IES84273Y1 - A detecting device and method for detecting oestrus in an animal - Google Patents

Abstract

ABSTRACT A detecting device (1) for securing to the back of an animal adjacent the rump or tail end thereof comprises a monitoring switch (11) which is activated by another animal mounting the mounted animal. A plunger (23) of the monitoring switch (11) is depressed by the mounting animal for so long as the mounting animal remains present on the mounted animal. A microprocessor (25) reads signals from the monitoring switch (11) and provided the monitoring switch (1 1) remains in the closed state for a predetermined period of time indicative of an oestrus indicative mount, the microprocessor counts the mount as an oestrus indicative mount. The microprocessor (25) is programmed to monitor for a monitoring period of twenty-four hours, which is divided into four six—hour time segments. The number of oestrus indicative mounts is recorded against each of the four time segments, and during a display time period the microprocessor (25) operates light emitting diodes (19) to output pulsed light signals indicative of the number of oestrus indicative mounts which occurred in each time segment, with the respective time segments identified.

Description

"A detecting device and a method for detecting oestrus in an animal" The present invention relates to a detecting device and a method for detecting oestrus in an animal and in particular in bovines, which display the behavioural characteristic of standing to accept a mating mount and in particular for facilitating the detection of the onset of oestrus in bovines, and for providing guidance as to the most favourable time for conducting artificial insemination. The invention also relates to a system for detecting and displaying oestrus in an animal.

Oestrus in cattle is characterised, inter alia, by a willingness to stand and be served by a bull. This phenomenon is frequently referred to as "standing heat" or "standing to be mounted" or "standing following mounting". The normal cycle length in bovines is between eighteen and twenty-four days and typically is twenty-one days.

Ovulation occurs between twenty-four to thirty hours after the onset of standing heat.

Between three and twenty hours after the onset of standing heat is the optimum time to inseminate the cow to achieve pregnancy. The duration of standing heat and the number of mounts can vary due to environmental factors and/or the number of sexually active animals in a herd. By reliably detecting the time of onset of oestrus among the females of the herd, a farmer is able to choose the optimum time for insemination, artificial or otherwise, and thereby as well as achieving high calving rates, also reducing the calving to conception intervals in the females.

One of the most effective means of detecting oestrus is continuous visual observation of the herd for male to female or female to female mounting and the identification of the sexually active group within the herd. It has been estimated that an oestrus detection rate of 95% to 100% can be achieved in this simple way.

Female to female mounting in the herd occurs both during oestrus and outside oestrus. By observation of the herd, these two behaviours can be distinguished, since a cow in oestrus will stand following mounting whereas the non-oestrus cow will move away from attempted mounts. False mounts can occur, for example, when the animals are in a restricted space or during herding. Another visual sign of oestrus is the formation of a close relationship of a cow in oestrus with other females ,o42/3 who are either just coming into heat orjust going out of heat. Such a group is known as a sexually active group. The phenomenon of standing following mounting and the identification of the sexually active group are the most reliable and certainly the most easily observable signs of true oestrus in the female.

It will be apparent, however, that in modern animal husbandry, the task of continuous twenty-four-hour visual monitoring of the herd for the onset of oestrus is impracticable. Poor heat detection is a major cause of low reproduction efficiency.

Various devices have been proposed for detecting oestrus in females of a herd and alerting a herd manager accordingly.

Proposed solutions to the problem include that described in US-A-5,111,799 (Senger), which discloses a device surgically implanted under the hide of a cow adjacent to the base of the spine. The device includes a switch which is operated by the pressure caused by a mounting animal. The device also includes a counter for counting the number of mountings which occur in a fixed time period and comparing these against a predetermined standing heat event frequency threshold such as at least three standing heat events occurring within an eight-hour period which determines whether oestrus should be indicated by transmitting a signal from the device. The device is programmed to measure the duration of each mount to discriminate between shorter, non-heat mounts and longer, standing heat mounts.

This device is relatively complex. costly and invasive, requiring surgical implantation of the device. Furthermore, it relies on telemetric data transfer and thus requires a farmer to have a receiver and a data analyser and to be fully conversant with the use of a computer or the like.

US-A—4,635,587 (Leonardo) discloses a simpler mount detection device. The device is adapted to be retained externally on the rump of a cow and provides a digital time read out display together with an audible or visible display to alert the farmer. This device provides information concerning the time of first mounting to enable the farmer to make a reasonable guess as to when the cow came into heat. However, it is not particularly reliable since it does not discriminate between non-heat and heat mounts. In a refinement of the device, disclosed in US-A-4,846,106 (Leonardo), a timer is provided and includes three display functions, namely, firstly, an elapsed- time clock display showing the time in hours and minutes elapsed since the first mounting, secondly, a flashing signal to indicate that the device has been activated, and thirdly, a counter indicating the number of mounts up to a maximum of seven which occur once the device is activated, and which are retained for twenty—four hours. The first mount causes an audible and/or visual warning signal to be emitted to indicate that the device has been activated and this continues until the farmer identifies the animal and manually disables the alarm. Clearly, it is undesirable that the farmer is obliged to single out the cow to disable the alarm and to read off the elapsed time and number of mounts to date. It is also the case that this device only measures the time since the first mount and that it measures both non-heat and heat mounts. Consequently, its reliability as an indicator of oestrus is limited.

WO O0/36907 discloses an electronic oestrus detecting device which is mountable at the tail region of an animal to detect standing heat and/or mounting behaviour. The device includes a water resistant housing containing a controller, a power supply, an actuator, a data reader and a display means. The device uses a light emitting diode (LED) to signal when the mount frequency and duration satisfy an algorithm for confirming oestrus. The device may also display the number of mounts and the time since oestrus detection began using a clock display. A further LED signals when oestrus is suspected and a third signals that the animal is within the range of time for breeding.

While these and other prior art oestrus detecting devices, with a greater or lesser degree of accuracy detect oestrus in an animal, they suffer from a number of disadvantages. Firstly, in general, they tend to be relatively complex. Secondly, the outputting and display of the relevant data, in general, is difficult to obtain and decipher from the devices, and in some cases requires additional apparatus, for example, a computer and a visual display unit for reading and interpreting signals from the detecting device, and subsequently displaying the relevant data. Thirdly, the accuracy with which the onset of oestrus can be detected is relatively poor.

Fourthly, in general, they tend to be relatively expensive to produce, and to operate.

The energy requirement of such known detecting devices is also relatively high.

There is therefore a need for a detecting device for detecting oestrus in an animal, and a method for detecting oestrus in an animal, which overcome the problems of known detecting devices and methods.

The present invention is directed towards providing a method and a device for detecting oestrus in an animal.

According to the invention there is provided a detecting device for securing to an animal for detecting oestrus in the animal by detecting standing following mounting while the animal is mounted, the detecting device comprising a monitoring means for monitoring standing following mounting while the animal is mounted for detecting a mount of the animal indicative of oestrus, a computing means responsive to the monitoring means for computing a number of oestrus indicative mounts of the animal in a monitoring period of predetermined time duration, and an output means for outputting a signal indicative of a number of oestrus indicative mounts in the monitoring period, wherein the computing means computes a number of oestrus indicative mounts in each of a plurality of time segments within the monitoring time period, and the output means outputs a signal indicative of a number of the oestrus indicative mounts in the respective corresponding time segments.

In one embodiment of the invention the monitoring period is divided into at least two time segments.

In another embodiment of the invention the monitoring period is divided into at least three time segments. Preferably, the monitoring period is divided into four time segments.

In one embodiment of the invention the respective time segments are each of similar predetermined time duration. Alternatively, at least one of the time segments is of predetermined time duration different to the predetermined time duration of others of the time segments.

In another embodiment of the invention the output means is activated for outputting the signal indicative of the number of oestrus indicative mounts in each time segment for a display time period of predetermined time duration in each monitoring period. Preferably, the display time period is of at least fifteen minutes’ duration.

Advantageously, the display time period is of thirty minutes’ duration.

In one embodiment of the invention the display time period is of forty-five minutes’ duration. Preferably, the display time period is of at least sixty minutes‘ duration.

In another embodiment of the invention the output means is activated at a predetermined time in each monitoring period for commencing the display time period.

In one embodiment of the invention a storing means is provided for storing data indicative of the number of oestrus indicative mounts in each time segment.

In a further embodiment of the invention the monitoring means is operable in a first state in response to the presence of a mounting animal on the mounted animal, and in a second state in response to the absence of a mount. Preferably, a timing means is provided for timing a time period between each transition of the monitoring means from the second state to the first state and the next transition from the first state to the second state as a mounting time period. Advantageously, a comparing means is provided for comparing each mounting time period with a predetermined oestrus indicative mounting time period for determining if the mounting time period is indicative of an oestrus indicative mount.

Ideally, the timing means times a time period after each transition of the monitoring means from the first state to the second state during which the monitoring means is in the second state, and if the time period between the transition from the first state to the second state and the next transition of the monitoring means from the second state to the first state is less than a predetermined interrupt time period, the timing means continues to time the mounting time period, including the time period during which the monitoring means was in the second state for the time period less than the predetermined interrupt time period as the mounting time period.

In one embodiment of the invention the predetermined interrupt time period is less than three seconds. Preferably, the predetermined interrupt time period is less than two seconds. Advantageously, the predetermined interrupt time period is less than one seconds.

In one embodiment of the invention the predetermined oestrus indicative mounting time period is at least three seconds. Preferably, the predetermined oestrus indicative mounting time period is at least five seconds. Advantageously, the predetermined oestrus indicative mounting time period is at least six seconds.

In one embodiment of the invention the monitoring means comprises a monitoring switch, the monitoring switch being alternately operable in a closed circuit state and an open circuit state, the closed circuit state corresponding to one of the first and second states of the monitoring means, and the open circuit state corresponding to the other of the first and second states of the monitoring means. Preferably, the closed circuit state of the monitoring switch corresponds to the first state of the monitoring means.

In another embodiment of the invention the monitoring switch is a pressure sensitive switch responsive to pressure exerted thereon by a mounting animal on the mounted animal.

In one embodiment of the invention a housing is provided for housing the monitoring switch, and the monitoring switch is a plunger operated switch, having a plunger extending therefrom responsive to pressure exerted thereon by a mounting animal for operating the monitoring switch in the closed circuit state.

In another embodiment of the invention the computing means counts the number of oestrus indicative mounts to a predetermined number of oestrus indicative mounts in each time segment, and ceases to count the number of oestrus indicative mounts in each time segment after the count reaches the predetermined number of oestrus indicative mounts until the commencement of the next time segment.

In one embodiment of the invention the predetermined number of oestrus indicative mounts is at least one.

In another embodiment of the invention the predetermined number of oestrus indicative mounts is at least seven.

In a further embodiment of the invention the predetermined number of oestrus indicative mounts is at least ten.

Preferably, the monitoring period is at least twelve hours. Ideally, the monitoring period is at least twenty-four hours.

Preferably, each time segment is of duration of at least three hours.

Advantageously, each time segment is of duration of at least six hours.

In one embodiment of the invention the output means outputs a visually perceptible output signal. Preferably, the output means comprises at least one light source, and the output signal comprises at least one sequence of light pulses emitted by the light source. Advantageously, the output signal indicative of each time segment comprises a first sequence of first light pulses, and the output signal indicative of the number of oestrus indicative mounts comprises a second sequence of second light pulses.

In one embodiment of the invention the number of first light pulses in each first light pulse sequence is indicative of the time segment. Preferably, the first light pulses are of a first predetermined duration.

In another embodiment of the invention the first predetermined duration of each first light pulse does not exceed four seconds. Preferably, the first predetermined duration of each first light pulse does not exceed three seconds. Advantageously, the first predetermined duration of each first light pulse does not exceed two seconds.

In another embodiment of the invention the first predetermined duration of each first light pulse is not less than one and a half seconds.

In one embodiment of the invention the number of second light pulses in each second light pulse sequence is indicative of the number of oestrus indicative mounts in the corresponding time segment.

In another embodiment of the invention the second light pulses are of a second predetermined duration.

In another embodiment of the invention the second predetermined duration of each second light pulse is not less than ten milliseconds. Preferably, the second predetermined duration of each second light pulse is not less than one hundred milliseconds. Advantageously, the second predetermined duration of each second light pulse is not less than two hundred milliseconds.

In another embodiment of the invention the second predetermined duration of each second light pulse does not exceed five hundred milliseconds.

Additionally or alternatively, the output means may comprise a radio signal communicating means. In one embodiment of the invention the output means comprises a passive communicating means. Preferably, the passive communicating means comprises at least one radio frequency identity tag. Advantageously, the passive communicating means comprises a plurality of radio frequency identity tags. in one embodiment of the invention an activating means is provided for activating the output means for outputting the output signal. Preferably, the. activating means is externally operable. Advantageously, the activating means comprises a reed switch, responsive to an externally applied magnetic field.

In another embodiment of the invention a securing means is provided for securing the detecting device to the animal. Preferably, the securing means is adapted for securing the detecting device to the animal to be responsive to mounting of the animal. Advantageously, the securing means is adapted for securing the detecting device to the back of an animal towards the tail end of the animal.

In one embodiment of the invention the securing means comprises a patch for bonding to the hide of the animal, the patch having a pocket for accommodating the detecting device therein with the monitoring means responsive to the presence of a mounting animal on the mounted animal. Preferably, the pocket is adapted for accommodating the detecting device with the output means visible so that visually perceptible output signals outputted by the output means are visible externally of the pocket. Advantageously, the patch is adapted to be bonded to the anima|’s hide by an adhesive.

The invention also provides a method for detecting oestrus in an animal by detecting standing following mounting while the animal is mounted, the method comprising the steps of placing a monitoring means on the animal for monitoring standing following mounting while the animal is mounted for detecting a mount of the animal indicative of oestrus, computing a number of oestrus indicative mounts of the animal in a monitoring period of predetermined time duration, and providing an output signal indicative of a number of oestrus indicative mounts during the predetermined monitoring period. wherein the method further comprises computing a number of oestrus indicative mounts in each of a plurality of time segments within the monitoring period, and providing the output signal indicative of a number of oestrus indicative mounts in the respective corresponding time segments.

In one embodiment of the invention the method is a non-invasive method.

In another embodiment of the invention the method is adapted for detecting oestrus in a bovine animal.

The invention also provides a system for detecting and displaying oestrus in an animal, the system comprising a detecting device according to the invention for detecting oestrus in the animal, a display means for displaying data indicative of oestrus in the animal, and a communicating means for communicating output signals from the detecting means to the display means.

In one embodiment of the invention the communicating means comprises a reading means for reading the output signals outputted by the detecting device.

In another embodiment of the invention the reading means comprises a photosensitive reading means for reading the visually perceptible output signals outputted by the detecting device.

In a further embodiment of the invention the reading means comprises a scanner for scanning the radio frequency identity tags of the detecting device.

The advantages of the invention are many. A particularly important advantage of the invention is achieved by virtue of the fact that the monitoring period is divided into time segments. By dividing the monitoring period into time segments, and by outputting signals indicative of the number of oestrus indicative mounts which occurred in the respective time segments, a more accurate determination of the commencement of oestrus in an animal can be made. Furthermore, by dividing the monitoring period into a plurality of time segments allows the data to be outputted in a very simple format while still providing sufficient information to allow a relatively accurate determination of the onset of oestrus. Needless to say, the greater the number of time segments into which the monitoring period is divided, the greater the accuracy with which the onset of oestrus can be determined.

A further particularly important advantage of the invention is the fact that provision is made to discriminate between mounts which are non-oestrus mounts and oestrus indicative mounts. This is achieved by virtue of the fact that each monitored mounting time period is compared with the predetermined oestrus indicative mounting time period and only those monitored mounting time periods which are of duration equal to or greater than the predetermined oestrus indicative mounting time period are considered to be of oestrus indicative mounts. Those mounts which are of duration less than the predetermined oestrus indicative mounting time are discounted.

A further and particularly important advantage of the invention is that oestrus indicative mounts in which the monitoring means transitions from the first state to the second state momentarily as a result of an animal in oestrus moving slightly during a mount are not discounted as non-oestrus mounts. This is achieved by virtue of the fact that after the monitoring means transitions from the first state to the second state, a timer commences to time the duration during which the monitoring means remains in the second state. If the monitoring means returns to the first state within a predetermined interrupt time period, the period during which the mounting means was operating in the second state is deemed to be a momentary interruption during which the animal being mounted may have moved slightly, but remained standing for the mount, and thus caused the momentary change of state in the monitoring means, and the period during which the monitoring means operated momentarily in the second state is timed as part of the mounting time period, and is summed with the mounting time period prior to the transitioning of the monitoring means from the second state to the first state and with the mounting time period after the transitioning of the monitoring means from the second state to the first state.

By virtue of the fact that the detecting device according to the invention outputs the output data in the form of light pulses from a light source, such as, for example, one or more light emitting diodes, the detecting device can be implemented as a relatively simple and inexpensive device. The fact that the output signals are outputted only during one or more display time periods of predetermined duration is a particular advantage, in that it minimises the power consumption of the device, and by appropriately selecting the one or more display time periods, the display time periods can be selected to coincide with a convenient time for a farmer or herd manager to inspect the output signals, for example, the display time period or periods may be selected to coincide with the milking time of cows. Further power saving is achieved by selecting the predetermined count of oestrus indicative mounts which are counted by the computing means, since once the count of oestrus indicative mounts in any time segment reaches the predetermined count, no further counting is required during that time segment, until the commencement of the next time segment, and indeed, the microprocessor may be operated in a sleep mode until the commencement of the next time segment.

A further advantage of the invention is achieved when the detecting device is provided with an activating means for activating the device to commence a display time period. The provision of the activating means permits a farmer or herd manager to activate the detecting device to output the output signals indicative of the number of oestrus indicative mounts in each time segment during display time periods, other than the predetermined display time periods during which the output signals are automatically outputted. In general, in order to conserve power, the detecting device outputs the output signals for a shorter display time period after manual activation of the activating means of the device, than the predetermined display time period or periods, during which the device is automatically activated for outputting the output signals. Another particularly important advantage of the device is achieved by virtue of the fact that the device determines the number of oestrus indicative mounts which occur in each time segment, records and stores the number of oestrus indicative mounts correlated with each time segment, and at the display time periods which can be selected to be suitable for the farmer or herd manager, outputs signals which are readily and easily interpreted by a farmer or herd manager which indicate the number of oestrus indicative mounts which occurred in each time segment of the monitoring period.

A further advantage of the detecting device is that it enables a farmer of herd manager to identify an animal in oestrus even in a low sexually active group of animals, where the number of oestrus indicative mounts which would occur would be relatively few, and typically in a time segment could be as low as one oestrus indicative mount per time segment. This advantage is achieved when the detecting device outputs output signals which indicate the actual number of oestrus indicative mounts which occur in each time segment, and in particular, indicate the actual number of oestrus indicative mounts which occur in each time segment when the number of oestrus indicative mounts is low.

A further advantage of the invention is that the detecting device permits a farmer or herd manager to readily identify a group of animals in oestrus. In general, animals which are in oestrus tend to congregate together, and by the provision of the detecting device with visually perceptible signals, the farmer or herd manager can readily identify a group of such animals by virtue of the fact that the detecting device on each of the animals will output visually perceptible signals. Indeed, when the visually perceptible signals are provided by light pulses, the identification of a group of animals in oestrus can be made even more readily.

These and many other advantages of the invention will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following description of some preferred embodiments of the invention, which are given by way of non-limiting example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a detecting device according to the invention illustrated mounted in a patch pocket for securing to an animal for detecting oestrus in the animal, Fig. 2 is a transverse cross-sectional end elevational view of the patch of Fig. 1 on the line ll-ll of Fig. 1, with the detecting device of Fig. 1 located in the pocket thereof, Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the detecting device of Fig. 1, Fig. 4 is a transverse cross-sectional end elevational view of the detecting device of Fig. 1 on the line IV-IV of Fig. 3, Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a portion of the detecting device of Fig. 1, Fig. 6 is a circuit diagram of an electronic circuit of the detecting device of Fig. 1, Fig. 7 is a perspective view of an animal illustrating the detecting device of Fig. 1 secured to the animal by the patch pocket illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, Fig. 8 is a graphical representation of a monitoring period of the detecting device of Fig. 1, Fig. 9 is a graphical representation of a waveform of a signal generated in the detecting device of Fig. 1, Figs. 10(a) and (b) is a graphical representation of typical output signals outputted by the detecting device of Fig. 1, ‘ Figs. 11(a) and (b) are graphical representations of typical output signals outputted by the detecting device of Fig. 1, Fig. 12 is a flow chart of a computer programme for controlling the detecting device of Fig. 1, Figs. 13(a) and (b) is a flow chart of a subroutine for controlling operation of the detecting device of Fig. 1, Fig. 14 is a flow chart of another subroutine for controlling the operation of the detecting device of Fig. 1, Fig. 15 is a circuit diagram of an electronic circuit of a detecting device according to another embodiment of the invention, Fig. 16 is a flow chad of a subroutine for controlling the detecting device with the electronic circuit of Fig. 15, Fig. 17 is a table representing output signals outputted by the detecting device comprising the electronic circuit of Fig. 15, Figs. 18 to 22 are graphical representations of alternative monitoring periods which may be programmed into the detecting device of Fig. 1, Fig. 23 is a display device for use with the detecting device comprising the electronic circuit of Fig. 15, and Fig. 24 is a table representing output signals outputted by a device according to another embodiment of the invention.

Referring to the drawings, and initially to Figs. 1 to 14, there is illustrated a detecting device according to the invention, indicated generally by the reference numeral 1, for securing to an animal 3, in this embodiment of the invention a bovine, namely, a cow 3 for detecting oestrus in the animal 3. The device 1 is secured to the animal 3 by a flexible patch 5 having a flexible pocket 6 for accommodating the device 1 therein.

The patch 5 with the device 1 located in the pocket 6 is secured on the back of the animal 3 towards the rump or tail end 7 of the animal 3 for monitoring the presence of another animal mounting the animal 3 for detecting standing following mounting, while the animal is still mounted, for in turn detecting oestrus in the animal 3. The patch 5 and its securing to the back of the animal 3 is described in more detail below.

The device 1 comprises a shell type housing 10 of translucent plastics material. A monitoring means for monitoring mounting of the animal, in this embodiment of the invention comprises a monitoring switch 11 provided by a plunger operated micro- switch, which is embedded in a translucent epoxy resin 12 along with electronic circuitry 15 of the device 1. The electronic circuitry 15, which is illustrated in Fig. 6, and will be described in detail below, reads signals from the monitoring switch 11 for determining mounts of the animal which are indicative of oestrus. The plunger operated monitoring switch 11 is operable in a first state in response to the presence of a mounting animal mounting the animal 3, and in a second state in response to the absence of a mount on the animal 3. A flexible cover 16 of silicon plastics material hermetically seals the monitoring switch 11, and is anchored in the epoxy resin 12. The monitoring switch 11 is located towards an end 17 of the housing 10, which in use is located towards the tail end 7 of the animal 3. An output means, in this embodiment of the invention provided by a light source, namely, three light emitting diodes 19 are located at the opposite end 20 of the housing 10 for outputting a visually perceptible signal indicative of a number of oestrus indicative mounts to which the animal 3 has been subjected during a predetermined display time period, as will be described below. Holes 21 in the housing 10 at the end 20 thereof accommodate the light emitting diodes 19 therethrough. The light emitting diodes 19 being located in the end 20 of the housing 10, which in use faces in the direction towards the head of the animal 3 permit the light emitting diodes 19 to be visible from the head of the animal 3 for facilitating ease of reading output signals outputted by the light emitting diodes 19. Additionally, by virtue of the fact that the housing 10 is translucent and the epoxy resin 12 is also translucent, light emitted by the light emitting diodes 19 in providing the output signals also tends to illuminate the housing 10, and thus the output signals outputted by the light emitting diodes 19, in general, are visible through 360° around the animal 3.

Referring now in particular to Figs. 4 and 6, the monitoring switch 11 comprises a switch housing 22 within which a pair of normally open switch contacts (not shown) are located. A plunger 23 is spring urged outwardly of the switch housing 22 with the monitoring switch 11 operating in the second state, namely, an open circuit state, and is depressable into the switch housing 22 for co-operating with the switch contacts (not shown) for closing the switch contacts, for operating the monitoring switch 11 in the first state, namely, a closed circuit state. When the detecting device 1 is located in the pocket 6 of the patch 5 and secured to the animal 3 towards the rump or tail end 7 thereof, the plunger 23 extends upwardly and is depressable into the switch housing 22 by the presence of another animal mounting the animal 3.

The cover 16 and the pocket 6 being of a flexible material deform under the weight of the mounting animal, thereby permitting depression of the plunger 23 into the switch housing 22 for operating the monitoring switch 11 in the closed circuit state.

A microprocessor 25 under the control of a suitable computer programme and suitable subroutines as will be described below monitors the state of the monitoring switch 11 and times a time period between each transition of the monitoring means from the open circuit state to the closed circuit state and the next transition from the closed circuit state to the open circuit state for timing a mounting time period. In other words, the time period during which the plunger 23 is depressed into the switch housing 22 by the presence of an animal mounting the animal 3. The microprocessor 25 compares each timed mounting time period with a predetermined oestrus indicative mounting time period for determining if the timed mounting time period was of sufficient duration to indicate that the mount was in fact an oestrus indicative mount.

The microprocessor 25 under the control of the computer programme and the subroutine acts as a computing means for computing the number of oestrus indicative mounts detected in each of four sequential time segments of a predetermined monitoring period. The microprocessor 25 also acts as a storing means for storing the computed counts of oestrus indicative mounts for each time segment. In this embodiment of the invention each monitoring period is a twenty- four-hour period, which is divided into four equal time segments each of six hours’ duration. The first time segment commences at time zero and continues until the end of the fifth hour of the monitoring period. The second time segment commences at the beginning of the sixth hour of the monitoring period and continues until the end of the eleventh hour of the monitoring period. The third segment commences at the beginning of the twelfth hour and terminates at the end of the seventeenth hour, while the fourth time segment commences at the beginning of the eighteenth hour and terminates at the end of the twenty-third hour of the monitoring period. Each monitoring period commences immediately on termination of the previous monitoring period.

A graphical representation of a monitoring period is illustrated in Fig. 8, and the four time segments are identified by the reference numerals 27a to 27d representing the first to the fourth time segments, respectively.

The microprocessor 25 under the control of the computer programme and the subroutines operates the light emitting diodes 19 during the predetermined display time period to output the signals indicative of the number of oestrus indicative mounts in each time segment respectively. In this embodiment of the invention the predetermined display time period is a one hour period, which commences at the beginning of the twenty-third hour of each monitoring period. The predetermined display time period is illustrated in Fig. 8, and is indicated by the reference numeral 28.

Since a count of over three oestrus indicative mounts in a sexually active group of animals in any one time segment would be sufficient to indicate oestrus in the animal, in order to conserve power the microprocessor 25 counts the oestrus indicative mounts in each time segment to a predetermined count. In this embodiment of the invention the predetermined counts is seven oestrus indicative mounts. Thus, after the count of seven oestrus indicative mounts in any time segment, the microprocessor 25 ceases to count further oestrus indicative mounts until the commencement of the next time segment.

Additionally, since an animal in oestrus may move slightly on being mounted without moving away from the mounting animal, as would occur if the animal were not in oestrus, and since such slight movements of the standing animal may cause the mounting animal to momentarily disengage the plunger 23 of the monitoring switch 11, causing the monitoring switch 11 to transition from the closed circuit state to the open circuit state, the microprocessor 25 also times each time period when the monitoring switch 11 is in the open circuit state from the transitioning of the monitoring switch 11 from the closed circuit state to the open circuit state. If the monitoring switch 11 remains in the open circuit state for a time period greater than a predetermined interrupt time period, the microprocessor 25 deems the previous mount to have terminated, and the mounting time period is deemed to have terminated when the monitoring switch 11 transitioned from the closed circuit state to the open circuit state. However, if the monitoring switch 11 transitions from the open circuit state to the closed circuit state within the predetermined interrupt time period, the time period during which the monitoring switch 11 is in the open circuit state is deemed to be a momentary interruption of the mounting time period, and the microprocessor 25 continues to time the mounting time period from the previous transition of the monitoring switch from the open circuit state to the closed circuit state and includes the time period during which the monitoring switch was in the open circuit state a mounting time period.

By way of explanation, a waveform illustrating a typical set of signals from the monitoring switch during an oestrus indicative mount is illustrated in Fig. 9. At time 1 the signal from the monitoring switch 11 to the microprocessor 25 goes to a logic low, indicating a transition of the monitoring switch 11 from the open circuit state to the closed circuit state, thus indicating the commencement of a mount. The monitoring switch 11 remains in the closed circuit state for a time period A until time 2, at which stage, the signal from the monitoring switch 11 goes to a logic high, thus indicating a transition from the closed circuit state to the open circuit state. The monitoring switch 11 remains in the open circuit state for a time period B, and transitions at time 3 to the closed circuit state, again providing a logic low to the microprocessor 25. The monitoring switch 11 remains in the closed circuit state for a time period C to time 4, and at time 4 transitions to the open circuit state, thus outputting a logic high to the microprocessor 25. The monitoring switch 11 remains in the open circuit state for a time period D until time 5, at which stage it returns to the closed circuit state and outputs a logic low, and remains in the closed circuit state for a time period E to time 6. At time 6 the monitoring switch 11 transitions to the open circuit state and outputs a logic high. After time 6 the monitoring switch 11 remains in the open circuit state for a time period greater than the predetermined interrupt time period, and the mounting time period is deemed to have terminated at time 6.

In this example the time period B and the time period D are each of duration less than the predetermined interrupt time period, and thus, the microprocessor 25 times the mounting time period from time 1 continuously right the way through to time 6.

The sum of the time periods A, B, C, D and E are summed to a time period which in this case exceeds the predetermined oestrus indicative mounting time period, and thus, the mount from time 1 to time 6 is deemed an oestrus indicative mount. lf, however, for example, the time period B between times 2 and 3 was greater than the predetermined interrupt time period, the microprocessor 25 would have deemed the mount which commenced at time 1 to have terminated at time 2, and if the time period A was less than the predetermined oestrus indicative mounting time period, then the mount from time 1 to time 2 would be deemed not to constitute an oestrus indicative mount. However, if the time period A was equal to or greater than the predetermined oestrus indicative mounting time period, the mount from time 1 to time 2 would be deemed an oestrus indicative mount. Again, if the time period B were greater than the predetermined interrupt time period, at time 3 the microprocessor would commence to time a new mounting time period.

Accordingly, by timing the time period after the monitoring switch 11 has transitioned from the closed circuit state to the open circuit state to determine if the next transition to the closed circuit state commences within the predetermined interrupt time period, momentary transitioning of the monitoring switch 11 from the closed circuit state to the open circuit state resulting from slight movement of an animal 3 being mounted is allowed for, and does not lead to a spurious reading. Additionally, by only counting mounts which last for a time period equal to or greater than the predetermined oestrus indicative mounting time period, only oestrus indicative mounts are counted, and thus spurious mounts or mounts which are not indicative of an animal in oestrus are discounted. in this embodiment of the invention the predetermined oestrus indicative mounting time period is three seconds, and the predetermined interrupt time period is one second.

Turning now in more detail to the electronic circuit 15, and referring now in particular to Fig. 6, the circuit 15 is powered by a pair of series coupled lithium batteries 30, thus providing a six volt supply to the circuit 15. The batteries 30 are also embedded in the epoxy resin in the housing 10. The power supply from the batteries 30 to the microprocessor 25 is stepped down through a diode D1. A resistor R1 couples one contact (not shown) of the monitoring switch 11 to the power supply from the battery , and the other contact (not shown) of the monitoring switch 11 is coupled to ground. The microprocessor 25 reads the voltage at a node 31 between the resistor R1 and the monitoring switch 11. Thus, on the monitoring switch being in the open circuit state, the output from the monitoring switch 11 at the node 31 is logic high, and when the monitoring switch 11 is in the closed circuit state, the voltage on the node 31 is pulled to logic low.

A crystal oscillating circuit 32 controls the timing of the microprocessor 25 and in turn the timing of the twenty-four-hour monitoring period, the six-hour time segments and the time periods between the transitioning of the monitoring switch 11 between the open and closed circuit states, and the closed and open circuit states, and vice versa.

The light emitting diodes 19 are connected in series in a light emitting diode circuit which is powered by the power supply from the batteries 30, and is operated under the control of the microprocessor 25. The light emitting diode circuit 35 is coupled to a control pin of the microprocessor 25 which pulls the light emitting diode circuit 35 to ground each time the light emitting diodes 19 are to be activated as will be described below. By connecting the three light emitting diodes 19 in series, the light emitting diode circuit 35 can be connected directly between the power supply from the batteries 30 and the microprocessor 25 without the need for a step-down resistor, thereby minimising the power requirements of the device when the light emitting diodes 19 are operated to output the output signals.

An activating means comprising an activating switch 36 is provided for manual activating the microprocessor 25 to operate the light emitting diodes 19 to output the signals indicative of the number of oestrus indicative mounts in the respective time segments, for a display time period other than the predetermined display time period 28. The activating switch 36 comprises a normally open reed switch coupled between ground and a resistor R2, which in turn, is coupled to the power supply from the batteries 30. On being operated in a closed circuit state, the activating switch 36 pulls a node 37 between the activating switch 36 and the resistor R2 to a logic low.

The microprocessor 25 on reading a low on the node 37 operates the light emitting diodes 19 for outputting the signals indicative of the number of oestrus indicative mounts in each time segment, for the display time period, as will be described below.

In this embodiment of the invention the activating switch 36 is responsive to an external magnetic field being applied, by, for example, a pennanent magnet externally to the detecting device 1.

Turning now to the outputting of the signals indicative of the number of oestrus indicative mounts and the time segments in which they occur, in this embodiment of the invention the light emitting diodes 19 are operated by the microprocessor 25 to pulse with two different light pulse sequences, namely, a first light pulse sequence which is indicative of the time segments, and a second light pulse sequence which is indicative of the number of oestrus indicative mounts in each time segment.

Referring now to Fig. 10, two waveforms A and B are illustrated. The waveform A illustrates a typical part of an output signal indicating the number of oestrus indicative mounts which occurred in the first time segment and the waveform B illustrates a typical part of an output signal indicating the number of oestrus indicative mounts which occurred in the second time segment. The first sequence of first light pulses which are long light pulses 38 indicate the time segment, one long first light pulse 38 indicating the first time segment, two long first light pulses 38 indicating the second time segment, and so on up to four long first light pulses 38 which indicate the fourth time segment. The second sequence of second light pulses are short light pulses 39, and each second light pulse indicates an oestrus indicative mount. The first sequence of first light pulses in the waveform A comprises one long first light pulse 38 indicating the first time segment. The five short second light pulses 39 indicate that five oestrus indicative mounts occurred. In the waveform B the first two long first light pulses 38 of the first pulse sequence indicate the second time segment, while the four short second light pulses 39 indicate that four oestrus indicative mounts occurred in the second time segment.

In this embodiment of the invention the duration of each first light pulse of the first pulse sequence is two seconds, and the duration of each second light pulse of the second pulse sequence is two hundred milliseconds. The time period between each first pulse sequence and the corresponding second pulse sequence, namely, the first delay time periods H in the waveforms A and B of Figs. 10(a) and (b) is three seconds.

Typically, if one or more oestrus indicative mounts occurred in each time segment, the light emitting diodes 19 would be operated to give the result for the first time segment first, the second time segment second, the third time segment third, and the fourth time segment fourth. If oestrus indicative mounts only occurred in the second and third time segments, then the light emitting diodes 19 would be operated to indicate the number of mounts which occurred in the second time segment first and the third time segment second, and so on.

Referring to Figs. 11(a) and (b), two waveforms C and D are illustrated, which are typical of complete output sequence signals, which are outputted by the light emitting diodes 19 during the predetermined display time period or a display time period when the device 1 is manually operated by the activating switch 36. in the waveform C of Fig. 11(a), oestrus indicative mounts occurred in each of the four segments of the monitoring period. The initial light pulse of the output signal is a long first light pulse 38 of the first pulse sequence which indicates the first time segment. The second pulse sequence following the first light pulse 38 indicates the number of oestrus indicative mounts which occurred in the first segment. The second light pulse sequence immediately following the first pulse 38 comprises two short second light pulses 39, thus indicating that two oestrus indicative mounts occurred in the first segment. The next two pulses are long first light pulses 38 of the first pulse sequence which indicates the second time segment. The following second light pulse sequence indicates the number of oestrus indicative mounts which occurred in the second time segment. There are four short second light pulses 39, indicating four oestrus indicative mounts occurred in the second time segment. The third time segment is represented by the first pulse sequence of three long first light pulses 38, and the number of mounts which occurred in the third time segment is represented by the six short second light pulses 39 following the three long first light pulses 38, indicating that six oestrus indicative mounts occurred in the third time segment. In the fourth time segment indicated by the four long first light pulses 38 four oestrus indicative mounts occurred, which are indicated by the four short second light pulses 39. A second delay time period L of three seconds is provided between the last second light pulse of each second light pulse sequence and the first light pulse of the following first light pulse sequence. The complete output sequence signal of first and second pulse sequences is repeated at intervals during each predetermined display time period or manually activated display time period, with a third time delay period of seven seconds between the last of the second light pulses of the last second light pulse sequence of each complete output sequence signal, and the first first light pulse of the first first light pulse sequence of the next following complete output sequence signal.

Referring now to Fig. 11(b), the waveform D is representative of another complete output sequence signal, which indicates that there were no oestrus indicative mounts in the first and second time segments, however, in the third time segment represented by the three long first light pulses 38, two oestrus indicative mounts occurred represented by the two short second light pulses 39, while in the fourth time segment represented by the four long first light pulses 38, six oestrus indicative mounts occurred represented by the six short second light pulses 39. As with the complete output sequence signal of the waveform C, the light emitting diodes 19 are operated to continuously repeat the complete output sequence signal D after respective time delays of seven seconds during the display time periods.

Referring now to Fig. 12, there is illustrated a flow chart of the computer programme which controls the operation of the microprocessor 25. Block 50 of the computer programme operates the microprocessor 25 when the device 1 is deactivated and the microprocessor 25 is in the sleep mode. Block 51 reads the voltage on the node 31, see Fig. 6, to ascertain if the plunger 23 of the monitoring switch 11 has been depressed to activate the device 1. If block 51 determines that the plunger 23 of the monitoring switch 11 has not been depressed. the computer programme returns to block 50, and then proceeds again to block 51. If block 51 determines that the plunger 23 of the monitoring switch 11 has been depressed to activate the device 1, the computer programme moves to block 52. During the time while the device 1 is deactivated, the microprocessor 25 operates in the sleep mode. Any transitioning of the micro—switch 25 from the open circuit state to the closed circuit state is sufficient to indicate to the computer programme that the device 1 is to be activated. In other words, the monitoring switch 11 need only be operated in the closed circuit state for a momentary period in order to activate the device 1.

Block 52 initialises the microprocessor 25 and controls the microprocessor 25 to operate the light emitting diodes 19 to output ten short light pulses to indicate that the device 1 has been activated and is ready for use and has commenced to time the first monitoring period and the first time segment of the first monitoring period, and also to indicate that signals from the monitoring switch 11 are being read by the microprocessor 25.

The computer programme then moves to block 53 which calls up the appropriate subroutine which will be described below to carry out real time processing of signals read in from the monitoring switch 11 by the microprocessor 25. When the real time processing has been completed, the computer programme moves to block 54, which checks if the current time is equal to the display time period, and if so, the computer programme moves to block 55, which checks if there is any data indicative of oestrus indicative mounts to be displayed. If there is data indicating oestrus indicative mounts to be displayed, the computer programme moves to block 56.

Block 56 calls up the appropriate subroutine which controls operation of the microprocessor 25 for outputting the appropriate output signals, as will be described below. When the subroutine has completed outputting a complete output sequence signal indicative of oestrus indicative mounts which occurred in the four time segments of the monitoring period, the subroutine moves to block 57. Block 57 checks if the current time is equal to the end of the fourth time segment, in other words, is the current time equal to the end of the display time period. If the current time is equal to the end of the fourth segment of the monitoring period, the computer programme moves to block 58, which resets the oestrus indicative mount counts for all four time segments to zero and the computer programme moves to block 59. The computer programme also moves to block 59 from block 54, if block 54 determines that the current time is not equal to the display time period. The computer programme moves to block 59 from block 55, if block 55 determines that there is no data relating to oestrus indicative mounts to be displayed. The computer programme moves to block 59 from block 57, if block 57 determines that the current time is not equal to the end of the fourth segment of the monitoring period.

Block 59 checks if the activating switch 36 had been operated to commence outputting of data relating to oestrus indicative mounts, and if block 59 determines that the activating switch 36 has not been operated, the subroutine returns to block 53. Otherwise, the subroutine moves to block 60, which is similar to block 55 and checks if there is any data relating to oestrus indicative mounts to be displayed. If not, the computer programme returns to block 53, and if there is data to be displayed, the computer programme moves to block 61, which activates the subroutine for displaying the data relating to oestrus indicative mounts for a fifteen minute display time period.

Referring now to Figs. 13(a) and (b), there is illustrated the subroutine which is called up by block 53 of the computer programme of Fig. 12 to carry out real time processing of data read in from the monitoring switch 11. Block 65 starts the subroutine, and the subroutine is executed every 31.25 milliseconds. The subroutine moves to block 66, which checks if 31.25 milliseconds have elapsed since the subroutine was last executed, and if not, the subroutine returns to block 66.

If so, the subroutine moves to block 67. Block 67 checks if the monitoring switch has been operated in the closed circuit state for a deactivating time period indicating that the device 1 is to be deactivated and operated in the sleep mode. The deactivating time period is selected to be significantly longer than any mount, be it an oestrus indicative mount or otherwise. in this embodiment of the invention the deactivating time period is sixty seconds. Once the monitoring switch 11 is operated continuously in the closed circuit state for sixty seconds, the microprocessor determines this as a signal that the device 1 is to be deactivated. Thus, if block 67 determines that the monitoring switch 11 has been operated in the closed circuit state continuously for sixty seconds, the subroutine moves to block 68. Block 68 controls the microprocessor 25 for operating the light emitting diodes to output long light pulse signals for so long as the monitoring switch 11 is continuously operated in the closed circuit state to indicate that as soon as the monitoring switch 11 transitions into the open circuit state, the microprocessor 25 will be operated in the sleep mode. When the monitoring switch 11 transitions into the open circuit state, the subroutine is returned to block 50 of the computer programme of Fig. 12. It will be appreciated that the deactivating time period may be selected to be of any suitable duration other than sixty seconds.

If Block 67 determines that the monitoring switch 11 has not been operated continuously in the closed circuit state for sixty seconds deactivating time period, the subroutine then moves to block 69.

Block 69 checks if the signals read from the monitoring switch 11 were indicative of an oestrus indicative mount. If so, the subroutine moves to block 70, which checks if the current time is in the first time segment. if so, the subroutine moves to block 71 and increments the oestrus indicative mount count for the first time segment by one, and the subroutine moves to block 72. Block 72 increments the current time. if block 70 had determined that the current time is not in the first time segment, the subroutine moves to block 73. Block 73 checks if the current time is in the second time segment, and if so, the subroutine moves to block 74 which increments the oestrus indicative mount count for the second time segment by one, and moves to block 72 which has already been described. if block 73 determines that the current time is not in the second time segment, the subroutine moves to block 75, which checks if the current time is in the third time segment. If so, the subroutine moves to block 76 which increments the oestrus indicative mount count for the third time segment by one, and the subroutine moves to block 72 which has already been described. If block 75 determines that the current time is not in the third time segment, the subroutine moves to block 77 which increments the oestrus indicative mount count of the fourth time segment by one and the subroutine moves to block 72. If block 69 had determined that the signals from the monitoring switch 11 were not indicative of an oestrus indicative mount having been detected, the subroutine moves directly from block 69 to block 72.

After block 72 the subroutine moves to block 78 which checks is the current time in the first time segment, and if so, the subroutine moves to block 79, which sets the time segment equal to the first time segment, and the subroutine moves to block 80, which returns the subroutine to block 53 of the computer programme of Fig. 12.

However, if block 78 determines that the current time is not in the first segment, the subroutine moves to block 81, which checks if the current time is in the second time segment, and if so, the subroutine moves to block 82, which sets the time segment equal to the second time segment and moves to block 80. On the other hand, if block 81 determines that the current time is not in the second time segment, the subroutine moves to block 83, which checks if the current time is in the third time segment, and if so, the subroutine moves to block 84, which sets the time segment equal to the third time segment and the subroutine moves to block 80. If block determines that the subroutine is not in the third time segment, the subroutine moves to the fourth time segment and checks if the current time is in the fourth time segment, and if so, the subroutine moves to block 86. which sets the time segment equal to the fourth time segment, and the subroutine moves to block 80.

Referring now to Fig. 14, there is illustrated a flow chart of a subroutine which is called up by blocks 56 and 60 of the computer programme of Fig. 12 for operating the light emitting diodes 19 for outputting the data indicative of the number of oestrus indicative mounts in the respective four time segments. Block 90 starts the subroutine which is operated for the display time period of one hour when it is called up by block 56, and when it is called up by block 60 is operated for fifteen minutes.

The subroutine moves from block 90 to block 91, which checks if there were any oestrus indicative mounts in the first time segment. If so, the subroutine moves to block 92, which operates the microprocessor 25 to cause the light emitting diodes 19 to output one long first light pulse 38 to indicate the first time segment. The subroutine then moves to block 93, which times the first delay time period H of three seconds, and after the delay has been timed, the subroutine moves to block 94 which operates the microprocessor 25 to cause the light emitting diodes 19 to output the appropriate number of short second light pulses 39 indicative of the number of oestrus indicative mounts which occurred in the first time segment. The subroutine then moves to block 95 which times the second delay time period L of three seconds and moves the subroutine to block 96. If block 91 determines that there are no oestrus indicative mounts recorded for the first time segment, the subroutine moves from block 91 directly to block 96.

Block 96 checks if there are any oestrus indicative mounts recorded for the second time segment, and if so, the subroutine is moved to block 97. Block 97 operates the microprocessor 25 to cause the light emitting diodes 19 to output two long first light pulses 38 to indicate the second time segment and the subroutine moves to block 98 which times the first delay time period H of three seconds similar to block 93, and the subroutine then moves to block 99, which operates the microprocessor 25 to cause the light emitting diodes 19 to output the appropriate number of short second light pulses 39 indicative of the number of oestrus indicative mounts which occurred in the second time segment. The subroutine then moves to block 100 which times the second delay time period L of three seconds similar to block 95, and the subroutine moves to block 101. The subroutine also moves to block 101 if block 96 determines that there are no oestrus indicative mounts recorded for the second time segment.

If block 101 determines that oestrus indicative mounts have been recorded for the third time segment, the subroutine moves through blocks 102, 103, 104 and 105, which are substantially similar to blocks 92, 93, 94 and 95, with the exception that block 102 controls the microprocessor 25 to cause the light emitting diodes 19 to output three long first light pulses 38 indicative of the third time segment and block 104 causes the light emitting diodes 19 to output the appropriate number of short second light pulses 39 indicative of the number of oestrus indicative mounts which occurred in the third time segment. The subroutine then moves to block 106, and the subroutine also move to block 106 if block 101 determines that there are no oestrus indicative mounts in the third time segment.

Block 106 checks if oestrus indicative mounts have been recorded for the fourth time segment, and if so, the subroutine moves through blocks 107, 108, 109 and 110, which are similar to blocks 92, 93, 94 and 95, with the exception that block 107 causes the light emitting diodes 19 to output four long first light pulses 38 indicative of the fourth time segment, and block 109 causes light emitting diodes to output the appropriate number of short second light pulses for the number of oestrus indicative mounts which occurred in the fourth time segment. After block 110 the subroutine moves to block 111, and the subroutine also moves to block 111 if block 106 had determined that there were no oestrus indicative mounts recorded for the fourth time segment.

Block 111 checks if the display time period has ended, and if so, the subroutine moves to block 112, which ends the subroutine and returns control of the microprocessor 25 to either block 56 or block 60, whichever block had called up the subroutine of Fig. 14. On the other hand, if block 111 determines that the display time has not yet terminated, the subroutine moves to block 113, which times the third delay time period of seven seconds and then returns to block 91.

In this embodiment of the invention the patch 5 and the pocket 6 are provided in two parts. The patch 5 is of a permeable flexible fibre glass material, which is permeable to a suitable adhesive, for example, a silicon adhesive, and the pocket 6 is of transparent PVC plastics material having a recess formed therein to define the pocket 6, which is of similar size and shape to that of the detecting device 1. The patch 5 is bonded to the animal's hide by the adhesive, for example, the silicon adhesive, which permeates through the patch 5. The detecting device 1 is located in the pocket 6 appropriately oriented, and the pocket 6 is then bonded to the patch 5 and the animal’s hide by the adhesive which permeates through the patch 6. The advantage of providing the pocket 6 of PVC material is that it has been found that the PVC material is effectively self-cleaning. In other words, the action of a mounting animal on an animal to which the device 1 has been secured bearing on the pocket 6 acts to clean the pocket 6, and thereby facilitating visibility of the device 1, and in turn the light emitting diodes 19. in this embodiment of the invention the detecting device 1 is a relatively slim device for minimising any danger of the device 1 being detached from an animal. The overall length of the detecting device 1 is 90mm, while its overall width is 30mm, while the depth of the detecting device 1 is only 10mm. Accordingly, the detecting device 1 is particularly suitable for mounting on the back of a cow along the spine of the cow adjacent the tail end of the cow.

In use, once activated, the detecting device 1 operates continuously until it is powered down. In other words, as soon as the detecting device 1 has operated through one full monitoring period of twenty-four hours, the detecting device 1 commences immediately to time the next monitoring period of twenty-four hours, and so on. Since the predetermined display time period occurs during the last hour of the monitoring period, in other words, during hour twenty-three of each monitoring period, the farmer or herd manager activates the detecting device 1 by depressing the plunger 23 of the monitoring switch 11 at an appropriate time so that the predetermined display time period coincides with a time period which is convenient for the farmer or herd manager to read the output signals from the detecting device 1. For example, in the case of a milking herd, the farmer or herd manager would activate the detecting device 1 at a time period such that the predetermined display time period of the last hour of each monitoring period would coincide with the milking time. When activated, if not already secured by the patch 5 to the animal 3, the detecting device 1 is inserted in the pocket 6 of the patch 5, which is in turn secured to the back of the animal 3 adjacent the rump or tail end 7 of the animal 3 as already described. The detecting device 1 thus operates as already described recording oestrus indicative mounts during each time segment 27a to 27d, and during the predetermined display time period of each monitoring period the light emitting diodes are operated for outputting the data indicative of the number of mounts which occurred in each time segment, with the time segments identified. A farmer or the herd manager can then from the outputted data from the detecting device 1 determine the most appropriate time for insemination of the animal. It should be noted that the microprocessor 27 continues to read signals from the monitoring switch 11 during the predetermined display time period and any other display time periods, and records oestrus indicative mounts which occur during each predetermined or other display time periods, and such oestrus indicative mounts are included in the output signals outputted through the light emitting diodes 19.

Typically, many animals in a herd will be fitted with respective detecting devices 1.

If at any stage a farmer or herd manager wished to operate the device 1 for outputting the signals indicative of the number of oestrus indicative mounts and the time segments in which the mounts occurred, the farmer or herd manager would bring a magnet into close proximity with the detecting device 1 for operating the reed switch 36 into the closed circuit state for activating the device 1 to output the output signals for a fifteen minute display time period.

To deactivate the detecting device 1, the plunger 23 of the monitoring switch 11 is depressed and held down continuously for the deactivating time period of sixty seconds.

Referring now to Fig. 15, there is illustrated a circuit diagram of an electronic circuit 200 of a detecting device (not shown) according to another embodiment of the invention, which is also suitable for securing to an animal, such as a bovine for detecting oestrus in the animal. Fig. 16 illustrates a flow chart which is substantially similar to the flow chart of Fig. 14 of a subroutine under which the detecting device of this embodiment of the invention operates. Fig. 17 is a table setting out particulars of output signals outputted by the detecting device of this embodiment of the invention. The detecting device of this embodiment of the invention is substantially similar to the detecting device 1, and additionally, the electronic circuit 200 is substantially similar to the electronic circuit 15 of the detecting device 1, and similar components are identified by the same reference numerals. The only difference between the electrical circuit 200 and the electrical circuit 15 of Fig. 6 is that as well as providing for outputting the output signals which are indicative of the number of oestrus indicative mounts and the time segments in which the oestrus indicative mounts occurred by light pulses through the light emitting diodes 19, the electronic circuit 200 also outputs the output signals through four passive radio frequency identity tags 201a to 201d. The radio frequency identity tags 201 are operated under the control of the microprocessor 25, and are set to provide output signals when scanned by a suitable scanner (not shown), which are indicative of the number of oestrus indicative mounts which occurred in each time segment, together with the identity of the respective time segments. The radio frequency identity tags 201a to 201d also output an identity code for identifying the animal to which the detecting device according to this embodiment of the invention is attached. The scanner (not shown) by thus reading the identity of the animal and the number of oestrus indicative mounts which occurred in each time segment can thus display the identity of the animal and the number of mounts in each time segment on a suitable display.

Such a display is described briefly below with reference to Fig. 22. Such radio frequency identity tags, and appropriate scanners for reading data from the radio frequency identity tags will be well known to those skilled in the art.

Referring now to Fig. 16, the flow chart of the subroutine for outputting the output signals indicative of the number of oestrus indicative mounts which occurred in each time segment through the light emitting diodes 19 and the radio frequency identity tags 201 is substantially similar to the flow chart of Fig. 14 which operates the microprocessor 25 for outputting the output signals through the light emitting diodes 19. Each of the blocks 92, 97, 102 and 107 include an additional block identified by the numbers 92a, 97a, 102a and 107a, respectively, which operate the tags 201 for indicating the appropriate time segments. Blocks 94, 99, 104 and 107 include an additional block 94a, 99a, 104a and 109a, respectively, which operate the tags 201 for indicating the appropriate number of oestrus indicative mounts for the corresponding time segments.

The radio frequency identity tags 201 are operated in binary fashion as indicated in Fig. 17. To indicate the first time segment, the radio frequency identity tag 201d is set at logic one, while the remaining three identity tags 201a, 201b and 2010 are set at logic zero. To identify the second time segment, the radio frequency identity tag 201c is set at logic one, while the remaining three identity tags 201 are set at logic zero. To identify the third time segment, the radio frequency identity tags 201c and 201d each are set at logic one, while the other two tags 201a and 201b are set at logic zero. The fourth time segment is identified by the tag 201 b being set at logic one, while the remaining three tags 201 are set at logic zero. The signals to be outputted by the tags 201a, 201b, 201c and 201d are set out in the table of Fig. 17 for representing the corresponding number of mounts. However, since the microprocessor ceases to count oestrus indicative mounts beyond mount seven in each time segment, the maximum number of mounts to which the radio frequency identity tags 201 are set is seven mounts for any time segment. However, if the microprocessor were programmed to count more than seven mounts per time segment, the radio frequency identity tags 201 could be set to show a count of up to ten.

In use, an appropriate scanner (not shown) would be provided in a suitable location, typically, a milking parlour, which would scan each detecting device as an animal passed by to scan data from the radio frequency identity tags 201 which would then be recorded on a display, for example, a visual display unit of a computer or the like.

Referring now to Figs. 18 to 22, the detecting devices according to the invention may be programmed to operate with monitoring periods of any desired duration, and with any number of time periods within a monitoring period, and also, with time periods of any desired duration, and furthermore, the detecting devices according to the invention may be programmed to operate with time segments of differing durations within the same monitoring period. For example, in Fig. 18 the monitoring period is a twelve-hour monitoring period and is divided into four unequal time segments 27a to 27d. The first time segment 27a is of four hours’ duration, the second time segment 27b is of three hours’ duration, the third time segment 27c is of three hours’ duration, while the fourth time segment 27d is of two hours’ duration. The predetermined display time period 28 is a one-hour display period and occurs in the last hour of the fourth time segment 27d, namely, during the eleventh hour of the monitoring period.

Typically, if a farmer were milking the herd between 1800 hours and 1900 hours, the device 1 would be activated at time 1900 hours, so that each monitoring period would terminate at 1900 hours, and the predetermined display time period 28 would occur between 1800 hours and 1900 hours.

In Fig. 19 the monitoring period is twelve hours. The first time segment 27a is of four hours‘ duration, the second time segment 27b is of three hours’ duration, the third time segment 27c is of four hours’ duration, and the fourth time segment 27d is only of one hour’s duration, and coincides entirely with the predetermined display time period 28.

In Fig. 20 the monitoring period is twenty-four hours. The first time segment 27a is of four hours’ duration, the second time segment 27b is of three hours’ duration, the third time segment 270 is of three hours’ duration and the fourth time segment 27d is of two hours’ duration. However, in this embodiment of the invention the detecting device is programmed to have two predetermined display time periods 28, each of one hour duration. One predetermined display time period is at the end of the fourth time segment, namely, during the twenty-third hour of the monitoring period, while the other predetermined display time period occurs during the third time segment, and commences at the beginning of the fifteenth hour of the monitoring period.

Referring now to Fig. 21, the monitoring period is a twenty-four hour period, and is divided into only three time segments. The first time segment is of eleven hours, the second time segment is of six hours, while the third time segment is of seven hours.

In this embodiment of the invention the detecting device is programmed to have two predetermined display periods each of one hour duration, one of the predetermined display time periods is in the last hour of the monitoring period, namely, in the twenty-third hour, and the other predetermined display time period occurs in the fifteenth hour of the monitoring period.

Referring now to Fig. 22, the monitoring period is twenty-four hours and is divided into four time segments each of six hours’ duration. Two predetermined display timer periods 28 are provided, one of which is provided in the twenty-third hour of the monitoring period, and one in the ninth hour of the monitoring period.

In this embodiment of the invention the detecting device programmed with this monitoring period was activated by the herd manager at 700 hours so that the predetermined display time periods 28 coincided with morning and evening milking of the animals. One of the predetermined display time period 28 in the twenty-third hour of the monitoring period coincided with the morning milking which was carried out from 600 hours to 700 hours. The other predetermined time display period occurred in the ninth hour during evening milking between 1500 hours and 1600 hours. it will, however, be understood by those skilled in the art that the microprocessor 25 of the detecting device 1 may be programmed to operate with a monitoring period of any desired duration with any number of time segments also of any desired duration, whether similar or different time durations and needless to say, the microprocessor can likewise be programmed to display the output signals during any number of predetermined display time periods, and the display time periods may be of any desired duration.

Referring now to Fig. 23, there is illustrated a display device 300 which may be used in conjunction with the detecting device when incorporating the electronic circuit 200 of Fig. 15. The display device 300 comprises a panel 301, which is divided into four segments 302a, 302b, 302c and 302d corresponding to the first, second, third and fourth time segments 27a, 27b, 27c and 27d, respectively. A digital display 303 is provided in each segment 302, and the number of oestrus indicative mounts which occurred in the respective time segments 27a, 27b, 27c and 27d are displayed by the digital display 303 in the corresponding segment 302a, 302b, 3020 and 302d, respectively, of the panel 301.

Typically, if the detecting devices according to the invention were used in a milking herd, it is envisaged that a plurality of display devices 300 would be provided, and a display device would be located adjacent each bail of a milking parlour, in which the animals are milked. Suitable scanners 305 for scanning the detecting devices as the animal entered the balls would also be provided. The scanning devices 305 would be connected through suitable interpreting circuitry 306 for interpreting the data read from the radio frequency identity tags 201, and in turn for displaying the data on the corresponding display devices 300.

In the display device 300 of Fig. 23, the data displayed indicates that three oestrus indicative mounts occurred in the first time segment 27a of the relevant monitoring period, six oestrus indicative mounts occurred in the second time segment 27b, and no oestrus indicative mounts occurred in the third and fourth time segments 27c and 27d.

Alternatively, the scanner 35 instead of, or as well as scanning the radio frequency identity tags 201 could include a photo sensor, which would be responsive to the first and second light pulse sequences of first and second light pulse signals outputted by an adjacent detecting device, and the photo sensor would thus output electrical signals indicative of the respective first and second light pulse sequences to the interpreting circuitry 306, which would interpret the signals for displaying the relevant data on the display panel 300.

Referring now to Fig. 24, there is illustrated a table showing the operation of a detecting device provided with the electronic circuit of Fig. 15, but with the exception that instead of providing four radio frequency identity tags, the electronic circuit is provided with fourteen radio frequency identity tags. In this case only two radio frequency identity tags are activated to show the segment and the number of oestrus indicative mounts up to ten which occurred in each time segment. The first four radio frequency identity tags, namely, the radio frequency identity tags 1 to 4 are operated to indicate the corresponding time segment for which the oestrus indicative mount data is being provided, and the appropriate one of the radio frequency identity tags 5 to 14 are operated to indicate the number of oestrus indicative mounts which occurred in the corresponding time segment up to ten oestrus indicative mounts.

While particular first and second light pulse sequences have been described for outputting the data indicative of the number of oestrus indicative mounts and the time segments in which the mounts occurred have been described, any other suitable pulse sequence may be used. For example, short pulses may be used for indicating the time segment in which the mounts occurred, and long pulses may be used for indicating the number of mounts. However, since the number of mounts is likely to require a higher number of pulses than the pulses required to identify the time segment, it is preferable that the longer pulses be used to identify the time segments, while the shorter pulses are used to identify the number of oestrus indicative mounts.

It will also be appreciated that while the specific number of oestms indicative mounts up to seven which occur in each time segment are outputted, in certain cases, it is envisaged that instead of outputting the specific number of mounts, the device may be programmed to output a signal indicative that the number of mounts in a particular segment exceeded a predetermined number which would be indicative of an animal in oestrus. In other words, if it were determined that in a particular herd three oestrus indicative mounts in a six-hour period or a period of duration corresponding to a time segment would be indicative of an animal in oestrus, the device may be programmed to output a signal which would merely indicate the specific time segment or segments during which the number of mounts exceeded the predetermined number of oestrus indicative mounts which would be indicative of the animal in oestrus. In which case, the light emitting diodes would merely have to output the appropriate number of pulses to identify the time segment in which the oestrus indicative mounts exceeded the predetermined numbers. This, thus, would merely require a single pulse to indicate that the number of oestrus indicative mounts which occurred in the first time segment is indicative of oestrus, two pulses to indicate the number of oestrus indicative mounts which occurred in the second time period is indicative of oestrus, and so on for the third and fourth time segments.

It is also envisaged that instead of resetting the count for each time segment to zero at the end of the monitoring period, the microprocessor may be programmed to operate on a rolling reset basis. where at the end of each time segment the recorded count of oestrus indicative mounts for the following time segment would be reset to zero.

Needless to say, the microprocessor can be programmed to output the data through the light emitting diodes in any other desired or suitable code or code format. Where the detecting device is provided with radio frequency identity tags, it is also envisaged that the data may be outputted in any other desired or suitable code format other than that already described.

While the detecting device has been described as comprising three light emitting diodes which output light pulses simultaneously for identifying the respective time segments, and the number of oestrus indicative mounts which occurred in each of the time segments, it will be appreciated that a single light emitting diode is all that is required. Needless to say, any number of light emitting diodes may be provided.

However, in an alternative form of the invention, one light emitting diode may be provided for each time segment into which the monitoring period is divided. In which case, the light emitting diodes would be operated sequentially, and each light emitting diode would output the appropriate number of light pulses indicating the number of oestrus indicative mounts which occurred in the corresponding time segment.

It is also envisaged that light emitting diodes of two different colours may be provided. For example, one light emitting diode may output red light, and another light emitting diode may output green light. In which case, the light emitting diodes could be selected to operate depending on the number of oestrus indicative mounts detected in each segment. For example, where the oestrus indicative mounts were less than a predetermined number of mounts in a time segment, the green light emitting diodes would be pulsed, thus indicating a low level of oestrus indicative mounts, and where the number of oestrus indicative mounts in a time segment exceeded the predetermined number of mounts, the red light emitting diodes would be operated to output the number of oestrus indicative mounts and the relevant time segment. in other words, the green light emitting diodes would be operated to output first and second light pulse signals indicative of the number of mounts in each time segment where the number of oestrus indicative mounts is less than the predetermined number,‘ and the red light emitting diodes would be operated to output first and second pulse sequences to indicate the number of oestrus indicative mounts in the time segments where the number of oestrus indicative mounts exceeded the predetermined number. This would facilitate ready identification of animals in which high numbers of oestrus indicative mounts occurred, and animals in which low numbers of oestrus indicative mounts occurred.

While the predetermined duration of the predetennined oestrus indicative mounting time period has been described as being three seconds, it will be appreciated that the predetermined duration of the predetermined oestrus indicative mounting time period may be selected to be of any desired value. However, it has been found that for bovines, mounts which last less than three seconds, in general, would not be typical of an animal in oestrus. However, where the detecting device according to the invention is being used to detect oestrus in other animals, the predetermined duration of the predetermined oestrus indicative mounting time period will be selected to be appropriate to the animal.

It will also be appreciated that while the predetermined duration of the predetermined interrupt time period has been selected to be one second, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that the predetermined duration of the predetermined interrupt time period may be of any other suitable value, and to some extent may also be determined by the type of animal to which the device is secured. However, in general, it is envisaged that if an interruption greater than three seconds occurs in bovines, it is in general not as a result of a slight movement of the animal during mounting, and thus interrupts of time greater than three seconds, in general, would be counted as being a time period between two successive mounts.

While the monitoring means has been described as being a plunger operated micro- switch, any other suitable monitoring means, switch or otherwise, may be used. It is also envisaged that while the monitoring switch has been described as a normally open switch, it could also be provided as a normally closed switch.

While predetermined maximum counts of oestrus indicative mounts have been described over which the number of oestrus indicative mounts are not counted in each time segment, any other value of maximum count may be selected, and it will of course be appreciated that the counting of the number of oestrus indicative mounts may not be capped by a maximum count. it will be appreciated that other suitable means for outputting the data from the detecting devices according to the invention may be provided besides light emitting diodes and radio frequency identity tags. Indeed, in certain cases, the device may be provided with a transmitter, for example, a radio transmitter for transmitting the data to a suitable receiver.

It will also be appreciated that where the identity of an animal is being outputted by the detecting device, the identity of the animal may be outputted by appropriately operating the light emitting diodes to provide a suitable sequence of identity pulses, which could be read by a photo sensitive scanner, for subsequent interpretation and display.

As mentioned above, one of the advantages of the invention is that it can operate with a relatively low power requirement. One of the important features of the detecting device which permits the detecting device to be operated with a relatively low power requirement results from the fact that the light emitting diodes are only operated to output data in respect of time segments in which oestrus indicative mounts actually occurred. Thus, if no oestrus indicative mounts occurred in a particular time segment, no signals would be outputted for that segment, nor would that segment be identified by the first sequence of first light pulses.

While specific time periods and delay time periods have been described, time periods and delay time periods of any other suitable time durations could be provided.

Claims (1)

Claims

1. A detecting device for securing to an animal for detecting oestrus in the animal by 30 detecting standing following mounting while the animal is mounted, the detecting device comprising a monitoring means for monitoring standing following mounting while the animal is mounted for detecting a mount of the animal indicative of oestrus, a computing means responsive to the monitoring means for computing a number of oestrus indicative mounts of the animal in a monitoring period of predetermined time duration, and an output means for outputting a signal indicative of a number of oestrus indicative mounts in the monitoring period, characterised in that the computing means computes a number of oestrus indicative mounts in each of a plurality of time segments within the monitoring time period, and the output means outputs a signal indicative of a number of the oestrus indicative mounts and the respective corresponding time segments. . A detecting device as claimed in claim 1 characterised in that that the output means comprises at least one light source and the output signal comprises at least one sequence of light pulses emitted by the light source, or optionally, wherein the output means comprises a radio signal communicating means. . A detecting device as claimed’ in any preceding claim characterised in that the output signal comprises a first sequence of first light pulses indicative of each time segment, and the output signal comprises a second sequence of second light pulses indicative of the number of oestrus indicative mounts in the corresponding time segment. . A detecting device as claimed in any preceding claim characterised in that the first light pulses are of a first predetermined duration and the first predetermined duration does not exceed four seconds and the second light pulses are of a second predetermined duration and the second predetermined duration does not exceed five hundred milliseconds. A method for detecting oestrus in an animal by detecting standing following mounting while the animal is mounted, the method comprising the steps of placing a monitoring means on the animal for monitoring standing following mounting while the animal is mounted for detecting a mount of the animal indicative of oestrus, computing a number of 44 oestrus indicative mounts of the animal in a monitoring period of predetermined time duration, and providing an output signal indicative of a number of oestrus indicative mounts during the predetermined monitoring period, characterised in that the method further comprises computing a number of oestrus indicative mounts in each of a plurality of time segments within the monitoring period, and providing the output signal indicative of a number of oestrus indicative mounts and the respective corresponding time segments.