the electric fence can also serve as a transport line around the pasture for data transmission of sensor data to the data acquisition and transmission device connected to the electric fence. If the first sensors are motion detectors, cameras and / or RFID readers, the presence of a grazing animal and in particular also the individual identification feature of this one grazing animal can be recognized by, for example, RFID chip ear tags or by facial recognition analyzes based on the camera images.

The fact that second sensors are arranged at the detection location, which detect additional features of the respective detected grazing animal, the second sensors being infrared temperature meters, weighing cells and / or volume counters, the body temperature of the individually recognized grazing animal, its weight, the amount of feed consumed and / or the The amount of water absorbed by the animal is recorded and processed further via the data recording and transmission device. Furthermore, microphones, weather stations or cameras are also conceivable as second sensors. Microphones can record the noises made by animals or external interference from people or strange animals. A weather station can record important weather data which, in conjunction with other data, for example the body temperature of a recorded animal, are decisive for further evaluation. In addition to the animals passing by, cameras can also provide an insight into the vegetation on the monitored pasture and, for example, reveal overgrazing.

Because each grazing animal carries a mobile data acquisition system, the measured values of the grazing animal are recorded via third sensors carried by the grazing animal and transmitted to the data acquisition and transmission device at the detection point, additional features can be recorded individually for the respective grazing animal. Alternatively or in addition, suitable sensors on the animals could also be used to record and report back the distance between the animals. The data from these systems could then, for example, be read out and transmitted at the drinker. In addition to radio technologies, data transmission by means of light, for example by infrared LED, could also be used for data transmission. The data can also be transmitted through active requesting of the data of a certain animal take place. A simple recipient on the animal would be required for this, who then sends the collected data of this animal on request. This could increase the battery life and reduce the volume of data sent.

For example, a pedometer could provide information about the animal's mobility up to and including heat detection. In particular, a step counter as a third sensor, which is worn on every grazing animal with a mobile data acquisition system, can measure the animal's movement activity. With a significantly higher step frequency, heat is also detected, for example. All this data is then initially temporarily stored in the data acquisition system of the grazing animal and at a suitable point where the animal regularly passes, for example at the drinking station, transmitted via a read-out station to the data acquisition and transmission device and from there then further evaluated or to a central server at a farmer or corresponding service company and evaluated there.

According to the method, it is advantageous, in addition to the simple recording of an event, also to record and evaluate the duration of the event. For example, the length of time the grazing animal in question is at the drinking trough can be used to draw conclusions about the drinking quantity.

Because the body temperature of the grazing animal recorded according to the individual identification feature is measured and transmitted for each event, conclusions can be drawn about the health of the individual grazing animal. In this way, diseases can be recorded at an early stage.

If several detection locations are provided so that the movement activity of each grazing animal recorded according to the individual recognition feature is recorded, evaluated and transmitted, movement patterns of the individually recognized grazing animal can be recorded and warning signals in the event of deviations are given. This makes it possible to detect lame or inactive grazing animals or to determine special events, for example if a wolf attack causes panic in the pasture. If necessary, scare signals to ward off the wolf attack and / or warning signals can then be triggered or transmitted directly to the farmer.

If the amount of water retrieved by the grazing animal recorded according to the individual identification feature is recorded and transmitted for a detection location, which is a drinker, the amount of water actually retrieved by the individual grazing animal can be evaluated for conclusions on animal health.

Because a small feed is given at predetermined times or events for a detection location, which is a feeding station, which is connected to a noise coupled with the feed, the grazing animals can be conditioned to receive a small feed with the coupled noise. The grazing animals will then come to this feeding station when a sound is triggered in order to receive the feeding. Accordingly, missing grazing animals or very slow (lame) grazing animals can be determined. For further individual assignment, it is advantageous if the amount of feed called up by the feeding station from the grazing animal detected according to the individual identification feature is recorded and transmitted.

An exemplary embodiment of the invention is described in detail below with reference to the accompanying figure.

It shows:

1 shows a schematic plan view of a grazing animal keeping arrangement.

Fig. 1 shows a schematic plan view of a grazing animal keeping arrangement with a pasture 1 on which a plurality of grazing animals 2, surrounded by one Electric fence 3 with power supply unit 30 is shown. The voltage supply unit 30 has a rechargeable battery 31 as well as a control unit 32 and possibly a photovoltaic system or a small wind generator. The control unit 32 emits short voltage pulses, supplied by the rechargeable battery 31, via a connection line 33 to the electric fence 3. Furthermore, the voltage supply unit 30 is assigned a data acquisition and transmission device 4 via a circuit connection 42, which is provided by the control unit 32 and the rechargeable battery connected to it 31 is supplied. The data acquisition and transmission device 4 has a radio antenna 41 with which the data acquisition and transmission device 4 can wirelessly transmit data to a computer network (cellular network, LoRaWan or the like).

In the pasture 1, an area around a drinking trough 51 is provided as a detection location 5. The drinker 51 is supplied by a water supply line 52, for example. Of course, the water supply can also be provided by surface water from, for example, ditches or ponds; Membrane pasture pumps, in which the grazing animals pump the water themselves from a well or ditch; a water truck that uses a tank to transport the water to the pasture; a pressure pipe that can usually only be found near the courtyard; or a central supply from a higher-level basin can be carried out by means of gravity. A volume counter 53 is provided in the water supply line 52, which measures the current water consumption at the drinking trough 51. The volume counter 53 is connected to the electric fence 2 or another supply and data line by means of a wrapping line 54, so that the measurement signal from the volume counter 53 is transmitted to the control unit 32 and thus to the data acquisition and transmission device 4 via the wrapping line connection 42 there. Each grazing animal 2 has an RFID chip 21, for example as an ear tag, as the first sensors, with which each grazing animal 2 can be individually individualized. The grazing animal 2 ^' with its RFID chip ear tag 21 is in the situation shown in FIG Detection location 5. This is detected via an RFID reader 22, which is arranged at the detection location 5 directly in the area of the drinker 51. The RFID reader 22 is connected via an active line 23 either directly to the data acquisition and transmission device 4 or indirectly via the electric pasture fence 3 and the control unit 32. In addition, second sensors 6 are provided which, at the detection location 5, detect additional features relating to the grazing animal 2 ^' detected in each case. In the embodiment shown here, an infrared temperature ^{meter 61 is provided, which measures the body temperature of the relevant grazing animal 2 '} and also transmits it to the data acquisition and transmission device 4 for further evaluation via an unspecified working line, possibly via the electric pasture fence 3.

In the data acquisition and transmission device 4 there is a processor and a data memory which records the measured values, temporarily stores them and, if necessary, transmits them via the radio antenna 41 to a remote monitoring point, for example at the farm of the animal keeper. The processor can transmit measurement results and / or warning notices that have already been derived from the data. In addition or as an alternative, warning signals can also be triggered at pasture 1, for example to scare off a wolf. Alternatively, the recorded data is sent unevaluated. The recipient can be the farmer directly or a central server. The farmer would then have to evaluate and interpret the data using software. Or this process runs on a central server, which “learns” based on the large amount of data and then delivers the interpretation to the respective recipient.

List of reference symbols

1 willow

2, 2 ‘grazing animal

21 RFID chip

22 RFID readers

23 effective line

3 electric pasture fence

30 Power supply unit

31 rechargeable battery

32 control unit

33 Connection cable

4 data acquisition and transmission device

41 radio antenna

42 Active line connection

5 detection location

51 potions

52 Water supply

53 volume counter

54 effective line

6 second sensor 61 infrared temperature meter

Claims

PATENT CLAIMS

1. Grazing animal keeping method for grazing animals (2) on a pasture (1) bordered by an electric pasture fence, each grazing animal (2) having at least one individual identification feature and at least one identification location (5) being arranged on the pasture (1), characterized by the steps :

Detecting the grazing animals (2) at the recognition location (5) according to their individual recognition feature as an event;

Monitoring the frequency of the events of appearance; and transmitting the events and / or outputting warning signals, the means for detecting, monitoring and transmitting being supplied by the electric pasture fence.

2. Grazing animal husbandry method according to claim 1, characterized in that the duration of the event is recorded and evaluated.

3. Grazing animal keeping method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that for each event the body temperature of the grazing animal (2) detected according to the individual identification feature is measured and transmitted.

4. Grazing animal keeping method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that several detection locations (5) are provided, so that the movement activity of each grazing animal (2) detected according to the individual identification feature is recorded, evaluated and transmitted.

5. Grazing animal keeping method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that for a recognition location (5), which is a drinking trough (51), which is based on the individual recognition feature detected grazing animal (2) the amount of water retrieved is recorded and transmitted.

6. Grazing animal keeping method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that for a detection location (5) which is a feeding station, feed is given at predetermined times or events, which is connected to a noise coupled with the feed.

7. Grazing animal keeping method according to claim 6, characterized in that the amount of feed retrieved by the feeding station from the grazing animal (2) detected according to the individual identification feature is recorded and transmitted.

8. Grazing animal husbandry arrangement for grazing animals on a pasture (1) bounded by an electric pasture fence (3) with a power supply unit (30), each grazing animal (2) having at least one individual identification feature and at least one identification location (5) arranged on the pasture (1) is, in particular for a grazing animal keeping method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein at the detection location (5) first sensors for detecting the presence of a grazing animal (2) and the respective individual identification feature are provided, which are operatively connected to a data acquisition and transmission device (4) characterized in that the first sensors and the data acquisition and transmission device (4) on the

Power supply unit (30) or the electric pasture fence (3) are connected.

9. Grazing animal husbandry arrangement according to claim 8, characterized in that the first sensors are motion detectors, cameras and / or RFID readers (22).

10. Grazing animal husbandry arrangement according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that second sensors (6) are arranged at the detection location (5), which detect additional features for the respectively detected grazing animal (2), wherein the second sensors (6) infrared temperature sensor (61), Load cells and / or

Volume counters (53) are.

11. Grazing animal husbandry arrangement according to claim 8, 9 or 10, characterized in that each grazing animal (2) carries a mobile data acquisition system which records the measured values of the grazing animal (2) via third sensors carried by the grazing animal (2) and which is transferred at the detection location (5 ) is transmitted to the data acquisition and transmission device (4).

12. Grazing animal husbandry arrangement according to claim 8, 9, 10 or 11, characterized in that the third sensors detect additional features for the respective grazing animal (2), the third sensors

Pedometers, contact temperature sensors or the like are.