EP3758473A1

EP3758473A1 - Device, method and system for monitoring of animal body temperature

Info

Publication number: EP3758473A1
Application number: EP19718851.9A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Przemyslaw SEKALSKI; Pawel KIELANOWSKI; Lukasz ADAMEK; Hubert GESIARZ
Original assignee: Smart Soft Solutions Spolka Z Ograniczona Odpowiedzialnoscia
Current assignee: Smart Soft Solutions Spolka Z Ograniczona Odpowiedzialnoscia
Priority date: 2018-02-28
Filing date: 2019-02-28
Publication date: 2021-01-06
Also published as: WO2019166986A1; PL234432B1; PL424706A1

Abstract

A device for monitoring animal body temperature (1a, 1b, 1c) provided with a thermal module (21) including a central unit (10) with a communication module (11) and a contactless temperature sensor matrix (13) connected thereto according to the invention, characterised in that it is provided with a selecting device (15) connected to the central unit (10) and with a device (20, 30, 40) positioning the head (S) of the animal below the contactless temperature sensor matrix (133) placed above the lower part of the positioning device (20, 30, 40), wherein the contactless temperature sensor matrix (13) includes at least two rows and offers a resolution of at least 10 pixels in each of the rows. The method of animal monitoring using the device according to the invention is characterised in that it is performed using the device according to the invention, wherein temperature is read from the matrix of contactless temperature sensors within a period of time shorter than 3.5 s, and a pre-defined pattern is detected in a summary of temperature values read from the matrix of contactless temperature sensors (12), followed by verification of a pre-defined criterion, meeting of which is subsequently used to send a control signal to the selecting device (15). The herd animal condition monitoring system including a server and monitoring units communicating with the server according to the invention is characterised in that the monitoring units are provided as monitoring devices according to the invention.

Description

DEVICE, METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR MONITORING OF ANIMAL BODY TEMPERATURE

[0001] The object of the invention includes a device, a method and a system for monitoring body temperature of herded animals.

[0002] Disease outbreaks are a serious problem for animal breeders. These can be limited, if the first symptoms of a disease are detected very early. Animal testing within the herd is usually recommended, if alarming symptoms are identified in an animal or in animals in the herd. There is a range of known anomalies, which may indicate disease in animals. They include changes in the quantities of consumed food and liquids, behavioural changes and changes of body temperature, which are a key indicator. If a breeder identifies such worrying symptoms, they call a veterinarian, who examines the potentially infected animals and/or the whole herd at random.

[0003] In the case of large herds, human observation is tedious, ineffective and may not be accurate enough. Thus, symptoms may be ignored, identified too late, potentially leading to infection of other animals. This results in significant losses and sometimes even in the need to destroy the entire herd. Because of the above, systems facilitating animal observation are being developed. They include a system disclosed in an international patent application published with the number WO2014145552, which includes temperature sensors placed on animals, equipped with transmitters, and a base station provided with a receiver and with data processing and alarm generating means, including control signals for devices selecting animals, such as sorting gates and labelling devices. Such a solution is ineffective, however, and scales poorly because of the need to affix individual sensors on the animals and to ensure that the sensors are affixed permanently. The sensors should additionally be removed before the slaughter .

[ 0004 ] The international patent application published with the number W02012078054 discloses a system, which includes a certain number of thermographic cameras directed at different part of animal body and communicating with a server. Such a solution is not adequate, however, for monitoring of the entire herd placed in many separate cages and as the disclosure provided in the European patent EP1646310 indicates, the temperature measurement accuracy provided by a thermographic camera is inadequate for animal prophylaxy. Temperature indications depend on may factors, including ambient temperature, relative humidity and humidity levels in the skin of the animal, as well as the error of the sensor itself. It is also very important, which part of the skin of the animal is measured thermographically . Naked skin or skin covered by fur yield different temperature values. As the animals move in relation to the sensors, reliable measurements require a high number of thermal vision cameras.

[ 0005 ] A solution according to EP1646310 uses a reference object located in the field of vision of a thermographic camera, used to improve the accuracy of temperature readings. Such a solution slightly improves accuracy, however, it does not solve the problem of monitoring the entire herd because of: potential contamination of the reference object, it cannot be ascertained that the field of vision of the thermal vision camera covers all animals in the herd or the solution requires more cameras to cover the entire infrastructure and detect the areas of image overlapping. In this configuration, identification of individual animals and their body parts in the thermographic image requires use of advanced image processing techniques, and yet the results are uncertain .

[ 0006 ] The device for monitoring body temperature of an animal, provided with a thermal module, including a central unit and a communication module, and a contactless temperature sensor matrix connected thereto according to the invention is characterised in that the device is provided with a selecting device connected with the central unit and with a positioning device for positioning the animal below the contactless temperature sensor matrix located above the lower part of this positioning device, wherein the contactless temperature sensor matrix has at least two rows and resolution of at least 10 points in each of these rows. Each of the points represents a single sensor with a specific angle of observation. The use of at least 10 x 2 individual sensors enables the area of maximum temperature to be recorded on the monitored animal, i.e. the representative temperature area. The use of a positioning device which forces or at least increases probability of repeated presence of individual animals in the herd in the field of observation of the contactless temperature sensor matrix, and a specific spatial orientation of the positioned animal, as well as ensuring the adequate resolution of the sensor, enabling identification of a point representing the temperature of the animal body on the surface of the animal body, enables automatic temperature measurements of all animals in the herd without human intervention or limits the need for such intervention.

[0007] The temperature sensor matrix has a minimum resolution of 48 x 4 points.

[0008] The temperature sensor matrix is preferably a thermal vision matrix.

[0009] Preferably, the thermal module with the central unit, the communication module and the contactless temperature sensor matrix are enclosed inside a tight housing, wherein the contactless temperature sensor matrix is placed in an opening covered with a screen transparent to infrared radiation.

[0010] Preferably, the connection of the temperature sensor matrix and the selecting device is provided as a dedicated I/O system.

[0011] The device according to the invention preferably also includes an ambient temperature sensor connected to the central unit, and even more preferably, a hygrometer connected to the central unit. The ambient temperature sensor enables calibration of the contactless temperature sensor matrix using a calibration object - which may be provided as a dedicated element or as an element of the breeding infrastructure. As ambient temperature influences the body temperature of animals in the herd, its value may be taken into account defining animal selection criteria. In this situation, the best solution is to include the perceived temperature, which may be determined on the basis of ambient temperature measurements supplemented with humidity readings from the hygrometer. High relative humidity changes transmission properties of the air and attenuation of the signal reaching the thermal vision camera - this effect may be taken into account by processing the measurement result.

[0012] The selecting device is preferably provided as a marking device, and the positioning device is preferably provided as a feeder. The feeder should be understood here as any device adapted to provide the animals with food and liquids, including drinking water supplies, salt licks, etc. Devices used by the animals to feed and drink are well adapted to the function of the positioning device, as each of the animals has to use it while having its head turned towards the source of food and/or water.

[0013] The marking device is preferably provided as a paint cannon; in particular ejecting a food dye, harmless to the animals.

[0014] The positioning device is preferably provided as a sorting gate, whilst the selecting device has the form of a sorting gate with a controller connected to the central unit.

[0015] The method of animal monitoring using the device according to the invention is characterised in that it is performed using the device according to the invention, wherein temperature is read from the matrix of contactless temperature sensors within a period of time shorter than 3.5 s, and a pre-defined pattern is detected in a summary of temperature values read from the matrix of contactless temperature sensors, followed by verification of a pre-defined criterion, meeting of which is subsequently used to send a control signal to the selecting device. The use of a readout time shorter than 3.5 s with a contactless temperature sensor matrix in the device according to the invention, ensuring 2x10 measurement points, allows configuration of the measurement such that the area measured by an individual sensor in the matrix fits within the area of maximum temperature on the skin of the animal throughout the entire period of the measurement.

[0016] The contactless temperature sensor matrix is placed such that the surface area of the spot on the animal skin in the positioning device, corresponding to a measurement in a single point of the contactless temperature sensor matrix is smaller than 16 cm², and even more preferably, smaller than 6.3 cm².

[0017] Sub-second measurement times are used preferably, with measurements even repeated with a frequency over 10 Hz.

[0018] The pre-defined pattern includes preferably the presence of a maximum.

[0019] The pre-defined criterion includes preferably temperature exceeding the moving average of maximum detected temperatures in the herd by more than a specific percentage value, which is preferably in the range between 2% and 6%. The specific percentage value also preferably changes in the function of ambient temperature and/or relative humidity.

[0020] The selecting device is preferably provided as doors and an actuator of the sorting gate, to the control input of which the first control signal is sent if a pattern is detected and the criterion is met, or the second control signal in the opposite case. In some facilities sorting gates having three or more doors are applied. Accordingly more control signals are used or additional logic circuit and multistate control signal.

[0021] The selecting devices is preferably provided as a marking device, which is triggered if a pattern is detected and the criterion is met. [0022] Calibration is preferably performed if the second pre-defined criterion is met.

[0023] An alarm signal is preferably sent, if the pre defined pattern is detected and the pre-defined criterion is met. The alarm signal may be sent as a message to an external server, a SMS message, an e-mail message or another electric signal in any format.

[0024] The herd animal condition monitoring system including a server and monitoring units communicating with the server according to the invention is characterised in that the monitoring units are provided as monitoring devices according to the invention.

[0025] The subject of the invention is explained in more detail using embodiments of the invention presented in the drawing, in which Fig. la presents a block diagram of a thermal module of the device according to the invention, Fig. lb presents schematically the field of observation of a contactless temperature sensor matrix installed in this module, Fig. 2 schematically presents operation of the device according to the invention in the first embodiment, Fig. 3 schematically presents operation of the device according to the invention in the second embodiment, Fig. 4 schematically presents operation of the device according to the invention in the third embodiment, Fig. 5 schematically presents embodiment of the invention with gate three ways, while Fig. 6 shows embodiment of the invention, in which positioning device is farrowing station.

[0026] The block diagram of the thermal module 21 used in an embodiment of the invention and elements cooperating with the module are presented in Fig. la.

[0027] An embodiment of the invention uses a Raspberry Pi Zero microcomputer as the central unit 10. Four MLX90621ESF-BAD-000-TU sensors separated by 18.3 cm are used in the matrix of remote temperature sensors. The module with thus placed sensors is adapted to be hanged at a level of ca. 0.5 m. Each of the sensors measures temperature in 4 rows with 16 points each. The listed elements are installed in a housing with the IP67 tightness class, made of stainless steel. Use of this material ensures long-term use in the animal breeding conditions, despite exposure to humidity temperature differences and shocks caused by washing using a pressure washer. Stainless steel is a material resistant to scratching and characterised by high hardness and impact resistance. It is a material safe for humans, non-toxic and resistant to diluted acids, bases, fat and salt. It provides excellent thermal shielding properties while it does not deform upon temperature changes. It does not absorb air moisture. Alternatively ABS material can be applied .

[ 0028 ] Stainless steel provides a screen against radiation, thus the field of observation of the contactless temperature sensor matrix 13 is provided as a window 16 closed by a screen. The screen was made of generally transparent glass in the range of wavelengths used by thermal sensors, with minimum losses in the range of wavelengths corresponding to the body temperature of animals. In this embodiment, pigs are the bred and monitored animals and the screen is made of germanium glass. The normal body temperature of a healthy, adult pig is approximately 38.5° C. Piglets have higher body temperature, which may reach even 40° C. In this temperature range, the maximum intensity of radiated energy lies in the wavelength range between 9 pm and 10 pm. It was discovered that CaF2 (Calcium fluoride) type glass or ZnSe (ZINC SELENIDE) type glass are adequate for the purpose. A thicker screen may be made of AMTIR- 1(10 mm Ge-As-Se) . An alternative to germanium glass may be provided as ZnSe with a wide range of high transparency, accepting the maximum in the wavelength range of 8-10nm. The window 16 may be provided as a single opening covered by a screen or as a series of openings corresponding to rows or even to individual sensors of the contactless temperature sensor matrix.

[ 0029 ] In addition, an ambient temperature sensor 14 located outside the thermal module housing 21 is used, enabling use of more complex criteria in applications of the method according to the invention.

[ 0030 ] Alternatively, a thermal vision matrix or a different matrix of contactless thermal sensors may be used instead of MLX90621ESF-BAD-000-TU sensors as the contactless temperature sensor matrix 13. The key requirement is the presence of at least two rows and the resolution of at least 10 pixels in each of the rows. The field of vision of the contactless temperature sensor matrix 13 is shown schematically in Fig. lb. Sensors are placed such that the area observed by a single sensor in the contactless temperature sensor matrix 13 observes a "spot" on the skin of the positioned animal with a surface area smaller than 16 cm² and preferably smaller than a circle with a 2 cm radius. Thanks to this, observation of a fragment of the skin surface of the animal enables identification of an area best representing the body temperature of the animal. In the case of pigs, such areas are located behind the ears, near groins and eyes. However, such areas are present also in other bred animals, including poultry. Veterinarians usually perform measurements on such areas using a pyrometer. In the case of automated measurements, it is impossible to direct the sensor at the correct location. According to the invention, the problem is solved by observing the correct area of the skin of the pig using a sensor matrix. The correct spot may be identified in signals obtained from individual sensors. In the simplest case this is usually the maximum, although more complex selection criteria are also possible. In the case of pigs it is important that the contactless temperature sensor matrix 13 enables remote measurements of a surface area smaller than 20cm2.

[0031] The positioning device for positioning the animal is important here, as it enables at least statistical and approximate determination of the position of the animal and the distance between the contactless temperature sensor matrix 13 and the measured spot. In general, the larger this distance, the more narrow the observation angle of an individual sensor should be. Increasing the number of sensors, and thus - the measurement resolution - may also be reasonable.

[0032] Placement of a reference element or elements 17 in the field of vision of the temperature sensor matrix, enabling periodic calibration, may also be considered. Temperature of the reference element 17, measured by the contactless temperature sensor matrix 13, is then compared to the temperature measured by the ambient temperature reference sensor 14.

[0033] The thermal module 21 is installed on the positioning device for positioning the monitored animal. In this embodiment of the invention, the positioning device is provided as a pig feeder 20. The thermal module 21 is installed on the level of 50 cm, thus the area behind pig ears is located within the field of vision of the contactless temperature sensor matrix 13.

[0034] The central unit 10 of the thermal module 21 is connected to the controlled selecting device 15. In this embodiment of the invention, this selecting device 15 comprises an electronically controlled ejector containing a food dye, directed towards the field of vision of the contactless temperature sensor matrix 13. Thanks to the fact that the feeder positions the monitored animals such that they are usually facing the thermal module, the direction of the dye ejector shot may be moved outside the field of vision of the thermal module, such that the selection is based by marking the backs instead of the heads of the animals.

[0035] The selecting device 15, the ambient temperature sensor 14 and the contactless temperature sensor matrix 13 are connected to the central unit 10 via a dedicated I/O system 12. The use of such a device facilitates scaling of the device by increasing the number of sensors and expanding it with new ones, such as e.g. hygrometer, and protects the central unit against the effects of a malfunction of one of the sensors.

[0036] In an alternative embodiment of the invention presented schematically in Fig. 3, a wheel feeder 30 and modules 21 placed around the circumference of the feeder are used as the positioning device. Dye ejectors, not depicted in the figure, are also placed around this circumference. Other possible embodiments of the invention include the use of a drinking water supply or a corridor through which the animals are passing as the positioning device.

[0037] In another embodiment of the invention presented schematically in Fig. 4, a sorting gate is used as the positioning device. Such gates are commonly used in porker breeding are are provided with a single entrance and two electronically controlled exits. The exits are opened as a function of a control signal sent to the sorting gate. The sorting gates are typically coupled with balances and used to direct the animals fattened to above a certain threshold weight to a separate sty. In this embodiment of the invention, walls of the sorting gate 40 act as a positioning device for positioning the pig with its head directed towards a specific direction, whilst bidirectional doors with a controller act as a selecting device. It enables directing animals, the body temperature of which meets certain criteria, to be directed to a separate sty in order to be subsequently examined by a veterinarian. In more complex example shown in Fig. 5 sorting gate has three output door. Control signal from the device is delivered to the door driver acting as selecting device by opening and closing respective door according to logical function in response to the control signal. This approach enables selection and isolation healthy animals from suspected animals from sick animals.

[0038] Improved positioning of head and neck of the pig may be achieved by installing a light source on the sorting gate, at a level of 0.5 m below the contactless temperature sensor matrix 13 of the thermal module 21. The use of a controlled light source connected to the control unit ensures use of variable lighting, colour and/or rhythm of flickering of the light source. In more complicated embodiment presented in Fig. 5 sorting gate has three output doors .

[0039] A camera operating in visible light and/or additional sensors enabling detection of the presence of an animal in the measurement position may be added to the thermal module 21. Such sensors include ultrasound range finders or photocells. Processing of image received from the aforementioned camera may also be used to identify the animal in the measurement position.

[ 0040 ] The device according to the invention may also be used to monitor animals. Examples of such methods are presented below. Temperature from the contactless temperature sensor matrix 13 is read during an acquisition time shorter than 3.5 s. In many cases, much shorter acquisition times may be used. Signal from a camera or from another, additional sensor may also be used to trigger a temperature measurement.

[ 0041 ] The pre-defined pattern in a summary of temperature values read from the contactless temperature sensor matrix 13 can include, for example, a presence of two maxima corresponding to hot spots behind pig ears in the direction perpendicular to the length of the big body in a few subsequent readings, in the expected position of the pig in the sorting gate 40 or at the feeder 20, 30. Goods effects were obtained even in the range of 2 to 10 readings. Temperature reading from the skin is recalculated into value of animal's body temperature. This recalculation can be done e.g. by applying correlation coefficients given by Dennis Dam Soerensen and Lene Juul Pedersen in publication entitled „Infrared skin temperature measurements for monitoring health in pigs: a review", Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica (2015) 57:5, DOI 10.1186/ s 13028- 015- 0094-2. In this embodiment if the average value of maxima recalculated in subsequent readings exceeds 39.5 ° C, it is assumed that the criterion has been met and the selecting device is triggered. However, for piglets another threshold value of 40.5° C is used.

[0042] If the positioning device imprecisely determines pig positions, a single maximum may be used as a pattern or it can be supplemented with a reading from an additional sensor or with other conditions, for example related to the time profile of the recorded temperature.

[0043] As most animals in the herd are healthy, the measurement can be performed independently of the age and body size of the animals, which determine normal body temperature. In this case, the average body temperature of the animals in the herd is determined as a moving average. The difference between the average body temperature in the herd is then used as a criterion instead of a fixed temperature value. Temperature values under conditions, in which two maxima are present, are used to calculate the average value. Once the average value is calculated for at least 5% of the total number of animals in the herd, but for at least 7 animals, a value 5% higher than the calculated average value is accepted as the threshold value. The average value is then updated by rejecting results differing more than

[0044] The excessive temperature threshold may also be adapted to the race of the animals and to the conditions present where the animals live. Temperature changes are particularly important and can be measured using an ambient temperature sensor, together with humidity changes. Use of these sensors enables detection of situations, in which sudden changes of the average temperature in the herd are caused by skin measurement inaccuracies in variable ambient conditions . In particular, the thermal module provided with a hygrometer connected to the central unit enables identification of sudden condition changes and determination of the so called perceived temperature. Relative humidity also influences radiation emission from the skin of the animal.

[0045] Repeated temperature measurements are justified at lower acquisition times. Readings performed with a frequency above 10 Hz enable obtaining additional data and improving the certainty of animal presence detection in the measurement position on the basis of the profile of temperature readings received from individual sensors .

[0046] The signal triggering the selecting device, if used with the sorting gate 40, is generated such that if the criterion is not met, the first exit from the gate is open, and if the criterion is met, the second exit from the gate is open.

[0047] A neural network may be used to detect the pre defined pattern testing the pre-defined criterion, and the pre-defined pattern and the pre-defined criterion may be defined by training such a neural network.

[0048] If used together with a marking device operated if the criterion is met, a signal sent to the selecting device triggers the marking device - the dye ejector. Use of a food dye as the marking paint enables animal marking using a substance completely safe to the animals. Obviously, other paints and dyes may also be used to mark the animals, in particular paints visible in UV light .

[0049] Marked or sorted animals can then be examined by a veterinarian.

[0050] It is recommended to perform calibration periodically, which is performed either at specified intervals - daily or upon an ambient temperature change exceeding 5 °C. The latter change is detected using the ambient temperature sensor 14 of the thermal module 21. Reference elements placed within the field of vision of the contactless temperature sensor matrix 13 are used for calibration purposes. By regulating the moving average counting period in large herds, the criterion may be made independent of daily temperature variations, as the moving average follows changes common to all animals in the herd.

[0051] Preferably, if the animal selection criterion is met, an additional alarm signal is also sent. It may be sent as a message to the herd supervisor and as a message to an external server sent via the communication unit 11 of the temperature module 21.

[0052] This unit is used to connect a larger number of temperature modules 21 placed within a single or multiple herds with a server, thus forming a complex system.

[0053] The disclosed invention has been presented using pigs as an example, but the criteria used in the method may be adapted to ensure operation of the invention with other farm animals, such as chickens or cows. The solution may also be used in feeders intended for forest animals and used to control disease spreading. In such situations, an optical recorder should be connected to the thermal modules, and an image or an image sequence - sent to the server.

[0054] According to the invention, the measurement of body temperature of herd animals is ensured in a manner enabling monitoring of the entire herd using thermal modules, the number of which is significantly smaller than the number of animals in the herd. This effect is achieved by placing thermal modules at locations which must be visited by every animal during their daily activity. Such locations include feeders or gates separating individual enclosure spaces. These infrastructure elements also act as positioning elements, ensuring or increasing the probability of a specific spatial orientation of the animal during the measurement and enforce or increase the probability of cyclical presence of all animals in the herd in the measurement field. Thus, smaller thermal matrices may be used without the need to supplement them with additional imaging devices as well as to avoid the need of active human intervention during the measurement. Thermal modules according to the invention comprise a natural element of the breeding infrastructure and may be cleaned and washed without special precautions necessary with imaging devices.

[0055] A person skilled in the art may routinely recommend selecting devices 15 other than dye ejectors marking the animals or controlled doors of the sorting gate. The selecting function may be achieved using numerous other solutions, including wireless readings from an ear clip of the nearest animal or using a dart gun shooting darts containing sedatives or projectiles with radio-based positioning systems, thus achieving other embodiments of the presented invention. A person skilled in the art may also routinely modify the aforementioned embodiments, e.g. using multiple exit gates, including the presented invention in the animal sorting process already in use.

[0056] If readings from a radio-based animal tags is used, e.g. RFID (Radio-frequency identification) or NFC (near field communication) systems installed in ear clips of the examined animals, animals are selected by storing within a memory buffer and subsequently sending, to external server containing animal database, a signal containing the value of the temperature determined in measurement, corresponding to RFID identifier read of the animal. Thus, the selection takes places on the memory level. Selecting device is the memory containing identifier of the animal corresponding to the value of the temperature read from this animal with thermal module. This memory can be a part of thermal module. It may contain not only temperature and RFID identifier but also supplementary data such as measurement time and/or environmental parameters such as ambient temperature, air pressure, etc. or animal parameters such as weight or age. This approach offers the advantage of trend analysis for the entire animal herd, making it possible to use more complex and better decision-making algorithms. The invention operating in this configuration as a positioning device may be used as a passage, where animals walk through individually. The RFID reader should be placed on the positioning device, ensuring that animals, the temperature of which is measured, are selected.

[ 0057 ] In some cases it is advisable to entirely immobilize an animal under test with positioning device 40. Sow in labour and shortly after farrowing e.g. during feeding the piglets is an example of such occasion. Farrowing station is used as a positioning device 40. Thermal module is mounted thereon. Such farrowing station is shown schematically in Fig. 6. Selecting device is a memory containing identifier of the animal corresponding to the value of the temperature read from this animal with thermal module. This memory can be a part of thermal module or remote access memory. It may contain not only temperature and RFID identifier but also supplementary data such as measurement time and/or environmental parameters such as ambient temperature, air pressure, etc. or animal parameters such as weight or age .

Claims

1. A device for monitoring body temperature of an animal (la, lb, lc) , provided with a thermal module (21) with a central unit (10) including a communication module (11), and having a contactless temperature sensor matrix (13) connected thereto, characterised in that it is provided with a selecting device (15) connected to the central unit (10) and with positioning device

(20.30.40) for positioning the animal head (S) below the contactless temperature sensor matrix (13), located above the lower part of this positioning device

(20.30.40), wherein

the contactless temperature sensor matrix (13) includes at least two rows and offers a resolution of at least 10 pixels in each of the rows.

2. A device according to claim 1, characterised in that the temperature sensor matrix (13) is preferably a thermal vision matrix.

3. A device according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the thermal module with the central unit (10), the communication module (11) and the contactless temperature sensor matrix (13) is enclosed inside a tight housing, wherein the contactless temperature sensor matrix (13) is placed in an opening covered with a screen transparent to infrared radiation.

4. A device according to claim 1 or 2 or 3, characterised in that a connection between the temperature sensor matrix (13) and the selecting device (15) is provided using a dedicated I/O system (12) .

5. A device according to any of the claims 1-4, characterised in that it additionally includes an ambient temperature sensor (14) connected to the central unit (10) .

6. A device according to any of the claims 1-5, characterised in that it additionally includes a hygrometer connected to the central unit (10) .

7. A device according to any of the claims 1-6, characterised in that the selecting device is provided as a marking device, while the positioning device comprises a feeder (20, 30) .

8. A device according to claim 7, characterised in that the marking device comprises a dye ejector.

9. A device according to any of the claims 1-8, characterised in that it is additionally provided with a camera operating in visible light.

10. A device according to any of the claims 1-6, characterised in that the positioning device comprises a sorting gate (40), while the selecting device includes an exit of the sorting gate (40) with an actuator controlled connected to the central unit (10) .

11. A device according to any of the claims 1-6, characterised in that it further has radio identifier reader to read animal tag, the positioning device is provided as a passage, while the selecting device is a memory adapted to contain the identifier and value of the temperature.

12. The method of animal condition monitoring using contactless temperature sensor, characterised in that the method is executed using a device as specified in claims 1-11, wherein a single measurement using the temperature sensor matrix (13) is taken with acquisition time shorter than 3.5 s, and a pre-defined pattern is detected in a summary of temperature values corresponding to points of contactless temperature sensor matrix (13), followed by verification of a pre defined criterion, meeting of which is subsequently used to send a control signal to the selecting device (15) .

13. A method of animal monitoring according to claim 12, characterised in that presence of a maximum comprises the pre-defined pattern.

14. A method of animal monitoring according to claim 12 or 13, characterised in that the pre-defined criterion includes detection of temperature exceeding the moving average of the maximum temperature values detected in the herd by more than the specified percentage value.

15. A method according to claim 12 or 13 or 14, characterised in that the specified percentage value is in the range between 2% and 6%.

16. A method according to claim 14 or 15, characterised in that the specified percentage value is changed according to a function of ambient temperature and relative humidity.

17. A method according to any of the claims 12-16, characterised in that the selecting device (15) is provided as doors and an actuator of the sorting gate, to the control input of which the first control signal is sent if a pattern is detected and the criterion is met, or the second control signal in the opposite case.

18. A method according to any of the claims 12-16, characterised in that the selecting device (15) is provided as a marking device, triggered if the pattern is detected and if the criterion is met.

19. A method according to any of the claims 12-18, characterised in that an alarm signal is sent if the pre-defined pattern is detected and if the pre-defined criterion is met.

20. A system monitoring the condition of herd animals, including a server and monitoring units communicating with the server, characterised in that the monitoring units are provided as monitoring devices as specified in any of the claims 1-11.