EP4672958A2

EP4672958A2 - A system and method for estrus or heat detection

Info

Publication number: EP4672958A2
Application number: EP24763371.2A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Eden WEINBERG; Elimelech Mordechai SCHREIBER
Original assignee: SCR Engineers Ltd
Current assignee: SCR Engineers Ltd
Priority date: 2023-03-01
Filing date: 2024-02-29
Publication date: 2026-01-07
Also published as: AU2024229095A1; IL301065A; CN120882305A; WO2024180551A2; WO2024180551A3

Abstract

The presently disclosed subject matter aims to a system and method for determining estrus or heat of one or more dams located in the surrounding of a sire, the system comprising a processing circuitry configured to: (a) receive information indicative of proximity between the one or more dams and the sire; and (b) determine, based on the received information, for each given dam of the one or more dams, whether the given dam is in heat or not. In addition, the system and method for determining estrus or heat may be utilized to determine a source of pregnancy in one or more pregnant or suspected to be pregnant dams, as well as a distance between a secondary tag and a primary tag.

Description

A SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ESTRUS OR HEAT DETECTION

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to the field of estrus or heat detection.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

PCT application PCT/EP2022/078713, entitled "Insurance Livestock Identification", filed on October 14, 2022, and US Patent No. 10,986,816, entitled "Livestock Location System", filed on September 26, 2016, are incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

The estrous cycle is the set of recurring physiological changes induced by reproductive hormones in most mammalian therian females. Estrous cycles start after sexual maturity in females and are interrupted by anestrous phases, otherwise known as "rest" phases, or by pregnancies. Each estrous cycle is divided into four periods: estrus or heat, metestrus, diestrus, and proestrus.

The span of the estrous cycle differs among different animals, as does the span of its different periods. For example, a cow's estrus cycle occurs approximately every 21 days, while an ewe's estrus cycle occurs approximately every 16 days. Within these periods, the estrus or heat period, characterized as the female's sexual receptivity period, of cows lasts about 18 hours, while in ewes this period lasts about 30 hours.

Nowadays, several prominent methods for estrus or heat detection exist. A first type of methods is based on visual observation of behavior(s) exhibited by a given female(s), for example, mounting other females, chin resting and rubbing, frequent urination, bawling, restlessness, and/or sniffing behavior, to name a few. A second type of methods is based on external factors, for example, chin ball markers, teaser animals, and/or movement sensors, to name a few, designed to assist in identifying estrus or heat.

Despite the widespread use of the methods above, these methods tend to be insufficient when used, for example, in large areas such as large farms. In addition, these methods tend to be challenging to manage and time-consuming, as active and continuous monitoring of the females may be required (for example, in cases involving visual observation, chin ball markers, and teaser animals). Moreover, the existing methods fail to provide a determination of the male that impregnated each pregnant female (paternity detection).

Thus, there is a need in the art for new systems and methods for estrus or heat detection.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION

In accordance with a first aspect of the presently disclosed subject matter, there is provided a system for determining heat of one or more dams located in the surrounding of a sire, the system comprising a processing circuitry configured to: receive information indicative of proximity between the one or more dams and the sire; and determine, based on the received information, for each given dam of the one or more dams, whether the given dam is in heat or not.

In one embodiment of the presently disclosed subject matter and/or embodiments thereof, (i) a primary tag is coupled to the sire, (ii) a secondary tag is coupled to each given dam of the one or more dams, and (iii) the information indicative of proximity between the one or more dams and the sire is derived from signals transmitted between the secondary tags of the one or more dams and the primary tag of the sire.

In one embodiment of the presently disclosed subject matter and/or embodiments thereof, (a) the given dam is determined to be in heat in cases where the number of transmitted signals, transmitted from its respective secondary tag and received by the primary tag, during a set time window, exceeds a first threshold, and (b) the given dam is determined to not be in heat in cases where the number of transmitted signals, transmitted from its respective secondary tag and received by the primary tag, during the set time window, is below the first threshold.

In one embodiment of the presently disclosed subject matter and/or embodiments thereof, the first threshold is dynamically adjusted along said given dam's estrus cycle.

In one embodiment of the presently disclosed subject matter and/or embodiments thereof, each of said transmitted signals is assigned a score linked to a proximity level of said given dam's secondary tag and said sire's primary tag, and wherein said scores are accumulated to an aggregated score being compared to a score threshold, such that upon said aggregated score exceeds said score threshold, said given dam is determined to be in heat. In one embodiment of the presently disclosed subject matter and/or embodiments thereof, the signals are received by the primary tag with a signal strength that is above a second threshold.

In one embodiment of the presently disclosed subject matter and/or embodiments thereof, the signal strength is determined by using Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI).

In one embodiment of the presently disclosed subject matter and/or embodiments thereof, (a) the given dam is determined to be in heat in cases where the number of transmitted signals, transmitted by the primary tag and received by the given dam’s secondary tag, during a set time window, exceeds a first threshold, and (b) the given dam is determined to not be in heat in cases where the number of transmitted signals, transmitted by the primary tag and received by the given dam’s secondary tag, during the set time window, is below the first threshold.

In one embodiment of the presently disclosed subject matter and/or embodiments thereof, the signals are received by the primary tag with a signal strength that is above a second threshold.

In one embodiment of the presently disclosed subject matter and/or embodiments thereof, the primary tag includes an internal power source, and wherein the primary tag has low-power time windows, at which the primary tag is configured to be operative with minimal power in order to conserve energy of its internal power source.

In one embodiment of the presently disclosed subject matter and/or embodiments thereof, the signals transmitted between the secondary tags and the primary tag are transmitted from the secondary tags to the primary tag at distinct time points within one or more reception time windows of the primary tag.

In one embodiment of the presently disclosed subject matter and/or embodiments thereof, each signal of the signals, transmitted by a given secondary tag, includes an identifier associated with the given secondary tag.

In one embodiment of the presently disclosed subject matter and/or embodiments thereof, the sire is a bull and the respective dam is a cow. In one embodiment of the presently disclosed subject matter and/or embodiments thereof, the system further receives information indicative of behaviors exhibited by the one or more dams or the sire, such that the determination of whether a given dam is in estrus or heat or not is based on both distance and behavior information.

In accordance with a second aspect of the presently disclosed subject matter, there is provided a system for determining heat of one or more dams, each coupled with a secondary tag, at least some of which being within a broadcasting range of a primary tag attached to a sire, the system comprising a processing circuitry configured to: synchronize the primary tag and the at least some secondary tags such that one or more reception time windows of the primary tag, at which the primary tag is configured to receive data, coincide with one or more transmission time windows of the at least some secondary tags, at which the at least some secondary tags are configured to transmit data; transmit, by each given secondary tag, at distinct time points within the one or more reception time windows of the primary tag, signals including an identifier associated with the given secondary tag; receive, by the primary tag, during its reception time windows, the signals transmitted by the secondary tags being within the broadcasting range of the primary tag; determine for each given dam of the one or more dams whether the given dam is: (i) in heat, or (ii) not in heat, wherein: (a) the given dam is determined to be in heat in cases where the number of transmitted signals, transmitted by its respective secondary tag and received by the primary tag, exceeds a first threshold, and (b) the given dam is determined to not be in heat in cases where the number of transmitted signals, transmitted by its respective secondary tag and received by the primary tag is below the first threshold.

In one embodiment of the presently disclosed subject matter and/or embodiments thereof, the signals are received with a signal strength that is above a second threshold.

In one embodiment of the presently disclosed subject matter and/or embodiments thereof, the one or more distinct time points are randomly selected during the reception time windows of the primary tag.

In one embodiment of the presently disclosed subject matter and/or embodiments thereof, the synchronization of the primary tag and the secondary tags is performed by: transmitting, by the primary tag, one or more signals, along a specific time period, wherein at least some of the one or more signals include synchronization information enabling determination of at least one reception time window, during which the primary tag is configured to receive data; receiving, by at least some of the secondary tags, at least one of the signals of the at least some signals transmitted by the primary tag; and, based on the received synchronization information received by each given secondary tag of the at least some of the secondary tags, updating an operation scheme of each given secondary tag, wherein (i) the operation scheme defines transmission time windows during which the given secondary tag is configured to transmit data, and (ii) the transmission time windows at least partially overlap with the at least one reception time window.

In one embodiment of the presently disclosed subject matter and/or embodiments thereof, each of the secondary tags includes a respective internal power source, and wherein the operation scheme further defines low-power time windows during which the secondary tag is not transmitting data in order to conserve energy of the internal power sources.

In accordance with a third aspect of the presently disclosed subject matter, there is provided a system for determining a source of pregnancy of one or more pregnant dams, located in the surrounding of a plurality of sires, the system includes a processing circuitry configured to: receive information indicative of proximity between the one or more pregnant dams and the plurality of sires, prior to the pregnancy, while the one or more pregnant dams were in estrus or heat; and determine, based on the received information, for each given pregnant dam of the one or more pregnant dams, a given sire of the plurality of sires which was proximate to the given pregnant dam while the given pregnant dam was in estrus or heat.

In one embodiment of the presently disclosed subject matter and/or embodiments thereof, (i) a primary tag is coupled to each sire of the plurality of sires, (ii) a secondary tag is coupled to each given pregnant dam of the one or more pregnant dams, and (iii) the information indicative of proximity between the one or more pregnant dams and the plurality of sires is derived from signals transmitted between the secondary tags of the one or more pregnant dams and the primary tags of the plurality of sires, while the one or more pregnant dams were in estrus or heat.

In one embodiment of the presently disclosed subject matter and/or embodiments thereof, each primary tag includes an internal power source, and wherein each primary tag has low-power time windows, at which the primary tag is configured to be operative with minimal power in order to conserve energy of its internal power source.

In one embodiment of the presently disclosed subject matter and/or embodiments thereof, the signals transmitted between the secondary tags and the primary tags are transmitted from the secondary tags to the primary tags at distinct time points within one or more reception time windows of the primary tags.

In one embodiment of the presently disclosed subject matter and/or embodiments thereof, the signals transmitted between the secondary tags and the primary tags are transmitted from the primary tags to the secondary tags at distinct time points within one or more reception time windows of the secondary tags.

In one embodiment of the presently disclosed subject matter and/or embodiments thereof, each signal of the signals, transmitted by a given secondary tag includes an identifier associated with the given secondary tag.

In one embodiment of the presently disclosed subject matter and/or embodiments thereof, the sire is a bull and the respective dam is a cow.

In accordance with a fourth aspect of the presently disclosed subject matter, there is provided a system for determining a distance between a primary tag and one or more secondary tags being within a broadcasting range of the primary tag, the system comprising a processing circuitry configured to: synchronize the primary tag and the secondary tags such that one or more reception time windows of the primary tag, at which the primary tag is configured to receive data, coincide with one or more transmission time windows of the secondary tags, at which the secondary tags are configured to transmit data; transmit, by each given secondary tag, at distinct time points within the one or more reception time windows of the primary tag, signals including an identifier associated with the given secondary tag; receive, by the primary tag, during its reception time window, the signals transmitted by the secondary tags; determine, for each given secondary tag, based on its received signals, a distance between the given secondary tag and the primary tag.

In one embodiment of the presently disclosed subject matter and/or embodiments thereof, (i) the primary tag is configured to be coupled to a sire, and (ii) the one or more secondary tags are each configured to be coupled to a respective dam.

In one embodiment of the presently disclosed subject matter and/or embodiments thereof, the distance is calculated based on the time elapsing between a distinct time point of the distinct time points, at which the secondary tag transmits a signal, and the time at which the transmitted signal was received by the primary tag attached to the sire.

In one embodiment of the presently disclosed subject matter and/or embodiments thereof, each given secondary tag transmits its signals after a predefined time interval and the distance is calculated based on the time elapsing until the primary tag receives the signals.

In accordance with a fifth aspect of the presently disclosed subject matter, there is provided a secondary tag couplable to a non-human animal, the secondary tag comprising an independent internal power source and a processing circuitry configured to: receive one or more signals transmitted by a primary tag located within a broadcasting range of the secondary tag, wherein at least some of the one or more signals include synchronization information enabling determination of at least one reception time window, during which the primary tag is configured to receive data; and, based on the received synchronization information, update an operation scheme of the secondary tag, wherein the operation scheme defines: (i) transmission time windows during which the secondary tag is configured to transmit data, the transmission time windows at least partially overlap with the reception time window, and (ii) low-power time windows during which the secondary tag is not transmitting data in order to conserve energy of the internal power source.

In one embodiment of the presently disclosed subject matter and/or embodiments thereof, the secondary tag transmits data at one or more distinct time points during the reception time windows of the primary tag, so as to at least reduce a likelihood of collision with signals transmitted by one or more additional secondary tags configured to transmit data during the reception time windows.

In accordance with a sixth aspect of the presently disclosed subject matter, there is provided a method for determining heat of one or more dams located in the surrounding of a sire, the method comprising: receiving information indicative of proximity between the one or more dams and the sire; and determining, based on the received information, for each given dam of the one or more dams, whether the given dam is in heat or not.

In one embodiment of the presently disclosed subject matter and/or embodiments thereof, the signal strength is determined by using Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI). In one embodiment of the presently disclosed subject matter and/or embodiments thereof, (a) the given dam is determined to be in heat in cases where the number of transmitted signals, transmitted by the primary tag and received by the given dam’s secondary tag, during a set time window, exceeds a first threshold, and (b) the given dam is determined to not be in heat in cases where the number of transmitted signals, transmitted by the primary tag and received by the given dam’s secondary tag, during the set time window, is below the first threshold.

In one embodiment of the presently disclosed subject matter and/or embodiments thereof, the method further receives information indicative of behaviors exhibited by the one or more dams or the sire, such that the determination of whether a given dam is in estrus or heat or not is based on both distance and behavior information.

In accordance with a seventh aspect of the presently disclosed subject matter, there is provided a method for determining heat of one or more dams, each coupled with a secondary tag, at least some of which being within a broadcasting range of a primary tag attached to a sire, the method comprising: synchronizing the primary tag and the at least some secondary tags such that one or more reception time windows of the primary tag, at which the primary tag is configured to receive data, coincide with one or more transmission time windows of the at least some secondary tags, at which the at least some secondary tags are configured to transmit data; transmitting, by each given secondary tag, at distinct time points within the one or more reception time windows of the primary tag, signals including an identifier associated with the given secondary tag; receiving, by the primary tag, during its reception time windows, the signals transmitted by the secondary tags being within the broadcasting range of the primary tag; determining for each given dam of the one or more dams whether the given dam is: (i) in heat, or (ii) not in heat, wherein: (a) the given dam is determined to be in heat in cases where the number of transmitted signals, transmitted by its respective secondary tag and received by the primary tag, exceeds a first threshold, and (b) the given dam is determined to not be in heat in cases where the number of transmitted signals, transmitted by its respective secondary tag and received by the primary tag is below the first threshold.

In accordance with an eighth aspect of the presently disclosed subject matter, there is provided a method for determining a source of pregnancy of one or more pregnant dams, located in the surrounding of a plurality of sires, the method: receiving information indicative of proximity between the one or more pregnant dams and the plurality of sires, prior to the pregnancy, while the one or more pregnant dams were in estrus or heat; and determining, based on the received information, for each given pregnant dam of the one or more pregnant dams, a given sire of the plurality of sires which was proximate to the given pregnant dam while the given pregnant dam was in estrus or heat.

In accordance with an eighth aspect of the presently disclosed subject matter, there is provided a method for determining a distance between a primary tag and one or more secondary tags being within a broadcasting range of the primary tag, the method comprising: synchronizing the primary tag and the secondary tags such that one or more reception time windows of the primary tag, at which the primary tag is configured to receive data, coincide with one or more transmission time windows of the secondary tags, at which the secondary tags are configured to transmit data; transmitting, by each given secondary tag, at distinct time points within the one or more reception time windows of the primary tag, signals including an identifier associated with the given secondary tag; receiving, by the primary tag, during its reception time window, the signals transmitted by the secondary tags; determining, for each given secondary tag, based on its received signals, a distance between the given secondary tag and the primary tag.

In one embodiment of the presently disclosed subject matter and/or embodiments thereof, the sire is a bull and the respective dam is a cow. In one embodiment of the presently disclosed subject matter and/or embodiments thereof, the distance is calculated based on the time elapsing between a distinct time point of the distinct time points, at which the secondary tag transmits a signal, and the time at which the transmitted signal was received by the primary tag attached to the sire.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order to understand the presently disclosed subject matter and to see how it may be carried out in practice, the subject matter will now be described, by way of non-limiting examples only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a schematic illustration of an environment in which the system for estrus or heat detection operates, in accordance with the presently disclosed subject matter;

Fig. 2 is a block diagram schematically illustrating one example of a system for estrus or heat detection, in accordance with the presently disclosed subject matter;

Fig. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a sequence of operations carried out by a system for estrus or heat detection, in accordance with the presently disclosed subject matter;

Fig. 4 is a flowchart illustrating another example of a sequence of operations carried out by a system for estrus or heat detection, in accordance with the presently disclosed subject matter;

Fig. 5 is a flowchart illustrating yet another example of a sequence of operations carried out by a system for estrus or heat detection, in accordance with the presently disclosed subject matter; and,

Fig. 6 is a flowchart illustrating yet another example of a sequence of operations carried out by a system for estrus or heat detection, in accordance with the presently disclosed subject matter.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following detailed description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the presently disclosed subject matter. However, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the presently disclosed subject matter may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well- known methods, procedures, and components have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the presently disclosed subject matter.

In the drawings and descriptions set forth, identical reference numerals indicate those components that are common to different embodiments or configurations.

Unless specifically stated otherwise, as apparent from the following discussions, it is appreciated that throughout the specification discussions utilizing terms such as "receiving", "determining", "synchronizing", "transmitting", "updating", or the like, include action and/or processes of a computer that manipulate and/or transform data into other data, said data represented as physical quantities, e.g., such as electronic quantities, and/or said data representing the physical objects. The terms “computer”, “processor”, “processing resource”, “processing circuitry”, and “controller” should be expansively construed to cover any kind of electronic device with data processing capabilities, including, by way of non-limiting example, a personal desktop/laptop computer, a server, a computing system, a communication device, a smartphone, a tablet computer, a smart television, a processor (e.g. digital signal processor (DSP), a microcontroller, a field programmable gate array (FPGA), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), etc.), a group of multiple physical machines sharing performance of various tasks, virtual servers co-residing on a single physical machine, any other electronic computing device, and/or any combination thereof.

The operations in accordance with the teachings herein may be performed by a computer specially constructed for the desired purposes or by a general-purpose computer specially configured for the desired purpose by a computer program stored in a non- transitory computer readable storage medium. The term "non-transitory" is used herein to exclude transitory, propagating signals, but to otherwise include any volatile or nonvolatile computer memory technology suitable to the application.

As used herein, the phrase "for example," "such as", "for instance" and variants thereof describe non-limiting embodiments of the presently disclosed subject matter. Reference in the specification to "one case", "some cases", "other cases" or variants thereof means that a particular feature, structure or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment(s) is included in at least one embodiment of the presently disclosed subject matter. Thus, the appearance of the phrase "one case", "some cases", "other cases" or variants thereof does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment(s).

It is appreciated that, unless specifically stated otherwise, certain features of the presently disclosed subject matter, which are, for clarity, described in the context of separate embodiments, may also be provided in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features of the presently disclosed subject matter, which are, for brevity, described in the context of a single embodiment, may also be provided separately or in any suitable sub-combination.

In embodiments of the presently disclosed subject matter, fewer, more and/or different stages than those shown in Figs. 3 to 6 may be executed. In embodiments of the presently disclosed subject matter one or more stages illustrated in Figs. 3 to 6 may be executed in a different order and/or one or more groups of stages may be executed simultaneously. Fig. 2 illustrates a general schematic of the system architecture in accordance with an embodiment of the presently disclosed subject matter. Each module in Fig. 2 can be made up of any combination of software, hardware and/or firmware that performs the functions as defined and explained herein. The modules in Fig. 2 may be centralized in one location or dispersed over more than one location. In other embodiments of the presently disclosed subject matter, the system may comprise fewer, more, and/or different modules than those shown in Fig. 2.

Any reference in the specification to a method should be applied mutatis mutandis to a system capable of executing the method and should be applied mutatis mutandis to a non-transitory computer readable medium that stores instructions that once executed by a computer result in the execution of the method.

Any reference in the specification to a system should be applied mutatis mutandis to a method that may be executed by the system and should be applied mutatis mutandis to a non-transitory computer readable medium that stores instructions that may be executed by the system.

Any reference in the specification to a non-transitory computer readable medium should be applied mutatis mutandis to a system capable of executing the instructions stored in the non-transitory computer readable medium and should be applied mutatis mutandis to method that may be executed by a computer that reads the instructions stored in the non-transitory computer readable medium. Bearing this in mind, attention is drawn to Fig. 1, showing a schematic illustration of an environment in which the system for estrus or heat detection (also interchangeably referred to herein as “system”) operates, in accordance with the presently disclosed subject matter.

As shown in the schematic illustration, environment 100 includes an area 102 containing an animal population 104 composed of a plurality of dams, denoted 106, and one or more sires, denoted 108. The plurality of dams (e.g., cows, sows, mares, ewes, does, and the like) and the one or more sires (e.g., bulls, boars, stallions, rams, bucks, and the like) may be dispersed throughout the area 102, such that interactions between the various individuals may occur. In a first example, area 102 may be a controlled environment, e.g., a controlled pen, a controlled barn, and the like. In a second example, area 102 may be an uncontrolled environment, e.g., a meadow, a field, and the like. In a third example, the area 102 may include both controlled areas and uncontrolled areas.

The one or more sires, or at least one individual thereof, may each be associated with a first device (e.g., a tag, a collar, an internal implant, etc.), denoted 110, while the plurality of dams, or at least one individual thereof, may each be associated with a second device (e.g., a tag, a collar, an internal implant, etc.), denoted 112. In a non-limiting example, the first device 110 is a primary tag, while the second device 112 is a secondary tag.

The primary and secondary tags can be of different tag-types, e.g., identification tags, monitoring tags, etc., and can be coupled to different body parts of the one or more sires and the one or more dams, respectively (e.g., the ear(s), the tail, the leg(s), the neck, etc.). In one example, both primary and secondary tags may be of the same tag-type (e.g., monitoring ear tags directed to be coupled to at least one ear of a given sire and a given dam, respectively). In another example, the primary and secondary tags may be of different tag-types (e.g., the primary tags may be monitoring ear tags, while the secondary tags may be identification collar tags).

The primary and secondary tags may each follow a respective operation scheme composed of one or more transmission time windows and one or more reception time windows. Both the primary and secondary tags may utilize the transmission and reception time windows to interact with other tags, for example, tags of the same type (e.g., primary-primary or secondary-secondary) or tags of a different type (e.g., primarysecondary or secondary-primary). The interaction between tags may be achieved through the transmission and reception of signals (e.g., beacon signals, and the like), which enable the transmission of information (e.g., proximity-related information, behavior-related information, identification information, and the like) between the tags. For example, a given primary tag may operate according to an operation scheme composed of three transmission time windows and three reception time windows, arranged alternately. In contrast, a given secondary tag, directed to interact with said given primary tag, may operate according to an operation scheme composed of two reception time windows and two transmission time windows, arranged alternately. Interaction between both tags can be achieved through the transmission and/or reception of signals within each tag's transmission and/or reception time windows.

In some cases, alternatively or additionally to the above, the transmission of information may be to other systems, external to the tags (for example, a control system, and the like).

In some cases, for a pair of primary and secondary tags to interact, the secondary tag must be within a broadcasting range of the primary tag. In other cases, alternatively or additionally to the above, for a pair of primary and secondary tags to interact, at least one transmission time window of the secondary tag must be synchronized with at least one reception time window of the primary tag, as explained hereinafter in relation to Fig. 4.

In some cases, the primary and/or secondary tags may include an internal power source designed to enable the operation of said tags. In such cases, the operation scheme of the primary and/or secondary tags may further include one or more low-power time windows. With respect to primary tags, the one or more low-power time windows may define time periods at which the primary tag may be configured to be operative with minimal power to conserve energy of its internal power source. With respect to secondary tags, the low-power time windows may define time periods at which the secondary tags may be configured not to transmit data to conserve energy of their internal power sources.

By way of a non-limiting example (presented merely for purposes of better understanding the disclosed subject matter and not in any way intended to limit its scope), a cattle herd 104 of seven cows 106 and three bulls 108 is dispersed throughout a meadow 102. Each of the seven cows 106 has a secondary tag coupled to its right ear, while each of the three bulls 108 has a primary tag coupled to its left ear. The primary tags of the three bulls 108 and the secondary tags of the seven cows 106 follow their respective operation schemes, which enable them to interact with one another, through signals transmitted therebetween. The transmitted signals are each associated with proximity- related information, indicative of proximity between a given cow or bull and a respective cow or bull of the remaining cows and bulls of cattle herd 104, which is transferred both between the tags and to a control system, external to the tags.

Attention is now drawn to the components of the system for estrus or heat detection 200.

Fig. 2 is a block diagram schematically illustrating one example of the system for estrus or heat detection 200, in accordance with the presently disclosed subject matter.

In accordance with the presently disclosed subject matter, the system for estrus or heat detection 200 (also interchangeably referred to herein as “system 200”) can comprise a network interface 206. The network interface 206 (e.g., a network card, a Wi-Fi client, a Li-Fi client, 3G/4G client, or any other communication component) enables system 200 to communicate over a network with external systems and handles inbound and outbound communications from such systems. For example, system 200 can receive information indicative of proximity between one or more dams and a sire, through network interface 206.

System 200 can further comprise or be otherwise associated with a data repository 204 (e.g., a database, a storage system, a memory including Read Only Memory - ROM, Random Access Memory - RAM, or any other type of memory, etc.) configured to store data. Some examples of data that can be stored in the data repository 204 include:

• One or more transmission and/or reception time windows of one or more primary tags;

• One or more transmission and/or reception time windows of one or more secondary tags;

• One or more distinct time points within one or more reception time windows of one or more primary tags;

• One or more identifiers associated with one or more secondary tags;

• One or more identifiers associated with one or more first tags;

• One or more dams determined to be in estrus or heat;

• One or more dams determined not to be in estrus or heat;

• One or more signal strengths associated with one or more transmitted signals; • One or more low-power time windows of one or more primary tags;

• One or more operation schemes associated with one or more primary tags;

• One or more operation schemes associated with one or more secondary tags; etc.

Data repository 204 can be further configured to enable retrieval and/or update and/or deletion of the stored data. It is to be noted that in some cases, data repository 204 can be distributed, while system 200 has access to the information stored thereon, e.g., via a wired or wireless network to which system 200 is able to connect (utilizing its network interface 206).

System 200 further comprises processing circuitry 202. Processing circuitry 202 can be one or more processing units (e.g., central processing units), microprocessors, microcontrollers (e.g., microcontroller units (MCUs)) or any other computing devices or modules, including multiple and/or parallel and/or distributed processing units, which are adapted to independently or cooperatively process data for controlling relevant system 200 resources and for enabling operations related to system's 200 resources.

The processing circuitry 202 may include one or more of: (i) an estrus or heat detection module 208, configured to perform an estrus or heat detection process, as further detailed herein, inter alia, with reference to Figs. 3 and 4, (ii) a distance measurement module 210, configured to perform a distance measurement process, as further detailed herein, inter alia, with reference to Fig. 5, and (iii) a paternity detection module 212, configured to perform a paternity detection process, as further detailed herein, inter alia, with reference to Fig. 6.

In some cases, system 200 may be situated within a primary tag, serving as a standalone device. The primary tag may perform all the operations of system 200, as explained throughout the description, and provide a list of secondary tags of cows suspected to be in estrus or heat.

Turning to Fig. 3, there is shown a flowchart illustrating one example of a sequence of operations carried out by the system for estrus or heat detection 200, in accordance with the presently disclosed subject matter.

Accordingly, the system for estrus or heat detection 200 can be configured to perform an estrus or heat detection process 300, e.g., using the estrus or heat detection module 208. For this purpose, the system for estrus or heat detection 200 receives information indicative of proximity between one or more dams and a sire (block 302), and determines, based on the received information, for each given dam of the one or more dams, whether the given dam is in estrus or heat, or not (block 304).

In a first non-limiting example, correlating with the description presented hereinbefore in relation to Fig. 1, the sire may be associated with a primary tag, coupled thereto, whereas the one or more dams may each be associated with a respective secondary tag, coupled thereto. In addition, information indicative of proximity between the one or more dams and the sire may be derived from signals transmitted between the secondary tags of the one or more dams and the sire's primary tag (e.g., based on the signals time of transmittal and arrival, i.e., the difference between the specific time at which a given signal was transmitted by a primary/secondary tag and the specific time at which the given signal was received by a secondary /primary tag). In a second nonlimiting example, information indicative of proximity between the one or more dams and the sire may be derived from other means capable of enabling the acquisition of such information. For example, said information may be derived from visual means (e.g., camera(s), etc.), Global Positioning System (GPS) data obtained from a GPS receiver (that can optionally be comprised within the primary and secondary tags), location data obtained from a system for locating the position of at least one animal within a predetermined region of space (as presented in US Patent No. 10,986,816, incorporated herein by reference), and the like.

In cases correlating with the first non-limiting example, system 200 may determine that a given dam is in estrus or heat when the number of transmitted signals, transmitted between the given dam's respective secondary tag and the sire's primary tag, during a set time window (e.g., a window of seconds, minutes, hours, etc.), exceeds a first threshold (for example, a number or a range). Accordingly, in such cases, system 200 may determine that the given dam is not in heat when the number of transmitted signals, transmitted between its respective secondary tag and the sire's primary tag, during the set time window (e.g., the window of seconds, minutes, hours, etc.), is below the first threshold.

In some cases, the first threshold may be determined based on data obtained from continuous field observations of behaviors of various animal populations for ongoing time periods. The obtained data may include information concerning different types of behaviors in different time periods of the continuous field observations in order to understand how a dam of a specific animal type behaves at those specific times and relate each behavior to a measured signal strength, which is correlated with the observed proximity occurring during the act of a specific behavior. The duration of said observations may be hourly (i.e., for several hours), or daily (i.e., for more than 24 hours), while the behaviors may be one or more of: staying proximate to a sire, mounting other females, chin resting and rubbing, frequent urination, bawling, restlessness, and/or sniffing behavior, etc.

In some cases, the first threshold, optionally being either static or dynamically adjusted (e.g., by the user, by a designated machine learning (ML) model, by the system, based on feedback from correctly determining estrus, and the like), can be developed and optimized for each specific environment and/or animal. For example, the first threshold may be dynamically adjusted along each animal's estrus cycle. In such cases, at the beginning of the estrus cycle, the value of the first threshold may be at its highest since meaningful proximity occurrences related to heat event(s) during that time are improbable. As the estrus cycle progresses, the first threshold may gradually decline over time until it reaches its lowest point at the end of the estrus cycle, when meaningful proximity occurrences related to heat event(s) are most likely to occur. By adjusting the first threshold, system 200 can effectively ignore proximity events that are not heat- related.

In one non-limiting example, the transmitted signals are transmitted from the given dam's respective secondary tag to the sire's primary tag. In another non-limiting example, the transmitted signals, are transmitted from the sire's primary tag to the given dam's respective secondary tag.

In cases correlating with the non-limiting example of secondary tag to primary tag signal transmission mentioned hereinbefore, the signals transmitted from the secondary tags may each be transmitted at distinct time points within one or more reception time windows of the primary tag. The transmission at distinct time points may at least reduce the likelihood of collisions with signals transmitted by one or more additional secondary tags configured to transmit data during the reception time windows. In addition, each of the transmitted signals may include an identifier, associated with the given secondary tag.

In some cases, the signal strength of each transmitted signal may be determined, for example, using a Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI) (though other means for determining a strength of a signal may be used as well). In such cases, only transmitted signals with a signal strength that is above a defined second threshold (for example, a number or a range) will be recorded or used by system 200.

In cases involving the use of a defined second threshold, the threshold may be determined by measuring or calculating an expected Received Signal Strength associated with a given distance. The measurements or calculations may be carried out as part of field observations during which an expected received signal strength is determined or estimated for a certain distance (e.g., 20 meters) or a range of distances (e.g., 10-30 meters, 0-40 meters, 15-25 meters, and the like). In some cases, the defined second threshold may be environment-dependent. In some cases, the second threshold can be developed and optimized for each specific environment. Additionally, the second threshold can be either static or dynamically adjusted (e.g., by the user, by a designated machine learning (ML) model, by the system, based on feedback from correctly determining estrus, and the like) to adapt to changes in the environment of the systems and methods described herein.

In some cases, the strength of each transmitted signal, linked to the proximity level of a pair of interacting tags (and by virtue of a pair of interacting animals), may be used to determine a score, representing the contribution or impact level of each signal in determining heat. More particularly, transmitted signals with signal strength above a certain threshold may be assigned a higher score than those with signal strength below said threshold (since signals with signal strength above said threshold indicate greater proximity between said animals). In such cases, after determining a score for each transmitted signal, system 200 may aggregate the scores and compare the aggregated score to a score threshold. Upon the aggregated score being above said score threshold, system 200 may indicate heat. By way of a non-limiting example (presented merely for purposes of better understanding the disclosed subject matter and not in any way intended to limit its scope), assuming a total amount of five signals have been transmitted between a primary tag and a secondary tag, of which two signals are of signal strength of 5dBm. (decibel-milliwatts) and the remaining three are of signal strength of 2 dBm, system 200 compares each signal strength of said signals to a strength threshold of 4 dBm. As two signals of said signals are of signal strength above said strength threshold, system 200 assigns each of these signals with the score '2', whereas the remaining three signals with signal strength below said strength threshold are each assigned with the score T'. System 200 then aggregates the scores of the five transmitted signals and compares the aggregated score ('7') to a determined score threshold of '5'. As the aggregated score ('7') exceeds the determined score threshold ('5'), system 200 indicates that the dam associated with the secondary tag is in heat.

In some cases, in addition to information indicative of proximity between the one or more dams and the sire, system 200 receives information indicative of behavior(s) exhibited by said one or more dams and/or sire, such that the determination of whether a given dam is in estrus or heat is based on both distance and behavior information. For example, in cases where the one or more dams and the sire are each associated with a monitoring tag, the monitoring tags of the one or more dams can provide system 200 with information relating to behaviors serving as known indications of estrus, e.g., chin resting and rubbing, frequent urination, bawling, restlessness, and/or sniffing behavior, and the like.

Turning to Fig. 4, there is shown a flowchart illustrating another example of a sequence of operations carried out by the system for estrus or heat detection 200, in accordance with the presently disclosed subject matter.

Accordingly, the system for estrus or heat detection 200 can be configured to perform an estrus or heat detection process 400, e.g., using the estrus or heat detection module 208.

Within the estrus or heat detection process 400, system 200 may be configured to determine estrus or heat of one or more dams, associated with respective secondary tags found within a broadcasting range of a primary tag attached to a sire.

For this purpose, the system for estrus or heat detection 200 synchronizes the primary tag and the respective secondary tags. For example, one or more reception time windows of the primary tag, at which time the primary tag is configured to receive data, may be configured to coincide with one or more transmission time windows of the respective secondary tags, at which time the respective secondary tags are configured to transmit data (block 402).

In one example, the synchronization of the primary tag and the respective secondary tags may be performed by: (a) transmitting, by the primary tag, one or more signals, during a specific time period (e.g., a time period of seconds, minutes, hours, etc.), such that at least some of the one or more signals include synchronization information enabling determination of at least one reception time window, during which the primary tag is configured to receive data; (b) receiving, by at least some of the respective secondary tags, at least one of the signals of the at least some signals transmitted by the primary tag; and, (c) based on the received synchronization information received by each given respective secondary tag of the at least some of the respective secondary tags, updating the operation scheme of each given respective secondary tag by defining transmission time windows (during which the given secondary tag is configured to transmit data) which at least partially overlap with the at least one reception time window of the primary tag.

It is to be noted that synchronizing the primary and secondary tags may be performed by other methods or means capable of yielding the same result. It is to be further noted the synchronization stage may be a continuous stage, occurring along system’s 200 operation (i.e., in parallel to the signals acquisition stage). In one example, the system may include continuous or near continuous synchronization. In another example, the system may include periodical synchronization occurring, for example, every time a secondary tag receives a signal from a primary tag, at specific time periods (e.g., a few times an hour, etc.), and the like.

The continuous occurrence of the synchronization stage may be due to a potential drift occurring between the inner clocks of the primary and secondary tags. In some cases, the frequency of the synchronization can be optimized to account for potential drift between the inner clocks.

Once synchronized, each given respective secondary tag of the respective secondary tags, transmits signals (optionally at distinct time points within the one or more reception time windows of the primary tag) including an identifier associated with the given respective secondary tag (block 404).

In some cases, the one or more distinct time points may be randomly selected during the reception time windows of the primary tag. In other cases, the one or more distinct time points may be deliberately selected for various reasons. In one example, the distinct time points may be deliberately selected to at least reduce the likelihood of collisions between signals transmitted by one or more secondary tags configured to transmit data during the same reception time windows. In another example, the distinct time points may be deliberately selected to at least reduce the likelihood of collisions between signals transmitted by one or more secondary tags and other systems that might be running in the area (e.g., farm). Next, the primary tag receives, during its reception time windows, the signals transmitted by the respective secondary tags (block 404). System 200 determines, for each given dam of the one or more dams, whether the given dam is: (i) in estrus or heat, or (ii) not in estrus or heat (block 406).

In some cases, similar to the description detailed hereinbefore with respect to Fig. 3, system 200 may determine that a given dam is in estrus or heat when the number of transmitted signals, transmitted between the given dam's respective secondary tag and the sire's primary tag, during a set time window (e.g., a window of seconds, minutes, hours, etc.), exceeds a first threshold (for example, a number or a range). Accordingly, in such cases, system 200 may determine that the given dam is not in heat when the number of transmitted signals, transmitted between its respective secondary tag and the sire's primary tag, during the set time window (e.g., the window of seconds, minutes, hours, etc.), is below the first threshold.

In a first non-limiting example, the transmitted signals, transmitted between the given dam's respective secondary tag and the sire's primary tag, are transmitted from the given dam's respective secondary tag to the sire's primary tag. In a second non-limiting example, the transmitted signals, transmitted between the given dam's respective secondary tag and the sire's primary tag, are transmitted from the sire's primary tag to the given dam's respective secondary tag. In a third non-limiting example, the transmitted signals, transmitted between the given dam's respective secondary tag and the sire's primary tag, consist of: (i) a first subset of signals, transmitted from the given dam's respective secondary tag to the sire's primary tag, and (ii) a second subset of signals, transmitted from the sire's primary tag to the given dam's respective secondary tag.

In cases correlating with the non-limiting example of secondary tag to primary tag signal transmission mentioned hereinbefore, the signals transmitted from the secondary tags may each be transmitted at distinct time points within one or more reception time windows of the primary tag. The transmission of each signal at a distinct time point may at least reduce the likelihood of collisions with signals transmitted by one or more additional secondary tags configured to transmit data during the reception time windows.

In some cases, the signal strength of each transmitted signal may be determined and compared to a defined second threshold (for example, a number or a range either static or dynamically adjusted (e.g., by the user, by a designated machine learning (ML) model, by the system, based on feedback from correctly determining estrus, and the like) to adapt to changes in the environment of the systems and methods described herein). In such cases, the determined signal strength corresponds to the distance between the secondary and primary tags, enabling system 200 to consider only signals having a signal strength above said defined second threshold. The signal strength of any transmitted signal may be determined, for example, using a Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI), though other means for determining a strength of a signal may be used as well.

In some cases, alternatively or additionally to the above, as illustrated in Fig. 5 in relation to process 500, system 200 may utilize the received signals of each given secondary tag to determine a distance between the given secondary tag and the primary tag, using the distance measurement module 210 (block 508). In one example, the distance may be calculated based on the time elapsing between a distinct time point of the distinct time points, at which the secondary tag transmits a signal, and the time at which the transmitted signal was received by the primary tag attached to the sire. In another example, each given secondary tag may transmit its signals after a predefined time interval and the distance may be calculated based on the time elapsing until the primary tag receives said signals.

Turning to Fig. 6, there is shown a flowchart illustrating yet another example of a sequence of operations carried out by the system for estrus or heat detection 200, in accordance with the presently disclosed subject matter.

By way of introduction, in addition to the ability of system 200 to determine estrus or heat in one or more dams, as detailed hereinbefore, system 200 may be configured to determine a source of pregnancy in one or more pregnant or suspected to be pregnant dams located in the surrounding of a plurality of sires, using the paternity detection module 212.

Accordingly, the system for estrus or heat detection 200 can be configured to perform a paternity detection process 600.

For this purpose, the system for estrus or heat detection 200 receives information indicative of proximity between the one or more pregnant dams and the plurality of sires, prior to the pregnancy, while the one or more pregnant dams were in estrus or heat (block 602). Based on the received information system 200 determines, for each given pregnant dam of the one or more pregnant dams, a given sire of the plurality of sires which was proximate to the given pregnant dam, while the given pregnant dam was in estrus or heat (block 604).

In a first non-limiting example, correlating with the description presented hereinbefore in relation to Fig. 1, each of the plurality of sires may be associated with a respective primary tag, coupled thereto, whereas each of the one or more pregnant dams may be associated with a respective secondary tag, coupled thereto. In addition, information indicative of proximity between each of the one or more pregnant dams and each of the plurality of sires, prior to the pregnancy, while the one or more pregnant dams were in estrus or heat, may be derived from signals transmitted between the secondary tags of the one or more pregnant dams and the primary tags of the plurality of sires, during said time.

In a second non-limiting example, information indicative of proximity between the one or more pregnant dams and the plurality of sires, prior to the pregnancy, while the one or more pregnant dams were in estrus or heat, may be derived from other means, such as visual means (e.g., camera(s), etc.), Global Positioning System (GPS) data obtained from a GPS receiver (that can optionally be comprised within the primary and secondary tags), location data obtained from a system for locating the position of at least one animal within a predetermined region of space (as presented in US Patent No. 10,986,816, incorporated herein by reference), and the like, capable of enabling the acquisition of such information.

In cases involving the first non-limiting example, system 200 may determine that a given sire is the source of pregnancy of a given dam when the number of transmitted signals, transmitted between the given dam's respective secondary tag and the given sire's primary tag, during a set time window (e.g., a window of seconds, minutes, hours, etc.) of the dam's estrus or heat, exceeds a first threshold (e.g., a number or a range). Accordingly, in such cases, system 200 may determine that the given sire is not the source of pregnancy of the given dam when the number of transmitted signals, transmitted between the dam's respective secondary tag and the given sire's primary tag, during the set time window of the dam's estrus or heat, is below the first threshold.

In some cases, the first threshold can be developed and optimized for each specific environment and/or animal. In some cases, the first threshold can be either static or dynamically adjusted (e.g., by the user, by a designated machine learning (ML) model, by the system, based on feedback from correctly determining estrus, and the like) to adapt to changes in the environment of the systems and methods described herein.

In some cases, alternatively to the above, by comparing the number of transmitted signals to the first threshold, system 200 may determine a probability (i.e., percentages chance) that the given sire is, or is not, the source of pregnancy.

In some cases, in addition to the above, the given sire may be verified as the source of pregnancy by using verification means, e.g., DNA testing and the like. In such cases, the information from these verification means may be utilized to adjust the first threshold, if necessary.

In some cases, a particular individual (e.g., a given sire, verified as the source of pregnancy, or a given cow) may be covered by a designated insurance covering it and its offspring (as presented in PCT application PCT/EP2022/078713, incorporated herein by reference). In such cases, the systems and methods described herein may be used to confirm that a certain animal is covered by an insurance policy, for example by confirming the paternity and or heritage of the animal.

In one non-limiting example, the transmitted signals, transmitted between the given dam's respective secondary tag and the sire's primary tag, are transmitted from the given dam's respective secondary tag to the sire's primary tag. In another non-limiting example, the transmitted signals, transmitted between the given dam's respective secondary tag and the sire's primary tag, are transmitted from the sire's primary tag to the given dam's respective secondary tag.

In some case, the signal strength of each transmitted signal may be determined and compared to a defined second threshold (for example, a number or a range either static or dynamically adjusted (e.g., by the user, by a designated machine learning (ML) model, by the system, based on feedback from correctly determining estrus, and the like) to adapt to changes in the environment of the systems and methods described herein). In such cases, the determined signal strength corresponds to the distance between the secondary and primary tags, enabling system 200 to consider only signals having a signal strength above said defined second threshold. The signal strength of any transmitted signal may be determined, for example, using a Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI) (though other means for determining a strength of a signal may be used as well).

In some cases, involving the non-limiting example of secondary to primary signal transmission mentioned hereinbefore, the signals transmitted from the secondary tags may each be transmitted at distinct time points within one or more reception time windows of the primary tag. The transmission at distinct time points may at least reduce the likelihood of collisions with signals transmitted by one or more additional secondary tags configured to transmit data during the reception time windows). In addition, each of the transmitted signals may include an identifier, associated with the given secondary tag transmitting it.

It is to be noted, with reference to Figs. 3 to 6, that some of the blocks can be integrated into a consolidated block or can be broken down to a few blocks and/or other blocks may be added. It is to be further noted that some of the blocks are optional. It should be also noted that whilst the flow diagram is described also with reference to the system elements that realizes them, this is by no means binding, and the blocks can be performed by elements other than those described herein.

It is to be understood that the presently disclosed subject matter is not limited in its application to the details set forth in the description contained herein or illustrated in the drawings. The presently disclosed subject matter is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Hence, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception upon which this disclosure is based may readily be utilized as a basis for designing other structures, methods, and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present presently disclosed subject matter.

It will also be understood that the system according to the presently disclosed subject matter can be implemented, at least partly, as a suitably programmed computer. Likewise, the presently disclosed subject matter contemplates a computer program being readable by a computer for executing the disclosed method. The presently disclosed subject matter further contemplates a machine-readable memory tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine for executing the disclosed method.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A system for determining heat of one or more dams, each associated with a secondary tag, located in the surrounding of a sire, associated with a primary tag, the system comprising a processing circuitry configured to: receive information indicative of proximity between the one or more dams and the sire, wherein said information is derived from signals transmitted between the secondary tags of the one or more dams and the primary tag of the sire; and determine, based on the received information, for each given dam of the one or more dams, whether the given dam is in heat or not, wherein said determination is performed such that (a) a given dam is determined to be in heat in cases where the number of transmitted signals, transmitted between its respective secondary tag and the primary tag, during a set time window, exceeds a first threshold, and (b) the given dam is determined to not be in heat in cases where the number of transmitted signals, transmitted between its respective secondary tag and the primary tag, during the set time window, is below the first threshold.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said first threshold is dynamically adjusted along said given dam's estrus cycle.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein each of said transmitted signals is assigned a score linked to a proximity level of said given dam's secondary tag and said sire's primary tag, and wherein said scores are accumulated to an aggregated score being compared to a score threshold, such that upon said aggregated score exceeds said score threshold, said given dam is determined to be in heat.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the transmitted signals are signals transmitted by the given dam's secondary tag and received by the primary tag.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the signals are received by said primary tag with a signal strength that is above a second threshold.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the transmitted signals are signals transmitted by the primary tag and received by the given dam’s secondary tag.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the signals are received by said primary tag with a signal strength that is above a second threshold.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the primary tag includes an internal power source, and wherein the primary tag has low-power time windows, at which the primary tag is configured to be operative with minimal power in order to conserve energy of its internal power source.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the signals transmitted between the secondary tags and the primary tag are transmitted from the secondary tags to the primary tag at distinct time points within one or more reception time windows of the primary tag.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein each signal of the signals, transmitted by a given secondary tag, includes an identifier associated with the given secondary tag.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the system further receives information indicative of behaviors exhibited by said one or more dams or said sire, such that the determination of whether a given dam is in estrus or heat or not is based on both distance and behavior information.

12. A system for determining heat of one or more dams, each coupled with a secondary tag, at least some of which being within a broadcasting range of a primary tag attached to a sire, the system comprising a processing circuitry configured to: synchronize the primary tag and the at least some secondary tags such that one or more reception time windows of the primary tag, at which the primary tag is configured to receive data, coincide with one or more transmission time windows of the at least some secondary tags, at which the at least some secondary tags are configured to transmit data; transmit, by each given secondary tag, at distinct time points within the one or more reception time windows of the primary tag, signals including an identifier associated with the given secondary tag; receive, by the primary tag, during its reception time windows, the signals transmitted by the secondary tags being within the broadcasting range of the primary tag; determine for each given dam of the one or more dams whether the given dam is: (i) in heat, or (ii) not in heat, wherein: (a) the given dam is determined to be in heat in cases where the number of transmitted signals, transmitted by its respective secondary tag and received by the primary tag, exceeds a first threshold, and (b) the given dam is determined to not be in heat in cases where the number of transmitted signals, transmitted by its respective secondary tag and received by the primary tag is below the first threshold.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein said first threshold is dynamically adjusted along said given dam's estrus cycle.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein each of said transmitted signals is assigned a score linked to a proximity level between said given dam's secondary tag and said sire's primary tag, and wherein said scores are accumulated to an aggregated score being compared to a score threshold, such that upon said aggregated score exceeds said score threshold, said given dam is determined to be in heat.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the signals are received with a signal strength that is above a second threshold.

16. The system of claim 12, wherein the one or more distinct time points are randomly selected during the reception time windows of the primary tag.

17. The system of claim 12, wherein the primary tag includes an internal power source, and wherein the primary tag has low-power time windows, at which the primary tag is configured to be operative with minimal power in order to conserve energy of its internal power source.

18. The system of claim 12, wherein the synchronization of the primary tag and the secondary tags is performed by: transmitting, by the primary tag, one or more signals, along a specific time period, wherein at least some of the one or more signals include synchronization information enabling determination of at least one reception time window, during which the primary tag is configured to receive data; receiving, by at least some of the secondary tags, at least one of the signals of the at least some signals transmitted by the primary tag; and, based on the received synchronization information received by each given secondary tag of the at least some of the secondary tags, updating an operation scheme of each given secondary tag, wherein (i) the operation scheme defines transmission time windows during which the given secondary tag is configured to transmit data, and (ii) the transmission time windows at least partially overlap with the at least one reception time window.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein each of the secondary tags includes a respective internal power source, and wherein the operation scheme further defines low-power time windows during which the secondary tag is not transmitting data in order to conserve energy of the internal power sources.

20. A system for determining a source of pregnancy of one or more pregnant dams, each associated with a secondary tag, located in the surrounding of a plurality of sires, each associated with a primary tag, the system includes a processing circuitry configured to: receive information indicative of proximity between the one or more pregnant dams and the plurality of sires, prior to the pregnancy, while the one or more pregnant dams were in estrus or heat, wherein said information is derived from signals transmitted between the secondary tags of the one or more pregnant dams and the primary tags of the plurality of sires during the estrus or heat of the one or more pregnant dams; and determine, based on the received information, for each given pregnant dam of the one or more pregnant dams, a given sire of the plurality of sires which was proximate to the given pregnant dam while the given pregnant dam was in estrus or heat.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the signals are received with a signal strength that is above a second threshold.

22. The system of claim 20, wherein each primary tag includes an internal power source, and wherein each primary tag has low-power time windows, at which the primary tag is configured to be operative with minimal power in order to conserve energy of its internal power source.

23. The system of claim 20, wherein the signals transmitted between the secondary tags and the primary tags are transmitted from the secondary tags to the primary tags at distinct time points within one or more reception time windows of the primary tags.

24. The system of claim 20, wherein the signals transmitted between the secondary tags and the primary tags are transmitted from the primary tags to the secondary tags at distinct time points within one or more reception time windows of the secondary tags.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein each signal of the signals, transmitted by a given secondary tag includes an identifier associated with the given secondary tag.

26. A method for determining heat of one or more dams, each associated with a secondary tag, located in the surrounding of a sire, associated with a primary tag, the method comprising: receiving, by a processing circuity, information indicative of proximity between the one or more dams and the sire, wherein said information is derived from signals transmitted between the secondary tags of the one or more dams and the primary tag of the sire; and determining, by the processing circuity, based on the received information, for each given dam of the one or more dams, whether the given dam is in heat or not, wherein said determination is performed such that (a) a given dam is determined to be in heat in cases where the number of transmitted signals, transmitted between its respective secondary tag and the primary tag, during a set time window, exceeds a first threshold, and (b) the given dam is determined to not be in heat in cases where the number of transmitted signals, transmitted between its respective secondary tag and the primary tag, during the set time window, is below the first threshold.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein said first threshold is dynamically adjusted along said given dam's estrus cycle.

28. The system of claim 26, wherein each of said transmitted signals is assigned a score linked to a proximity level between said given dam's secondary tag and said sire's primary tag, and wherein said scores are then accumulated to an aggregated score being compared to a score threshold, such that upon said aggregated score exceeds said score threshold, said given dam is determined to be in heat.

29. The method of claim 26, wherein the transmitted signals are signals transmitted by the given dam's and received by the primary tag.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the signals are received by said primary tag with a signal strength that is above a second threshold.

31. The method of claim 26, wherein the transmitted signals are signals transmitted by the primary tag and received by the given dam’s secondary tag.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the signals are received by said primary tag with a signal strength that is above a second threshold.

33. The method of claim 26, wherein the primary tag includes an internal power source, and wherein the primary tag has low-power time windows, at which the primary tag is configured to be operative with minimal power in order to conserve energy of its internal power source.

34. The method of claim 26, wherein the signals transmitted between the secondary tags and the primary tag are transmitted from the secondary tags to the primary tag at distinct time points within one or more reception time windows of the primary tag.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein each signal of the signals, transmitted by a given secondary tag, includes an identifier associated with the given secondary tag.

36. The method of claim 26, wherein the method further receives information indicative of behaviors exhibited by said one or more dams or said sire, such that the determination of whether a given dam is in estrus or heat or not is based on both distance and behavior information.

37. A method for determining heat of one or more dams, each coupled with a secondary tag, at least some of which being within a broadcasting range of a primary tag attached to a sire, the method comprising: synchronizing the primary tag and the at least some secondary tags such that one or more reception time windows of the primary tag, at which the primary tag is configured to receive data, coincide with one or more transmission time windows of the at least some secondary tags, at which the at least some secondary tags are configured to transmit data; transmitting, by each given secondary tag, at distinct time points within the one or more reception time windows of the primary tag, signals including an identifier associated with the given secondary tag; receiving, by the primary tag, during its reception time windows, the signals transmitted by the secondary tags being within the broadcasting range of the primary tag; determining for each given dam of the one or more dams whether the given dam is: (i) in heat, or (ii) not in heat, wherein: (a) the given dam is determined to be in heat in cases where the number of transmitted signals, transmitted by its respective secondary tag and received by the primary tag, exceeds a first threshold, and (b) the given dam is determined to not be in heat in cases where the number of transmitted signals, transmitted by its respective secondary tag and received by the primary tag is below the first threshold.

38. The system of claim 37, wherein said first threshold is dynamically adjusted along said given dam's estrus cycle.

39. The system of claim 37, wherein each of said transmitted signals is assigned a score linked to a proximity level between said given dam's secondary tag and said sire's primary tag, and wherein said scores are then accumulated to an aggregated score being compared to a score threshold, such that upon said aggregated score exceeds said score threshold, said given dam is determined to be in heat.

40. The method of claim 37, wherein the signals are received with a signal strength that is above a second threshold.

41. The method of claim 37, wherein the one or more distinct time points are randomly selected during the reception time windows of the primary tag.

42. The method of claim 37, wherein the primary tag includes an internal power source, and wherein the primary tag has low-power time windows, at which the primary tag is configured to be operative with minimal power in order to conserve energy of its internal power source.

43. The method of claim 37, wherein the synchronization of the primary tag and the secondary tags is performed by: transmitting, by the primary tag, one or more signals, along a specific time period, wherein at least some of the one or more signals include synchronization information enabling determination of at least one reception time window, during which the primary tag is configured to receive data; receiving, by at least some of the secondary tags, at least one of the signals of the at least some signals transmitted by the primary tag; and, based on the received synchronization information received by each given secondary tag of the at least some of the secondary tags, updating an operation scheme of each given secondary tag, wherein (i) the operation scheme defines transmission time windows during which the given secondary tag is configured to transmit data, and (ii) the transmission time windows at least partially overlap with the at least one reception time window.

44. The method of claim 43, wherein each of the secondary tags includes a respective internal power source, and wherein the operation scheme further defines low-power time windows during which the secondary tag is not transmitting data in order to conserve energy of the internal power sources.

45. A method for determining a source of pregnancy of one or more pregnant dams, each associated with a secondary tag, located in the surrounding of a plurality of sires, each associated with a primary tag, the method comprising: receiving information indicative of proximity between the one or more pregnant dams and the plurality of sires, prior to the pregnancy, while the one or more pregnant dams were in estrus or heat, wherein said information is derived from signals transmitted between the secondary tags of the one or more pregnant dams and the primary tags of the plurality of sires during the estrus or heat of the one or more pregnant dams; and determining, based on the received information, for each given pregnant dam of the one or more pregnant dams, a given sire of the plurality of sires which was proximate to the given pregnant dam while the given pregnant dam was in estrus or heat.

46. The method of claim 45, wherein the signals are received with a signal strength that is above a second threshold.

47. The method of claim 45, wherein each primary tag includes an internal power source, and wherein each primary tag has low-power time windows, at which the primary tag is configured to be operative with minimal power in order to conserve energy of its internal power source.

48. The method of claim 45, wherein the signals transmitted between the secondary tags and the primary tags are transmitted from the secondary tags to the primary tags at distinct time points within one or more reception time windows of the primary tags.

49. The method of claim 45, wherein the signals transmitted between the secondary tags and the primary tags are transmitted from the primary tags to the secondary tags at distinct time points within one or more reception time windows of the secondary tags.

50. The method of claim 49, wherein each signal of the signals, transmitted by a given secondary tag includes an identifier associated with the given secondary tag.

51. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having computer readable program code embodied therewith, the computer readable program code, executable by at least one processor to perform a method for determining heat of one or more dams, the method comprising: receiving information indicative of proximity between the one or more dams and the sire, wherein said information is derived from signals transmitted between the secondary tags of the one or more dams and the primary tag of the sire; and determining, based on the received information, for each given dam of the one or more dams, whether the given dam is in heat or not, wherein said determination is performed such that (a) a given dam is determined to be in heat in cases where the number of transmitted signals, transmitted between its respective secondary tag and the primary tag, during a set time window, exceeds a first threshold, and (b) the given dam is determined to not be in heat in cases where the number of transmitted signals, transmitted between its respective secondary tag and the primary tag, during the set time window, is below the first threshold.

52. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having computer readable program code embodied therewith, the computer readable program code, executable by at least one processor to perform a method for determining heat of one or more dams, each coupled with a secondary tag, at least some of which being within a broadcasting range of a primary tag attached to a sire, the method comprising: synchronizing the primary tag and the at least some secondary tags such that one or more reception time windows of the primary tag, at which the primary tag is configured to receive data, coincide with one or more transmission time windows of the at least some secondary tags, at which the at least some secondary tags are configured to transmit data; transmitting, by each given secondary tag, at distinct time points within the one or more reception time windows of the primary tag, signals including an identifier associated with the given secondary tag; receiving, by the primary tag, during its reception time windows, the signals transmitted by the secondary tags being within the broadcasting range of the primary tag; determining for each given dam of the one or more dams whether the given dam is: (i) in heat, or (ii) not in heat, wherein: (a) the given dam is determined to be in heat in cases where the number of transmitted signals, transmitted by its respective secondary tag and received by the primary tag, exceeds a first threshold, and (b) the given dam is determined to not be in heat in cases where the number of transmitted signals, transmitted by its respective secondary tag and received by the primary tag is below the first threshold.

53. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having computer readable program code embodied therewith, the computer readable program code, executable by at least one processor to perform a method for determining a source of pregnancy of one or more pregnant dams, located in the surrounding of a plurality of sires, the method: receiving information indicative of proximity between the one or more pregnant dams and the plurality of sires, prior to the pregnancy, while the one or more pregnant dams were in estrus or heat, wherein said information is derived from signals transmitted between the secondary tags of the one or more pregnant dams and the primary tags of the plurality of sires during the estrus or heat of the one or more pregnant dams; and determining, based on the received information, for each given pregnant dam of the one or more pregnant dams, a given sire of the plurality of sires which was proximate to the given pregnant dam while the given pregnant dam was in estrus or heat.