JP2007189987A - Rut-detecting system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a rut-detecting system of an animal, capable of detecting the rut of the animal in good accuracy. <P>SOLUTION: The rut-detecting system has a wireless communication tag to be attached to one side of the back side or the belly side of each individual of the animal, a tag-detecting device to be attached to the other side of the back side and the belly side of each of the individual, and detecting the approach of the wireless communication tag. The tag-detecting device informs the approach to a control system when the approach of the wireless communication tag is detected, and the control system informs the individual to which the tag-detecting device having sent the information is attached as a rutting individual according to the frequency of the information. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a system for detecting the estrus of livestock such as cows and horses.

In the industry of rearing livestock such as dairy, it is important to realize planned births in order to manage the number of livestock, obtain milk, and manage pedigree.
For planned delivery, it is desirable to reliably detect the estrus from a large number of livestock and perform artificial insemination at an appropriate timing. For this reason, various methods and systems for detecting estrus of animals have been proposed.

  For example, Patent Document 1 proposes a method for detecting the estrus of a cow by mounting a sensor that is turned on by pressure on the cow's buttocks and detecting riding by another cow. Patent Document 2 proposes a method in which the number of cows walking is measured using a vibration detector such as an acceleration sensor, and the estrus of the cow is detected based on the change.

JP 7-39268 A JP 2001-120097 A

  In the method of providing a sensor for detecting pressure in the buttocks, the sensor reacts due to a cause other than being ridden by another cow, for example, the cow has pressed the buttocks against a fence or rubbed against the ground. Also, regarding the detection of the number of walks by the vibration detector, it is detected that the person is walking except when the person is stationary, so it is difficult to distinguish it from other actions such as hitting a roll. Furthermore, although a method of detecting the riding position by detecting the inclination of the cow's body is conceivable, for example, when grazing, it is difficult to distinguish from the case of being on a slope or slope. As described above, the conventional method has room for improvement in terms of the accuracy of detecting the behavior associated with estrus.

  The present invention has been made in view of such problems of the prior art, and its main object is to provide an estrus detection system for animals that can accurately detect estrus of animals.

  In order to achieve the above object, an estrus detection system according to the present invention is an estrus detection system for detecting estrus of an animal, and includes a wireless communication tag attached to one of the back side and the ventral side of each individual animal, A tag detection device that is attached to the other side of the individual's back or abdomen and detects the proximity of a wireless communication tag, and a management device configured to be able to communicate with the tag detection device. When the proximity of the tag is detected, the management device is notified, and the management device notifies the individual to which the tag detection device that has made the notification according to the frequency of notification is attached as an estrus individual.

  With such a configuration, according to the present invention, it is possible to accurately detect an estrus of an animal with a simple configuration.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail based on preferred embodiments with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of an estrus detection system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
The estrus detection system of this embodiment is characterized in that an estrus solid is detected by detecting the riding behavior of an animal using a wireless communication tag and its reader. In this embodiment, a cow is described as an example of a target for detecting estrus, but it is needless to say that the present invention can be similarly applied to other animals that perform a riding action along with estrus.

  The resonance tag 10 is an example of a wireless communication tag, and has a configuration in which a coil and a capacitor are formed by a printing pattern. As the resonance tag 10, a tag widely used as a so-called shoplifting prevention tag can be used. Further, it is not necessary to have a memory for storing data and a circuit for transmitting and receiving data, as in a so-called ID tag, and a simple LC circuit may be used.

  The tag detection device 20 detects the approach of the resonance tag 10 and notifies the management device 40 of the detection result. In the present embodiment, communication with the management apparatus 40 is performed via a plurality of wireless communication access points (AP) 30 installed in the ranch in advance using wireless LAN technology. In FIG. 1, the access points 30 are described as being directly connected to the management device 40, but may actually be connected via a router. Details of the tag detection device 20 will be described later.

  The access point 30 is a wireless communication interface between the management device 40 and the tag detection device 20, and a plurality of access points 30 are arranged so as to cover a range in which the cow to be managed can move. Any wireless LAN protocol may be used, but from the viewpoint of cost, it is preferable to use one of the widely used IEEE802.11b, 11g, and 11a. In addition, the tag detection device 20 can be positioned by measuring the installation position of the access point.

  The management device 40 is a personal computer, for example, and communicates the control program with the tag detection device 20 through the access point 30 connected to the network interface, and manages the tag detection information.

  Specifically, unique information that the tag detection device 20 has, for example, an IP address or MAC address and a cow are stored in association with each other, and which cow is used by using the IP address or MAC address included in the received detection information. It is specified whether the tag detection device attached has been detected. And the detection date is memorize | stored according to the solid of a cow.

  Also, by statistically processing the stored detection date and time information, the change in the number of detections, the detection frequency, etc. are obtained, and it matches a predetermined estrus condition (for example, the number of detections per hour exceeds a predetermined value). Determine whether to do. When the estrus conditions are met, the user is notified together with the individual information of the cow.

  The notification method is arbitrary, but it is possible to implement one or more of commonly used methods such as screen display, voice output, and e-mail transmission. Since the user is not always waiting in front of the management device 40, notification to a mobile communication terminal (for example, a mobile phone, a PHS, a pager, or an information terminal having a similar function) owned by the user is possible. preferable.

  Next, the configuration and operation of the tag detection device 20 will be described. The tag detection device 20 includes a tag antenna 21 for detecting a resonance tag, a first transmission / reception circuit 22 that performs transmission / reception via the tag antenna 21, and a wireless LAN antenna used for communication with the access point 30. 24, a second transmission / reception circuit 25 that performs transmission / reception via the wireless LAN antenna 24, and a control unit 23 that controls the first and second transmission / reception circuits 22 and 25.

  First, the control unit 23 establishes a connection with the management apparatus 40 through one of the access points 30 using the second transmission / reception circuit 25. This makes it possible to notify the management device 40 when a tag is detected. Also, the control unit 23 uses this connection to transmit status information when a request for information such as the status of the detection device is received from the management device 40, or when the remaining battery level (not shown) falls below a predetermined value In addition, the management device 40 is notified of a battery replacement request. The capacity of the battery is preferably large from the viewpoint of reducing labor for replacement, but an increase in weight is not preferable because it increases the burden on the cow. Therefore, it is preferable to provide at least an auxiliary power source that includes a solar cell and a power generation mechanism that converts mechanical energy such as vibration, distortion, and friction generated by the movement of an animal into electrical energy.

  In order to reduce the power consumption of the tag detection device and extend the battery life, it is preferable to configure the tag detection device to operate only when necessary. For example, if a mechanism for detecting vibration and inclination (power saving mechanism) is provided in the tag detection device 20 and vibration or inclination equal to or greater than a threshold value is not continuously detected for a predetermined time, the cow is not moving or another cow As a result, the power supply to each part of the tag detection device 20 can be prevented from being performed.

Next, the control unit 23 performs tag detection processing.
The tag detection process will be specifically described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.
The control unit 23 uses the first transmission / reception circuit 22 to transmit a tag detection radio wave having a frequency equal to the resonance frequency of the LC circuit constituting the resonance tag 10 from the tag antenna 21 for a predetermined time (step S110). Is stopped (step S115).

  Next, an echo wave detection process is started (step S120). If the resonance tag 10 exists within the detection range (distance), an echo wave is output from the resonance tag 10 by resonating with the tag detection radio wave. Therefore, if reception of this echo wave is confirmed by the first transmission / reception circuit 22 through the tag antenna 21, it can be detected that the resonance tag 10 is within a predetermined range from the tag antenna 21.

  It is determined whether or not an echo wave is detected within a predetermined time (steps S125 and S130), and if the detection is not confirmed, the process returns to step S110 to transmit the tag detection radio wave again. In this way, the control unit 23 periodically switches and executes the tag detection radio wave transmission and reception operations by the first transmission / reception circuit 22.

  On the other hand, when an echo wave is detected before the predetermined time has elapsed, information indicating tag detection and unique information of the tag detection device 20 are transmitted using the second transmission / reception circuit 25 as tag detection information. . The tag detection information is notified to the management apparatus 40 through any of the access points 30. When the transmission of the tag detection information is finished, the process returns to step S110. Instead of transmitting the tag detection information every time the tag is detected, the tag detection information may be transmitted every time the tag is detected a predetermined number of times.

In addition, if the number of times the presence of the resonance tag 10 is confirmed continuously and the transmission interval of the tag detection radio wave are used, it is possible to detect the time that the resonance tag 10 is continuously approaching. This time may be transmitted as information indicating the detection of the tag. The unique information of the tag detection device 20 may be preset unique information, or an IP address or MAC address used during wireless communication.
Note that by making the tag detection radio wave a weak radio wave, the resonance tag 10 can be detected only in a state of being quite close (for example, less than several tens of centimeters).

  The control unit 23 of the tag detection device 20 appropriately performs communication with the management device 40 using the second transmission / reception circuit 25 and the wireless LAN antenna 24 in parallel with the tag detection processing described above. That is, the communication with the management device 40 can be performed as necessary in addition to the case where the first transmission / reception circuit 22 detects the presence of the resonance tag 10.

FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram of the management device 40 in the present embodiment.
The management apparatus 40 includes a data communication unit 42 that performs communication through a data network such as a wireless LAN or the Internet, and a voice communication unit 44 that communicates with a telephone, a fax, or the like through a voice network. Further, the data storage unit 43 is, for example, a hard disk drive, and the individual data (name, number, age, childbirth history, unique information of the attached tag detection device, tag detection information, etc.) of the cattle to be managed and the user used for notification Phone / fax number, e-mail address, voice data used for notification, programs executed by the control unit 41, necessary parameters, and the like, installation location information of the access point 30, various settings by the user, and the like.
The output unit 45 is a display device, a speaker, a printer, or the like, and the input unit 46 is an input device represented by a keyboard and a mouse.

  Both the data communication unit 42 and the voice communication unit 44 communicate according to the control of the control unit 41. The data communication unit 42 can actually be implemented by a network interface and a communication application (such as an electronic mail application), and the voice communication unit 44 can be implemented by a modem and a communication application (such as a voice synthesis application or a call application). The control unit 41 includes, for example, a CPU, a ROM, and a RAM, and controls the data communication unit 42 and the voice communication unit 44 by executing a control program stored in the data storage unit 43 and the like, thereby controlling the operation of the entire management apparatus 40. Control. Note that the CPU of the control unit 41 may execute the communication application.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining the estrus determination process in the management device 40.
The control unit 41 confirms whether the data communication unit 42 has received a tag detection notification (tag detection information) (step S210). If there is no reception, step S210 is repeated until there is reception.

When the tag detection information is received, the control unit 41 identifies the corresponding individual included in the management information stored in the data storage unit 43 from the unique information of the tag detection device included in the tag detection information. Then, information indicating the detection of the tag included in the tag detection information is stored in association with the identified individual (step S215).

  Next, the control unit 41 refers to the management information in the storage unit 43 and checks the presence or absence of an individual determined to be in estrus (step S220). Conditions for this determination can be set as appropriate. For example, the frequency of boarding (whether the board has been boarded a predetermined number of times within a predetermined time) or the frequency of boarding (a boarding over a predetermined number of times within a predetermined time). For example).

  Moreover, it is also possible to discriminate an individual whose estrus is predicted based on the change rate of these frequencies, and to notify the prior prediction information. Since these notification conditions should be adjustable by the user and change according to the user's request, further details are omitted.

  If there is an individual determined to be in estrus (step S225, Y), the user is notified by a preset method (step S230). As described above, notification methods that can be used here include notification by various display / voice / printing outputs to the output unit 45, notification by e-mail, and notification by voice / FAX. Notification may be performed by combining two or more of these. The information to be notified only needs to include at least information (number or name) that can identify an individual.

  For example, when notification by e-mail is performed, the control unit 41 acquires the e-mail address of the notification destination and information for identifying the individual and a fixed sentence for notification from the data storage unit 43, and transmits the e-mail using the data communication unit 42. I do. Similarly, in the case of informing by telephone, the telephone number of the notification destination and information for identifying the individual and a voice message for notification are acquired from the data storage unit 43 and a call is made using the voice communication unit 44. When the line is connected, the notification message is reproduced by voice synthesis.

  Now, the configuration and operation of the estrus detection system according to the present embodiment have been described so far. In this system, it is necessary to attach the resonance tag 10 and the tag detection device 20 to a cow to be managed one by one.

  When a cow reaches estrus, it repeats the behavior of riding on another cow for a while (early estrus), but in the middle stage of estrus it turns out that the number of times other cows are allowed to ride increases. Yes.

  In the estrus detection system of the present embodiment, it is possible to detect either the estrus initial stage or the middle estrus stage depending on the mounting position of the resonance tag 10 and the tag detection device 20. That is, as described above, since the estrus individuals ride on other cows in the initial stage, the tag detection device 20 is placed on the belly side of the cow (from the lower chin to the belly), and the resonance tag is placed on the back of the cow (from the back to the head). It is possible to detect a boarded individual by attaching it to the. On the other hand, if the attachment positions of the tag detection device 20 and the resonance tag 10 are reversed, it is possible to detect the individual that has been boarded.

  Although there is no restriction on the method of attaching the resonance tag 10 and the tag detection device 20 to the cow, as shown in FIG. 2 (a), a stretchable belt is used as an attachment tool, and the two outer peripheral surfaces are opposed to each other. The resonance tag 10 and the tag detection device 20 can be mounted by fixing the resonance tag 10 and the tag detection device 20 and attaching this belt to the cow's torso.

  Alternatively, as shown in FIGS. 2B and 2C, the tag detection device 20 and the resonance tag 10 may be fixed to separate belts and mounted at different positions. For example, if the resonance tag 10 is mounted from the lower chin to the vicinity of the throat and the tag detection device 20 is mounted on the back of the buttocks, the resonance tag 10 and the tag detection device 20 are in a closer state when riding. Since it can be expected, it is possible to detect the boarded saddle (the boarding if the resonance tag 10 and the tag detection device 20 are replaced) with higher accuracy than the configuration of FIG. FIG. 6 shows an example of the positional relationship between the resonant tag 10 and the tag detection device 20 in the riding state when the configurations of FIGS. 2B and 2C are used.

  In addition, it is preferable that the resonance tag 10 and the tag detection apparatus 20 perform the casing which considered the stain | pollution | contamination in the outdoors, a barn, etc. Specifically, the resonance tag 10 may be laminated with a resin film, and the tag detection device 20 may be enclosed in a waterproof case.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to accurately detect an estrus of an animal by using a simple configuration of the resonance tag 10 and its detection device 20.

  As described above, when a plurality of access points 30 can receive a transmission wave from the same tag detection device 20, it is possible to determine the transmission source based on the principle of triangulation from the relationship of the reception intensity. Therefore, also in the above-described embodiment, the management device 40 is configured to periodically measure the position of each tag detection device 20 with which connection is established, and store and update the position information in the individual data. It is possible.

  In this case, it is preferable to include this position information in the notification information. In this case, since no special circuit is provided in the tag detection device 20 and positioning is possible without extra power consumption, for example, a configuration in which positioning is performed by providing a GPS antenna and a reception circuit in the tag detection device 20 is possible. It is advantageous in terms of simple and power consumption. In addition, when storing map information in the storage unit 43 and performing notification by e-mail or display, the estimated position of the cow whose estrus is determined is shown on the map based on the positioning result and the known access point position. It is also possible to configure as described above.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, only an example using one type of resonance tag has been described in order to simplify the explanation and understanding. However, if the tag detection device is configured to output tag detection radio waves having different frequencies and detect corresponding echo waves, it is possible to use a plurality of types of resonance tags having different resonance frequencies. By using a plurality of types of resonance tags, it is possible to distinguish the cows wearing the tags according to at least the types of tags.

  Further, as a wireless communication tag, a resonance tag having a memory storing a unique information of the tag and a transmission circuit is used, and the unique information of the tag is read by the tag detection device 20, whereby each tag can be identified. . By including tag unique information in the tag detection information for notification, the management device 40 can perform more detailed information management.

It is a figure which shows the structural example of the estrus detection system which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of the mounting tool of the resonance tag 10 and a tag detection apparatus. 4 is a flowchart for explaining tag detection processing in the tag detection device 20. It is a functional block diagram of the management apparatus 40 in the estrus detection system which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. 4 is a flowchart for explaining estrus determination processing in the management device 40. It is a figure which shows the example of the positional relationship of the resonance tag 10 and the tag detection apparatus 20 of a to-be-ridden state.

Claims (4)

An estrus detection system for detecting the estrus of an animal,
A wireless communication tag attached to one of the back side or the ventral side of each individual animal;
A tag detection device that is attached to the back side or the ventral side of each individual and detects the proximity of the wireless communication tag;
A management device configured to be communicable with the tag detection device;
When the tag detection device detects the proximity of the wireless communication tag, it notifies the management device, and the management device identifies an individual attached with the tag detection device that made the notification according to the frequency of the notification. An estrus detection system characterized by notifying as   The wireless communication tag is a resonance tag, and the tag detection device intermittently transmits a radio wave having a frequency equal to the resonance frequency of the resonance tag, and detects the presence or absence of the echo wave to thereby detect the proximity of the resonance tag. The estrus detection system according to claim 1, wherein the estrus detection system is detected.   The wireless communication tag is attached to one of the positions near the lower chin of each individual or from the heel of the back, and the tag detection device is attached to the other of the positions near the lower chin of each individual or from the heel of the back. The estrus detection system according to claim 1, wherein the estrus detection system is provided. A plurality of wireless communication access points that are connected to the management device and whose installation positions are known;
The tag detection device communicates with the management device through any of the plurality of wireless communication access points, and the management device receives reception intensity from the tag detection device at the plurality of wireless communication access points. The estrus detection system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein positioning of the tag detection device is performed based on the information.

Images