WO2017203490A1

WO2017203490A1 - Apparatus, methods and systems for determining the body temperature of livestock animal

Info

Publication number: WO2017203490A1
Application number: PCT/IB2017/053129
Authority: WO
Inventors: Colin Yates; Glen F. YATES; Sam MULA
Original assignee: Instantia Labs Inc.
Priority date: 2016-05-26
Filing date: 2017-05-26
Publication date: 2017-11-30
Also published as: CA2931126C; CA2931126A1; WO2017203490A4

Abstract

A device positional on a collar for livestock animals to measure the body temperature of the animals. The device interprets infrared signal from the animal as a body temperature. The infrared sensors are fixed to the device that is placed on the collar. The device on the collar is located on the neck in close proximity to major vascular pathways. The device sends data remotely via radio frequency to a central server.

Description

APPARATUS, METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR DETERMINING THE BODY

TEMPERATURE OF LIVESTOCK ANIMAL

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

0001. The present invention relates to a non-invasive apparatus, system and method for determining and/or monitoring the body temperature of a livestock animal. More particularly, this invention relates to an non-invasive apparatus, system and method for determining and/or monitoring the body temperature of a livestock animal, such as a cow. In a preferred aspect of the invention, a device may be provided having a collar with at least one sensor having infrared sensing capability which may be in contact with the skin/hair of the livestock animal.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

0002. Various invasive devices and methods to measure body temperature of livestock, such as cows, have been adopted but have been difficult to maintain on livestock animals and/or are susceptible to error as they may be, for example, exposed to the ambient environment. For example, eartags have been employed to try to measure the body temperature of cows. Eartags, however, have shown to be vulnerable to ambient air temperature since the eartags are located on an extremity of the livestock. Furthermore, eartags also only measure the ear temperature, which may not accurately correlate to body temperature.

0003. Boluses located in the reticulum of the rumen have also been tried by others to measure the body temperature of livestock. However, the temperature of the drinking water and the delay between drinking and the bolus temperature recording can affect the accuracy of rumen temperature monitoring in response to body temperature. Bewley et al. (2008) has shown that, when a cow drinks, there may be a temporary but acute decrease in the rumen temperature, with the lowest temperature occurring just after ingestion of water.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

0004. Thus, it is desired to overcome at least some of the disadvantages of the prior art. The present invention may be directed to a non-invasive apparatus/device, system and method for remotely reading the body temperature of livestock, particularly that of bovines, by using a device which can be placed on a commonly used and known bovine collar. It is an aspect of this invention to provide more accurate temperature readings of a livestock animal.

0005. In one embodiment of the preferred embodiment, the invention may be directed to a noninvasive device for determining and monitoring the body temperature of a livestock animal. In a preferred embodiment, the device comprises at least one sensor positional on a collar such that the sensor may be able to be in contact with the skin and/or hair of the livestock animal. In yet a preferred embodiment, the skin and/or hair may be located on the neck as it is easier to apply these preferred embodiments to the animal. In yet another preferred embodiment, one or more of the sensors may have the ability to detect or read infrared spectrum to obtain temperature data. In yet another embodiment, the sensor may also have a processor to determine body temperature of the livestock animal based on data received from the device when worn by an animal. In yet a further preferred embodiment, a transmitter may be provided for sending temperature data to a server or other data storage remote from the device.

0006. Preferably, at least one sensor continuously reads the body temperature of the livestock animal. 0007. Preferably, the sensor may be fixed to a housing having the processor and transmitter therein, and a belt loop may be fixed to the housing, the belt loop being sized so that a belt may be positional through the loop.

0008. More preferably, the sensors are protrusions fixed to the belt loop so as to be positioned in contact with the neck of the livestock animal. The protrusions would contain one or more IR sensors, and would only be large enough to hold the IR sensors. The protrusions could be used to keep greater contact with the body of the animal to maintain accurate readings of body temperature given the curvature of the neck of a livestock animal.

0009. Still more preferably, the temperature sensors have a temperature sensor recess.

0010. In another embodiment, the invention may also be directed to methods of determining and/or monitoring the temperature of a livestock animal, the method comprising the steps of: (a) positioning a temperature sensing device on the neck of the livestock animal; (b) measuring body temperature of the livestock animal; and (c) transmitting the sensor readings.

0011. Yet a further preferred embodiment of the present invention provides a non-invasive device for determining and/or monitoring a body temperature of a livestock animal, the device comprising: (a) a first sensor for contacting the skin and/or hair of the livestock animal, the first sensor capable of reading livestock animal data; (b) a processor in communication with the first sensor for determining the body temperature of the livestock animal based on the livestock animal data received from the first sensor; and (c) a communication device for communicating the body temperature of the livestock animal. 0012. Yet a further preferred embodiment of the present invention provides a device as noted above, wherein the communication device is a display. 0013. Yet a further preferred embodiment of the present invention provides a device as noted above, wherein the communication device further comprises a transmitter for sending the data encoding the body temperature of the animal to storage device remote from the device.

0014. Yet a further preferred embodiment of the present invention provides a device as noted above, wherein the storage device is a server.

0015. Yet a further preferred embodiment of the present invention provides a device as noted above, wherein the first sensor has infrared reading capability.

0016. Yet a further preferred embodiment of the present invention provides a device as noted above, further comprising a second sensor for determining ambient temperature in communication with the processor.

0017. Yet a further preferred embodiment of the present invention provides a device as noted above, wherein the processor determines the body temperature of the livestock animal based on the livestock animal data received from the first sensor and second sensor.

0018. Yet a further preferred embodiment of the present invention provides a device as noted above, wherein the first sensor, the processor and the communication device are disposed within a collar that can be disposed around a body part of the livestock animal.

0019. Yet a further preferred embodiment of the present invention provides a device as noted above, wherein the body part is the neck.

0020. Yet a further preferred embodiment of the present invention provides a device as noted above, wherein the first sensor continuously reads the livestock animal data, including the body temperature. 0021. Yet a further preferred embodiment of the present invention provides a device as noted above, wherein the first sensor is fixed to a housing having the processor and communication device disposed therein, and a belt loop fixed to the housing, the belt loop being sized so that a belt is positional through the loop.

0022. Yet a further preferred embodiment of the present invention provides a device as noted above, wherein the first sensors further comprises protrusions fixed to the belt loop so as to be positioned in contact with the neck of the livestock animal.

0023. Yet a further preferred embodiment of the present invention provides a device as noted above, wherein the temperature sensors have a temperature sensor recess.

0024. Yet a further preferred embodiment of the present invention provides a method of determining and/or monitoring the temperature of a livestock animal, the method comprising the steps of: (a) positioning a non-invasive device on a portion of the body of the livestock animal, the device comprising; (i) a first sensor for contacting the skin and/or hair of the livestock animal, the first sensor capable of reading livestock animal data, including body temperature; (ii) a processor in communication with the first sensor for determining the body temperature of the livestock animal based on the livestock animal data received from the first sensor; and (iii) a communication device for communicating the body temperature of the livestock animal; determining the body temperature of the livestock animal; and (c) communicating the body temperature of the livestock animal.

0025. Further and other features of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of the embodiments thereof. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

0026. Reference may now be had to the following detailed description taken together with the accompanying drawings in which:

0027. FIG. 1 shows a temperature sensing and transmitting device in accordance with one embodiment of the invention in perspective view. 0028. FIG. 2 shows the temperature sensing and transmitting device of FIG. 1 from a side perspective view.

0029. FIG. 3 shows the temperature sensing and transmitting device.

0030. FIG. 4 shows a diagrammatic depiction of the temperature determining and monitoring, transmitting and receiving system. 0031. FIG. 5 shows a schematic of the internal electronic components of the temperature sensing and transmitting device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

0032. The description that follows, and the embodiments described herein, is provided by way of illustration of an example, or examples, of particular embodiments of the principles and aspects of the present invention. These examples are provided for the purposes of explanation, and not of limitation, of those principles and of the invention.

0033. It should also be appreciated that the present invention can be implemented in numerous ways, including as a process, method, an apparatus, a system, a device or the like. In this specification, these implementations, or any other form that the invention may take, may be referred to as apparatus, systems and processes/methods. In general, the order of the steps of the disclosed processes may be altered within the scope of the invention.

0034. Regulations concerning animal welfare are stringent and require close determination and monitoring of the health of each individual animal. Body temperature is one of the more significant or vital metrics of animal health. Body temperature may be normally used by farmers and veterinarians as an indicator of an individual animal's health. Given the size and number of livestock in modern farms, manually taking body temperature (Tb) of livestock animals at regular intervals may not be feasible or practical.

1. Determining And Monitoring Body Temperature for Illness

0035. When livestock animals are found to be or are assumed to be sick, farmers may treat the livestock animals and, in doing so, typically administer treatment protocols, including administering antibiotics. Typically, the average body temperature (Tb) of healthy cattle will be around 38.0 to 38.5°C (Beatty et al. 2008). Rectal temperature (Tr) above 39.4°C may be considered a febrile (fever) response to infection (Benzaquen et al. 2006). Inflammatory processes such as (e.g. inflamed placenta, reticulo-paritonitis, mastitis, etc.) may also show a response of increased body temperature in bovines and other livestock animals. However, human observation of such inflammatory processes may only provide indication of illness well after (e.g. 48hrs) a body temperature response could be used to determine the presence of inflammation. Late detection of inflammation often leads to the use of antibiotics and other treatments resulting in loss of production from the livestock. Particularly in dairy operations, the loss of milk production may be a significant expense, and in many cases could be avoided if more accurate information were available to a farmer in a more timely manner. 2. Determining And Monitoring Body Temperature for Estrus

0036. Body temperature may be also an indicator of impending ovulation of livestock animals, including bovines. Slight changes in body temperature indicate impending estrus. Previously, the only method of detecting estrus was through visual observations, which can only detect approximately 37% of estruses (Van Vliet and Eerdenburg 1996). Frequent recording of body temperature can be used as an indicator of estrus. Specifically in bovines, temperature increases by 0.5°C on average during estrus (Bitman et al. 1984). The two primary locations used to measure body temperature in animals is the rectum or vagina. Devices have also been used to measure tympanic temperature by being connected to the ear (Lea et al. 2008). The maximum variation of body temperature occurs three days before estrus with a maximum variation of body temperature of 0.65°C (Redden et al. (1993); Kyle et al. (1998).

0037. It will be understood that additional uses can be made of determining and/or monitoring the body temperature of a livestock animal.

0038. It will be understood that given such short time frames with traditional means of observing and treating animal health, a new method of determining and monitoring the body temperature of animals, and livestock animals in particular, is needed.

0039. FIG. 1 shows a body temperature sensing and transmitting device 10 in accordance with one embodiment of the invention in perspective view. The device 10 may be connected to a collar 12 which may be adapted to be worn by a livestock animal, for example around the neck of a cow. The device 10 may be capable of processing temperature measurements and transmitting the temperature data wirelessly. 0040. FIG. 2 shows a preferred embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 2, the preferred temperature sensing and transmitting device 10 is shown from a side perspective view. The device 10 has at least one sensor 14, preferably an infrared sensor (e.g. Melexis MLX90614) 14, for sensing or measuring temperature. In FIG.. 2, two sensors 14 are shown fixed to the inside surface of the device 10. The IR sensor chip sensing element picks up the IR electronical signal from the skin/hair of the livestock animal. It will be understood that the animal need not be shaved; the device can be applied to the hair and/or skin of the animal directly. The chip converts the electrical signal into a digital value.

0041. FIG. 3 shows a preferred embodiment where the device 10 is in perspective view. The device 10 has a processor (e.g. 8051 MCU) and transmitter. In a preferred embodiment, the transmitter may have a sub-gigahertz RF communication antenna (e.g. 868MHZ system) or a PCB antennae housing 20 with a collar loop 22 fixed thereto. The collar loop 22 provides a means for attaching the device 10 to a collar. The collar loop 22 can be sized to fit a standard sized collar or can be dimensioned to fit a custom collar, as needed. Because the device 10 may be connected to the collar through the collar loop 22, and since the device 10 will attach on the collar so as to be generally located at the neck of the livestock animal which may be optimal for temperature sensing. The device 10 can be fitted snuggly so the sensors 14 are in close contact with the skin/hair of the animal.

0042. As shown in FIG. 3, there may be provided a preferred embodiment in which there are provided two temperature sensors 14. The temperature sensors 14 each have a temperature sensor recess 16. The temperature sensors 14 can be infrared temperature sensors to measure body temperature of the livestock animal. The device 10 has a processor (as shown in FIG. 5) which interprets signal from the sensors 14. Another aspect of the invention provides an ambient temperature measuring component 17 to measure ambient air temperature which may be used to adjust or correct for the influence of ambient temperature on determining the animal's body temperature. The ambient air temperature correction may be measured and calculated within the IR sensing device through the use of another sensor such as a thermocouple or another IR sensor that is used to adjust influence of ambient temperature on body temperature readings in the computer program or microprocessor. In a preferred embodiment, body temperature of the livestock animal may be measured with at least one IR sensor which measures heat being emitted from the skin/hair of the animal. The IR sensor may be located within a protrusion which will maintain contact with the skin/hair of the livestock animal as long as the device may be being worn by the livestock animal. 0043. FIG. 4 shows a preferred embodiment of the present invention, namely the temperature sensing and transmitting device 10 in use. The device 10 may be placed in a collar 12 which in turn can be used to keep the device in contact with the skin/hair (preferably around the neck of a cow 2 as shown in FIG. 4). The device 10 also may process temperature related data from the sensors 14. The device housing 20, in a preferred embodiment, may also has a transmitter that emits radio frequency waves 30. In such a preferred embodiment, the radio frequency waves (e.g. Sub-gigahertz) 30 may be communicated directly to a centralized hub or to one or more radio receiver/base stations (e.g. Wink Hub or similar device) throughout a building 40 which in turn are connected to a centralized hub. The radio receiver/base station (hub) 40 has a WIFI transmitter 50. The temperature data received by the radio receiver/base station 40 may be accessed by a central data collection server 60. The data received by the central data collection server 60 may be processed by a computer program or microprocessor (shown as reference numeral 90 in FIG. 5) to determine whether the temperature of the livestock animal may be within the expected normal temperature range for the animal or outside (e.g. abnormal) such temperature range for the animal which may indicate potential illness, estrus or other condition. In a further preferred embodiment, the program or microprocessor may receive temperature related data from the IR sensor and may then convert it into a body temperature in °F or °C. The IR signal may be calibrated in the program or microprocessor for a specific emissivity. It will be understood by a person skilled in the relevant art that different livestock animals and/or different breeds within livestock animals may have different emissivity of the skin/hair which can be correlated and calibrated to body temperature.

0044. FIG. 5 also shows a schematic of the internal electronic components of the temperature sensing and transmitting device 10. The microprocessor 90 has a power source (e.g. 3V battery) 100 connected thereto. The microprocessor may be also connected to a transmitter 110, one or more infrared temperature sensors 120, and an external clock 130. Accordingly, and in a preferred embodiment, data representing the temperature of a livestock animal, as measured by the infrared sensors 120, may be provided to the microprocessor 90, and a time reading may be taken by the clock 130. In a further preferred embodiment, microprocessor 90 may calculate the temperature of the livestock animal at time intervals and the readings can be transmitted by the transmitter 110 to a user, such as a farmer.

0045. In yet a further preferred embodiment, microprocessor 90 may also be connected to a USB (Universal Serial Bus) interface 140. A common USB (type A) or a micro USB (type A) interface can permit serial communication to the microprocessor. Accordingly, a notice can be provided in real-time to the farmer via a personal mobile device 80 on a cellular network. The farmer can then respond to any notice as required. 0046. In a preferred embodiment, any radio communicating device will adhere to regulations for Sub-GHz communications. The device can have a small/light duty cycle, powered by a replaceable power source 100.

0047. Although this disclosure has described and illustrated certain preferred embodiments of the invention, it is also to be understood that the invention is not restricted to these particular embodiments rather, the invention includes all embodiments which are functional, or mechanical equivalents of the specific embodiments and features that have been described and illustrated herein.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A non-invasive device for determining a body temperature of a livestock animal, the device comprising:

(a) a first sensor for contacting the skin or hair of the livestock animal, the first sensor capable of reading livestock animal data; (b) a processor in communication with the first sensor for determining the body temperature of the livestock animal based on the livestock animal data received from the first sensor; and

(c) a communication device for communicating the body temperature of the livestock animal.

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the communication device is a display.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein the communication device further comprises a transmitter for sending the data encoding the body temperature of the animal to storage device remote from the device.

4. The device of claim 3 wherein the storage device is a server.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein the first sensor has infrared reading capability;

6. The device of claim 1 further comprising a second sensor for determining ambient temperature in communication with the processor.

7. The device of claim 6 wherein the processor determines the body temperature of the livestock animal based on the livestock animal data received from the first sensor and second sensor.

8. The device of claim 7 wherein the first sensor, the processor and the communication device are disposed within a collar that can be disposed around a body part of the livestock animal.

9. The device of claim 8 wherein the body part is the neck.

10. The device of claim 9 wherein the first sensor continuously reads the livestock animal data.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein the first sensor is fixed to a housing having the processor and communication device disposed therein, and a belt loop fixed to the housing, the belt loop being sized so that a belt is positional through the loop.

12. The device of any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the first sensor further comprises protrusions fixed to the belt loop so as to be positioned in contact with the neck of the livestock animal.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein the temperature sensors have a temperature sensor recess.

14. A method of determining and/or monitoring the temperature of a livestock animal, the method comprising the steps of: (a) Positioning a non-invasive device on a portion of the body of the livestock animal, the device comprising:

(i) a first sensor for contacting the skin or hair of the livestock animal, the first sensor capable of reading livestock animal data;

(ii) a processor in communication with the first sensor for determining the body temperature of the livestock animal based on the livestock animal data received from the first sensor; and

(iii) a communication device for communicating the body temperature of the livestock animal;

(b) determining the body temperature of the livestock animal; and

(c) communicating the body temperature of the livestock animal.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the communication device is a display.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein the communication device further comprises a transmitter for sending the data encoding the body temperature of the animal to storage device remote from the device.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the storage device is a server.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the server sends data to a user.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the user is a farmer, farm manager, or veterinarian.

20. The method of claim 17 wherein the first sensor has infrared reading capability;

21. The method of claim 18 further comprising a second sensor for determining ambient temperature in communication with the processor.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein the processor determines the body temperature of the livestock animal based on the livestock animal data received from the first sensor and second sensor.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein the first sensor, the processor and the communication device are disposed within a collar that can be disposed around a body part of the livestock animal.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein the body part is the neck.

25. The method of claim 24 wherein the first sensor continuously reads the livestock animal data.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the first sensor is fixed to a housing having the processor and communication device disposed therein, and a belt loop fixed to the housing, the belt loop being sized so that a belt is positional through the loop.

27. The method of any one of claims 14 to 26, wherein the first sensors further comprises protrusions fixed to the belt loop so as to be positioned in contact with the neck of the livestock animal.