JP2003333950A - Id tag for managing livestock, and livestock individual information transmission method using the same and livestock individual information management system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an ID tag which is used for managing livestock and enables the individual identification of the livestock, the simple detection of the body temperature of the detected livestock, and the collective management of the individual information including the body temperature information of the livestock, to provide a livestock individual information transmission method using the tags, and to provide a livestock individual information management system. <P>SOLUTION: This livestock individual information management system comprises the ID tags for managing the livestock, a management tranceiver which has a transmission and reception function capable of transmitting and receiving the information to and from the outside and having an antenna and an interface therein, and a host computer having a data base for storing necessary information and having a function for managing the information stored in the data base. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention enables individual identification of a livestock animal, easily detects the body temperature of the livestock animal, and further collects individual information including the detected body temperature information of the livestock animal. The present invention relates to a livestock animal management ID tag, a livestock animal individual information transmission method using the same, and a livestock animal individual information management system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In EU countries, individual identification of livestock animals is carried out using earmarks with numbers printed, and the introduction of a system for managing individual information based on the numbers is being promoted to improve, feed and manage animals. Significant results have been achieved in terms of epidemics.

In the EU, when a disease occurs in a livestock animal, for example, in the case of a cow, the introduction of an individual identification system using ear tags is a system for clarifying where the cow was born and where it was managed. Is being promoted rapidly. The reason for this is that in the EU, borders have virtually disappeared from the viewpoint of the movement of people and livestock animals, and the need for epidemics has arisen. Therefore, the ear identification system was first introduced in the Netherlands and France. Also, in Denmark, an individual identification system has been introduced for the purpose of accumulating guidance information that supports farm management, but naturally, it is also possible to deal with epidemics. Figure 9
Shows an example of ear tags used in the Netherlands. As shown, the ear tag 4 has a 9-digit individual identification number 41,
Bar code 42 (corresponding to 9-digit individual identification number 41), 9
An enlarged version of the fourth to fifth digits of the digit individual identification number 41 (that is, the ear tag number 43) is printed.

[0004] In other EU countries, in response to the mad cow disease (bovine spongiform encephalopathy = BSE), the EU Council 1997
In April 2012, all member states became obliged to develop an individual identification system using ear tags such as the Netherlands.

In addition to the EU, countries such as the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, Argentina, and Brazil have introduced or are about to introduce individual identification systems using ear tags.

On the other hand, in Japan, consumers are very surprised and have a great deal of anxiety about reports of the occurrence of mad cow disease.
Therefore, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries has started an emergency maintenance project for "animal identification system for livestock" as an emergency measure for BSE associated with the outbreak of mad cow disease. On December 17, 2001, as the "total numbering system" for cows, earmarking for emergency project No. 1 was carried out for about 270 cows in 9 farms in Yamato Town, Gifu Prefecture. After that, we plan to start fitting from the prefectures that are ready. This ear tag is a yellow tag (plastic) with a barcode and identification number. In this way, by attaching the ear tag to the ear of the cow, the cow can be individually identified and the distribution route of the cow can be clarified, so that the anxiety of the consumer can be eliminated. In the unlikely event of mad cow disease, ear tags are useful for clarifying the route of infection.

At present, most of the ear tags described above are label tags made of plastic, on which a bar code and an identification number (mainly numbers) are printed. Such an ear tag is not only bulky, but also has a problem that the ear tag itself has a limited amount of information that can be stored and new necessary information cannot be added. Further, when the individual information of the livestock animal wearing the ear tag is required, it is necessary to access the database that is constructed based on the identification number of the ear tag and stores the individual information of the livestock animal. This is because the current plastic label ear tags store all the individual information of livestock animals or update the information.
The problem is that it is extremely difficult to add.

On the other hand, farmers who raise livestock animals usually pay close attention to the health management of the livestock animals, and it is very difficult to observe the health condition of the livestock animals, such as their daily body temperature and food bite. If any significant abnormality is found, immediate action is required. For example, in the case of cattle, the most common disease of beef cattle is respiratory disease pneumonia.
Normally, a healthy adult cow has a body temperature of 38.0-39.5 ° C and a calf of 38.5-39.5 ° C. However, when a cow suffers from pneumonia, high fever of 40 ° C or higher continues, and the fever repeats rising and falling. In addition to pneumonia, when a cow suffers from other illnesses such as gastroenteritis, a high fever of 40 ° C or higher may occur.

Therefore, in order to raise healthy and durable cows, farmers need to check the body temperature of cows every day. Normally, the temperature of a cow is measured by putting a thermometer in the cow's anus.
Since the target of this temperature measurement work is cattle, this temperature measurement work, which is indispensable every day for farmers who breed cows, is very troublesome work and is also a heavy labor.

[0010]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made under the circumstances as described above, and an object of the present invention is to manage health of livestock animals (body temperature management) at a conventional livestock farming site.
In order to be able to solve the problems existing in the ear tags used for the individual identification with two birds with one stone, in particular, it enables individual identification of the livestock animal and simplifies the body temperature of the animal. In addition, it is possible to collectively manage individual information including body temperature information of the detected livestock animals, a livestock animal management ID tag, a livestock animal individual information transmission method using the same, and livestock animal individual information. To provide a management system.

[0011]

The present invention relates to a livestock animal management ID tag, a livestock animal individual information transmission method and a livestock animal individual information management system using the same, and the above-mentioned object of the present invention is for livestock animal management. The ID tag has a unique identification number for identifying itself and is attached to a livestock animal, and the tag includes a heat conduction unit, a temperature sensor, a control unit, and a telemeter. Alternatively, the temperature sensor is adapted to be attached to the heat conducting section, and the control section has a memory,
Also, the analog temperature signal measured by the temperature sensor is converted into a digital temperature signal and then sent to the telemeter, and the telemeter wirelessly externally outputs the unique identification number and the digital temperature signal. Or the heat conducting part is a caulking shaft made of metal, ceramics or resin, or the control part and the telemeter are realized by an RFID chip. By doing so, or the tag is made of a plastic material encapsulating the RFID chip that realizes the functions of the controller and the telemeter, or the tag further comprises a battery. This is accomplished by having a section.

Further, the above object of the present invention relates to a method for transmitting individual information of livestock animals using an ID tag for managing livestock animals, wherein the temperature sensor of the ID tag for managing livestock animals is used to attach the livestock animals to the livestock animals. This is achieved by having a step of automatically measuring the body temperature and a step of wirelessly transmitting the measured temperature data to the outside via radio waves.

Further, the above object of the present invention is to provide a livestock animal individual information management system using a livestock animal management ID tag, which has a livestock animal management ID tag and a transmitting / receiving function capable of communicating information with the outside. By including a management transceiver having an antenna and an interface built therein, and a host computer having a database for storing necessary information and having a function of managing information stored in a database, Alternatively, data can be wirelessly transmitted and received between the livestock animal management ID tag and the management transceiver, and communication can be performed between the management transceiver and the host computer. The temperature information transmitted from the livestock animal management ID tag is received by the management transceiver.
Further, it is transferred to the host computer and stored in the database, and the host computer gives an alarm when the temperature information stored in the database exceeds a predetermined temperature range. It is achieved by putting out.

[0014]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In addition, in the present embodiment, the cattle will be described as an example of the livestock animal.

FIG. 1 shows a livestock animal management ID according to the present invention.
It is a block diagram showing each function of tag 1. As shown in FIG. 1, the livestock animal management ID tag 1 includes a heat conducting portion 11
, Temperature sensor 12, control unit 13, and telemeter 14
And a not-illustrated livestock animal management ID
It has a unique identification number (hereinafter referred to as an ID number) for identifying the tag 1 itself.

Specifically, the heat conducting portion 11 is preferably made of a material having a high heat conductivity and a high heat conduction. For example, the material of the heat conducting portion 11 may be metal, ceramics or resin. Further, the shape of the heat conducting portion 11 is preferably a crimped shaft, but is not limited thereto.

Further, the temperature sensor 12 may be any sensor as long as it can measure the temperature in the body temperature range of a livestock animal, but a thermistor temperature sensor is preferably used. Further, the temperature sensor 12 is attached to the heat conducting portion 11, that is, attached to the caulking shaft.

On the other hand, the control unit 13 has a memory capable of writing or reading data, and converts the analog temperature signal measured by the temperature sensor 12 into a digital temperature signal and the converted digital temperature signal by a telemeter. It has an A / D conversion control function so as to be sent to 14. In addition, the telemeter 14 has a function of transmitting the ID number of the livestock animal management ID tag 1 itself and the digital temperature signal sent from the control unit 13 to the outside by radio waves.

For example, as an example of a preferred embodiment of the livestock animal management ID tag 1, a control unit 13 and a telemeter 14 are provided.
A plastic tag having a structure in which an RFID (extremely small IC chip) including a thermistor temperature sensor is enclosed, that is, the IC chip (with an antenna) of the RFID and the thermistor sensor are inside a plastic material. It should be embedded in the. A part of the plastic tag has the function of the heat conducting portion 11 of the livestock animal management ID tag 1, that is, for example, is a stainless steel "crimp shaft" portion. The ID number of the livestock animal management ID tag is visibly printed on the surface (that is, the plastic surface) of the livestock animal management ID tag 1. If necessary, a bar code representing the ID number may be printed on the plastic surface of the livestock animal management ID tag. It goes without saying that the ID number printed on the surface of the livestock animal management ID tag 1 is the same as the ID number of the livestock animal management ID tag 1 itself.

An example of a specific example of the livestock animal management ID tag 1 will be described below with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3. FIG. 3 is an external view showing an example of the external appearance of the livestock animal management ID tag 1. As shown in FIG. 3, the livestock animal management ID tag 1
Is composed of one side 1A of the livestock animal management ID tag and one side 1B of the livestock animal management ID tag. One side 1B of the livestock animal management ID tag is made of a plastic material, and an ID number 31 of the livestock animal management ID tag and a bar code 32 representing the ID number 31 are visually recognizable on the surface thereof. It is printed.

On the other hand, FIG. 2 is a view showing a cross section of the livestock animal management ID tag 1 shown in FIG. For details, see Figure 2.
2A is a sectional view of one side 1A of the livestock animal management ID tag, FIG. 2B is a sectional view of one side 1B of the livestock animal management ID tag, and FIG. It is sectional drawing when the ID tag 1 for livestock animal management shown by 3 is actually mounted to the ear of a cow.

As shown in FIG. 2A, one side 1A of the livestock animal management ID tag is basically made of a plastic material, and the caulking shaft 110 made of, for example, stainless steel has a part thereof. Is embedded on one side 1A,
And, it is attached perpendicularly to the surface of one side 1A as a whole, and is actually adapted to pierce the ear of a cow. 2A, 120 is a thermistor sensor, and 130 is an RFID having the functions of the control unit 13 and the telemeter 14. The thermistor sensor 120 and the RFID 130 are connected to the caulking shaft 110,
Since it is entirely embedded in one side 1A, it is invisible from the outside.

Also, one side 1B of the livestock animal management ID tag
Has a cross-sectional shape as shown in FIG. 2 (B), and in order to insert the caulking shaft 110, the caulking shaft inserting hole 11
1 is provided. FIG. 2C is a cross-sectional view when the livestock animal management ID tag 1 shown in FIG. 3 is actually attached to a cow's ear, that is, 150 is a cross-section of the cow's ear,
As shown in FIG. 4, by inserting the caulking shaft 110 of one side 1A into the ear 150 of the cow and then fitting the caulking shaft inserting hole 111 of the one side 1B with the caulking shaft 110 of the one side 1A, As shown, the wearing of the livestock animal management ID tag on the ear of the cow is completed. In addition, 14 in FIG.
Reference numeral 0 is a connector for connecting the one side 1A and the one side 1B.

As described above, the livestock animal management ID tag 1
However, the ID tag 1 for managing livestock animals according to the present invention is not limited to this, and FIG.
It may have various shapes as long as it has the function shown in. For example, another example of the livestock animal management ID tag according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG.
The main body of the livestock animal management ID tag 1 is made of plastic, and the heat conducting portion 11 does not use a caulking shaft, and for example, a heat conducting clip 112 capable of holding the cow's ear 150. The reference numeral 120 denotes a thermistor sensor, 130 denotes an RFID having the functions of the control unit 13 and the telemeter 14, and the thermistor sensor 120 and the RFI.
The D130 is connected to the heat conductive clip 112 and is embedded in the main body of the livestock animal management ID tag 1 as a whole, so that it cannot be seen from the outside.

The functions of the control unit 13 and the telemeter 14 are realized through one IC chip, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, these two functions can be provided in separate IC chips. May be realized by As a specific example, for example, a CPU chip is preferably used for the control unit 13, but the present invention is not limited to this. Further, although it is preferable to use a wireless CPU chip having a buried antenna structure for the telemeter 14, the present invention is not limited to this.

The livestock animal management ID tag 1
Although it is preferable that the cow should be attached to the ear of the cow, the present invention is not limited to this, and the cow may be embedded in an appropriate part of the cow body where the temperature of the cow can be measured. Further, when the livestock animal management ID tag 1 is attached to the ear of a cow, the "caulking shaft" portion of the tag must be brought into close contact with the earlobe of the cow.

Further, the livestock animal management ID tag 1 includes:
You may make it have a small battery. By doing so, the livestock animal management ID tag 1 can detect the body temperature of the cow at any time, and can transmit the detected body temperature information of the cow to the management transceiver 21 described later. Further, the livestock animal management ID tag 1 may not have a battery function. That is, the RFI of the livestock animal management ID tag 1
The radio waves used by the D chip are, for example, microwaves (frequency band: 2.45 GHz), and when it is necessary to detect the body temperature of a cow, for example, a transmitter / receiver for management is directed toward the ID tag 1 for managing livestock animals. If you send microwaves from 21,
The antenna in the livestock animal management ID tag 1 receives this radio wave, a voltage is generated in the IC in the RFID chip, and the IC is activated. Therefore, the livestock animal management ID tag 1 is used for management. It is possible to transmit the body temperature information of the cow to the transceiver 21.

FIG. 6 shows a livestock animal management ID according to the present invention.
It is a figure which shows the whole structure of the livestock animal individual information management system (henceforth a livestock animal individual information management system) using a tag. As shown in FIG. 6, the livestock animal individual information management system 2 has a livestock animal management ID tag 1 attached to the livestock animal, a transmission / reception function capable of communicating information with the outside, and an antenna and an interface. A management transceiver 21 having a built-in memory and a host computer 22 having a database for storing necessary information and having a function of managing information stored in a database are provided. Data can be wirelessly transmitted and received between the livestock animal management ID tag 1 and the management transceiver 21. Further, communication is possible between the management transceiver 21 and the host computer 22.

For example, in a farm where cattle are raised, as shown in FIG.
The livestock animal individual information management system 2 shown in is installed. As shown in FIG. 7, the ID tag 1 for managing livestock animals is attached to the ears of all the cows 200 bred in the barn 24. The management transceiver 21 is, for example, a gate 23 of a barn.
Attached to. The host computer 22 is installed in the office of the owner of the farm, for example. In this case, data can be wirelessly exchanged between the livestock animal management ID tag 1 and the management transceiver 21. On the other hand, the management transceiver 21 and the host computer 2
Data can be exchanged between the two via a communication line or wireless.

For example, when a calf is born on the farm,
For example, the owner of the ranch attaches the livestock animal management ID tag 1 to the calf within the time determined by the regulations of the cooperative such as the agricultural cooperative. At the same time, the owner of the ranch determines not only the ID number of the calf (that is, the ID number of the livestock animal management ID tag 1 attached to the calf) but also other individual information related to the calf, for example, , Birth ranch number, date of birth, owner number, parent number and individual characteristics of the individual cow of the cow (for example, nose print, body print, brow vortex, blood type, etc.) Input to the host computer 22. These individual information data input to the host computer 22 are stored in a database in the host computer 22 and are collectively managed.

The individual information of the calf stored in the database in the host computer 22 is wirelessly written to the memory of the livestock animal management ID tag 1 via the management transceiver 21. . Therefore, when the individual information of a certain cow managed by the livestock animal individual information management system 2 is needed, the livestock animal management ID tag 1 attached to the cow is not limited to the data berth of the host computer 22. Also, it becomes possible to read the individual information of the cow.

Further, if necessary, each time, necessary data is added to the memory of the livestock animal management ID tag 1,
Alternatively, the data in the memory can be rewritten.
Therefore, for the purpose of management, it is not necessary to rely on the information stored in the database in the host computer 22, and
It is possible to follow the distribution stage by relying only on the D tag 1.

By using the livestock animal individual information management system 2 shown in FIG. 6, for example, as shown in FIG.
3 and the cow 200 in the barn 24, at a predetermined time, the ID number and body temperature information of the cow transmitted from the livestock animal management ID tag 1 attached to the cow are The ID number and the body temperature information received by the management transceiver 21 attached to the gate 23 of the barn and then received by the management transceiver 21 are further transferred to the host computer 22 and stored in the database. become. In this way, the daily temperature measuring work of the cow, which has conventionally been a troublesome manual work, can be easily and automatically performed.

In the host computer 22,
For example, when the body temperature information transferred from the management transceiver 21 exceeds a predetermined normal body temperature range of the cow, it is preferable to have a function of issuing an alarm by voice or the like. In this way, the owner or person in charge of the ranch does not have to go to the barn and measure the body temperature of all cows one by one to monitor the condition of the host computer 22 in order to manage the health of the cows. That's a good translation. In the unlikely event that the cow has a fever, the host computer 22 gives a notification, so at that time, it is sufficient to go to the cowshed and treat it.

Further, in the present invention, that is, the method of transmitting individual information of livestock animals using the livestock animal management ID tag is the temperature sensor of the livestock animal management ID tag 1 attached to the cow for the body temperature of the cow. 12 has a step of automatically measuring and a step of wirelessly transmitting the measured temperature data to the outside via radio waves.

In the above-mentioned embodiment, the management transceiver 21 is described as being attached to the gate of the barn, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the management transceiver 21 is as follows. It may be portable and handy terminal type instead of fixed type. By doing so, for example, even for a free-range cow within a radius of several tens of meters from the management transceiver 21, the body temperature data of the cow can be obtained at any time. Furthermore, if the radio reception power of the management transceiver 21 is increased, it is possible to obtain the body temperature data of a free-range cow in a wider range.
Needless to say.

In the above embodiments, cattle has been described as an example of livestock animals, but the present invention is not limited to use in cattle, and may be used in other livestock animals. You can

[0038]

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY As described above, according to the livestock animal management ID tag and the livestock animal individual information transmission method and the livestock animal individual information management system using the same according to the present invention, livestock animals can be used in conventional livestock production sites. Health management (body temperature management)
Also, it is possible to solve the problem existing in the ear tag used for individual identification by two birds with one stone.

That is, according to the present invention, individual identification of a livestock animal is made possible, the body temperature of the livestock animal is easily detected, and further, individual information including the detected body temperature information of the livestock animal is collected. It has a great effect that it can be managed.

More specifically, the livestock animal management ID tag according to the present invention alone enables individual identification of the livestock animal, and the related individual information of the livestock animal can be easily obtained. When a disease occurs in a livestock animal, it is useful for investigating the cause such as the infection route.

Also, for the farmers who raise livestock animals, the body temperature check work that is essential for health management every day is
By using the livestock animal individual information transmission method and the livestock animal individual information management system according to the present invention, it becomes possible to easily perform the operation. In the conventional livestock farming field, the problems of individual identification and health management could be solved at once.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing each function of a livestock animal management ID tag according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a cross section of a livestock animal management ID tag according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of an external appearance of a livestock animal management ID tag according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a case where the livestock animal management ID tag according to the present invention is attached to the ear of a cow.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing another example of the livestock animal management ID tag according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an overall configuration of a livestock animal individual information management system according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining a livestock animal individual information management system according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining a livestock animal individual information management system according to the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of ear tags used in the Netherlands.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Livestock animal management ID tag 11 Heat conduction part 12 Temperature sensor 13 Control unit 14 Telemeter 2 Livestock animal individual information management system 21 Management transceiver 22 Host computer 23 Barn gate 24 cowsheds 4 ear tags 41 Individual identification number 42 barcode 43 ear number 110 caulking axis 111 Caulking shaft insertion hole 112 thermal conductive clip 120 thermistor sensor 130 RFID 140 Coupling 150 cow ears 31 ID number 32 Bar code representing ID number 200 cows

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI theme code (reference) G06K 19/00 G06K 19/00 Q 19/07 HF term (reference) 5B035 BB09 BC00 CA23 5B058 CA15 YA20 5B072 BB00 CC24

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A tag which has a unique identification number for identifying itself and which is attached to a livestock animal, wherein the tag includes a heat conducting section, a temperature sensor, a control section, and a telemeter. A livestock animal management ID tag characterized by being provided. 2. The temperature sensor is attached to the heat conducting section, the control section has a memory, and the analog temperature signal measured by the temperature sensor is converted into a digital temperature signal. The animal husbandry according to claim 1, wherein the telemeter is configured to be transmitted to the telemeter after being converted, and the telemeter is configured to wirelessly transmit the unique identification number and the digital temperature signal to the outside. ID tag for use. 3. The livestock animal management ID tag according to claim 1, wherein the heat conducting portion is a caulking shaft made of metal, ceramics or resin. 4. The controller and the telemeter are RF
The livestock animal management ID tag according to claim 1, which is realized by an ID chip. 5. The livestock animal management ID tag according to claim 4, wherein the tag is made of a plastic material encapsulating the RFID chip that realizes the functions of the control unit and the telemeter. 6. The livestock animal management ID tag according to claim 1, wherein the tag further includes a battery unit. 7. The management tag having the livestock animal management ID tag according to claim 1 and a transmission / reception function capable of communicating information with the outside, and having an antenna and an interface built-in. A livestock animal management ID tag, comprising: a transceiver, and a host computer having a database for storing necessary information and having a function of managing information stored in a database. A livestock animal individual information management system. 8. Data can be wirelessly transmitted and received between the livestock animal management ID tag and the management transceiver, and communication can be performed between the management transceiver and the host computer. The temperature information transmitted from the livestock animal management ID tag is received by the management transceiver, further transferred to the host computer, and stored in the database. The livestock animal management ID tag according to claim 7, wherein the host computer issues an alarm when the temperature information stored in the database exceeds a predetermined temperature range. Animal information management system using livestock. 9. A step of being attached to a livestock animal and automatically measuring the body temperature of the livestock animal by the temperature sensor of the livestock animal management ID tag according to claim 1. And a step of wirelessly transmitting the measured temperature data to the outside via radio waves. A livestock animal individual information transmission method using an ID tag for livestock animal management, comprising: