GB2175186A

GB2175186A - Animal recognition system

Info

Publication number: GB2175186A
Application number: GB08612346A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John George Gibson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1985-05-22
Filing date: 1986-05-21
Publication date: 1986-11-26
Also published as: GB8612346D0; GB8512991D0

Abstract

An animal recognition system includes a transmitter which is contained within a pellet or bolus for implantation in an animal. The signals carrying information from the transmitter are detected by a receiver, held by an operator, which displays the information on a display screen.

Description

SPECIFICATION Animal recognition system This invention relates to an animal recognition system.

This invention has particular application to a system for the identification of livestock, the storage of information about individual animals and the passing ofthat information to a central computerfor evaluation. After evaluation any relevant information is returned to the 'on-form' part ofthe system.

Many farmers keep records of the individual indentityand performance of animals within their herds or flocks. Breed societies keep records of pedigrees to ensure the purity oftheir individual breeds. The Meat and Livestock Commission keep records of various breeds in order to advise farmers on the most suitable breeds or crosses fortheir particu lar farms. The Agricultural Colleges also record for experimental purposes.

At present recording is done by means of a metal or plastic tag in the animal's ear and information recorded in diaries. The information is then transferred manually from the diaries to a computer.

The tags tend to gettorn out and lost. Some of them fade and are difficult to read. In bad weatherthe diaries get wet and dirty. Mistakes are made at various stages as the information is transferred from one stage to the next. A great deal of time is spent writing and sifting the information.

The object of the present invention is to bring the process up to date and make it more efficient using modern technology.

According to the present invention there is provided an animal recognition system comprising transmitter means adapted to be carried by an animal, and a receiverincluding visual display means, signals carring information from the transmitter means being received and displayed by the receiver when the receiver is located adjacent an animal carrying said transmitter means.

Firstly, an effective means of identifying the individual animal by means of a radio transmitter and/or receiver which will be placed in or affixed to the animal. The identification would be received by a handpiece which may or may not contain a transmitter and converted into a reference which will be shown on the handpiece display.

Having identified the animal, the hand piece will be able to recall various pieces of information aboutthe animal and havefurtherinformationaddedtothe memory.

The information contained in the handpiece can then be passed on by means of an acousticcouplerto a central computerforstorage and analysis.

The central computer would then produce a written printout ofthe information and its conclusions. Any relevant pieces of information can then be transferred backto the handpiece for use by the stockman inthefield.

To advance the system further it would be fixed at a point in a livestock handling system where, when the animal passed it, itwould automatically be identified and information shown on a displayforthe stockman's benefit. For instance, at a weigh crate where a reading oftheweightwould automatically be recorded with the animal's identity. This would have an application for livestock markets as well as farmers. Itwould also make iteasierforthe Ministry of Ag ricu Itu re to record animal movements.

In n its simplestform the handpiece and radio identity can be used by the farmerfor his own records andto keepthe pedigrees andfamily lines of his own stock.

Although this primary application ofthis system would be for sheep and cattle its uses in other animals are numerous.

Forinstancetheidentification of racehorses, greyhoundsandintheeventoftightening upofthe licencing laws and owners responsibility for dogs and domestic pets, this system could be used in conjunction with the dog licence.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which; Fig. lisa schematic representation of a livestock recognition and recording system made in accordance with the present invention; and Fig. 2 is a plan view of a livestock handling system provided with a livestock recognition and recording system made in accordance with the present invention.

Referring to the drawings a livestock recognition and recording system, shown generally at 1, has a transmitter and/or receiver 2, which is located in an animal.Thetransmitterwould beintheformofeither a pellet which could be put underthe animals skin on the ear in the dewlap orthe tail or other suitable site, oraweighted bolustypecontainersimilartothose used to give delayed action wormers. These are placed directly into the stomach by means of an applicator.

The message carried in this pellet or bolus would give a year of birth and individual identity number, e.g. 85 375. Afarm code and district code could also be added forthe Ministry of Agriculture.

Ahandpiece3is provided. Thiswould be well protected, rugged, weatherproof, hand held computer which would be used to receive/transmitto the pellet or bolus at a distance upto 20 yards and pick up the numbered code.

On receiving the signal or code it would translate it into an LED display. The number could then be used to either recall information aboutthe animal, e.g.

date of birth, sire, dam, etc.

Alternatively new information can be stored beside the number, e.g. weaning weight orto record birth of offspring.

An acoustic coupler4 is used to transfer information from the handpiece 3 to a central computer 5 and then return the computerfindingsto the handpiece 2.

The central computer5 would be the normal computer now used by M.L.C. the agricultural colleges, breed societies, and many estate offices.

The part of the system 1 which would be fitted into a handling system, shown generally at 6, would be the handpiece 3. This would be coupled to a larger display unit 7 to give an easy reading ofthe identity of the animal, and record its weight if fitted to a weigh crate 8. These weigh crates 8 already give weights in digital displayform. It could also be linked to a shedding gate 9 to open or close it to animals of a certain age or weight.

A handling race 10 is also provided.

The handpiece 3 is mounted in position to pick up the animal identity code at the entrance to the weigh crate 8.

The display board 7 is located in easy sight of the operator. This display 7 could give the number and weight of the animal, allowing the operator to separate it into a side pin if required.

Modification and improvements made be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

For example, the system could be adapted for monitoring and logging movement of pigeons. In this case, the receiver could be located at the entrance to the pigeon loft and activated when a pigeon enters the loft.

Claims

1. An animal recognition system comprising transmitter means adapted to be carried by an animal, and a receiver, signals carrying information from the transmitter means being received and stored by the receiver when the receiver is located adjacent an animal carrying said transmitter.

2. An animal recognition system as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the transmitter means is contained within a pellet for placement beneath an animals skin.

3. An animal recognition system as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the transmitter means is contained within a bolus type container for location in the stomach of an animal.

4. An animal recognition system as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the receiver includes visual display means.

5. An animal recognition system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the receiver includes memory means so that when the receiver receives a particular signal additional information on the animal carrying the transmitter means may be stored.

6. An animal recognition system as claimed in Claim 5, wherein the information may be added to the memory means of the receiver.

7. An animal recognition system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the receiver may be linked, through an acoustic coupler, to a central computer to allow the transfer of information to the computer, or from the computer to the receiver.

8. An animal recognition system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the transmitter means can receive, and store, additional information transmitted from the receiver.

9. An animal recognition system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the receiver is mounted on an animal weigh crate, the display means showing the weight of the animal together with the information received from the transmitter means carried by the animal.

10. An animal recognition system as claimed in Claim 9, wherein the weigh crate includes a shedding gate which is opened or closed depending on the information received from the transmitter means by the receiver.

11. An animal recognition system hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.