JP2011193790A - Livestock-managing method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve the accuracy of livestock management by reducing the acquisition of abnormal data in a sensor for managing the livestock.SOLUTION: The livestock-managing apparatus includes a sensor for measuring an action amount of the livestock, a sensor-housing case equipped with through holes at both ends of the outer edge, and a belt-shaped binding device to be passed to both the through holes of the sensor-housing case. The through hole has an inner space height higher than the thickness of the binding device, and a height between the inner space top part of the through hole, and the top part of the case surface to be wound by the binding device passing the one end through hole to the other end through hole is not lower than a prescribed value.

Description

  The present invention relates to a livestock management method, and more specifically to a technique for reducing the acquisition of abnormal data in a livestock management sensor and improving the accuracy of livestock management.

  There is a strong tendency to expand the management scale per livestock farm and increase the number of livestock. This is because by increasing the number of heads, working hours and the like per one livestock can be reduced, and work efficiency can be improved. However, it is very laborious to continue visual confirmation and the like for all the livestock that have become multi-headed, and confirmation omissions are likely to occur. Under such circumstances, a decrease in the rate of discovery of estrus that has a significant impact on livestock management is a problem in livestock management.

  Therefore, for example, in order to reduce the burden of visual confirmation of estrus for each livestock, the physical condition and the amount of activity of the livestock are measured with sensors, and this measured value and the reference value of the physical condition and the amount of activity of the animal in the estrus period A technique has been proposed in which the estrus period is diagnosed by comparing the two.

  As such a conventional technique, for example, a region around the vulva of a mammal and its adjacent portion are photographed using a thermography, and an individual having a possibility of estrus is screened by analyzing the obtained thermal image. In addition, a screening method for the time of estrus in a female mammal (see Patent Document 1) has been proposed.

  In addition, the wearable vibration meter is driven by operating the start switch to generate intermittent vibration values, continuous vibration values, static or vibration stop values, etc., and transmit, input, and store these vibration numerical information to the centralized calculation device. Estimate the estrus of cattle, pigs, horses, etc. with the estrus prediction function of the centralized calculation device based on the analysis contents analyzed by the analysis function based on the graph of bar graph, line graph, etc., and after fertilization A technique for predicting the delivery date and time of the child with the delivery date and time prediction function of the centralized calculation device and for finding a disease with the disease detection function of the centralized calculation device has also been proposed (see Patent Document 2).

JP 2005-204750 A JP 2003-325077 A

  Such conventional livestock management techniques can certainly be expected to reduce the burden on livestock farmers. However, in reality, problems remain in the management of sensors, which is the basic technology for realizing livestock management. This sensor detects the amount of activity and body temperature of livestock, but as livestock move their bodies, they come into contact with and collide with various facilities such as barns, feed stations, and water fields, and data on abnormal values is collected. There was a concern that the data could not be acquired because it was acquired, or the sensor was damaged or failed. In fact, the inventors of the present application have obtained knowledge about a situation in which a sensor applied to conventional livestock management at a livestock farmer detects an abnormal value or is damaged. Therefore, it can be said that solving these problems is indispensable for establishing a highly accurate livestock management technology.

  Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and a main object thereof is to provide a technique for reducing abnormal data acquisition in a livestock management sensor and improving the accuracy of livestock management.

  The livestock management apparatus of the present invention that solves the above problems includes a sensor for measuring the amount of movement of livestock, a sensor storage case having insertion holes at both ends of the outer edge, and a band-shaped binding tool that passes through both insertion holes of the sensor storage case The insertion hole has an inner height that is equal to or greater than the thickness of the binding tool, and the inner hole top portion of the insertion hole and the binding tool that has passed through the insertion hole at one end are wound toward the insertion hole at the other end. It is characterized in that the height between the rotated case surface top is not less than a predetermined value.

  In the livestock management apparatus, the sensor storage case includes an adjusting means for fixing the inner space height of each insertion hole so as to be movable up and down, and the adjustment so that the inner space height does not become smaller than the thickness of the binding tool. Limiting means for limiting the vertical movement of the means may be provided.

  Moreover, the said livestock management apparatus WHEREIN: The said binding tool is good also as providing the display means which shows the area between the temple part of livestock when it wraps the neck part of livestock with the said binding tool to just under the back of the head.

  Further, the livestock management method of the present invention comprises a sensor for measuring the amount of movement of livestock, a sensor storage case provided with insertion holes at both ends of the outer edge, and a belt-like binding tool that passes through both insertion holes of the sensor storage case The insertion hole has an inner height higher than the thickness of the binding tool, and the inner hollow top of the insertion hole and the binding tool that has passed through the insertion hole at one end are wound toward the insertion hole at the other end. A livestock management method using a device having a height between a case surface top and a predetermined value or more, and a band-shaped binding tool is inserted into both insertion holes of the sensor storage case and passed through the insertion hole. The height between the binding tool and the case surface top portion where the binding tool that has passed through the insertion hole at one end is wound toward the insertion hole at the other end is set to a predetermined value or more.

  In the livestock management method, the adjusting means for fixing the inner sky height of each insertion hole to be vertically movable, and the vertical movement of the adjusting means is restricted so that the inner sky height is not smaller than the thickness of the binding tool. A band-like binding tool is inserted into both insertion holes of the sensor storage case, and the adjustment means and the restriction means of the sensor storage case The sky height may be fixed by moving up and down within a range that does not become smaller than the thickness of the binding tool.

  Further, in the livestock management method, the sensor using the binding tool provided with display means for indicating a section from a domestic animal temple to a position just below the back of the head when the neck of the livestock is wound with the binding tool. The sensor is inserted into a section between the domestic animal temple when the livestock neck is wound with the binding tool, and the display means shows through the both insertion holes of the storage case. The binding tool may be wound so that the storage case is positioned.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the abnormal data acquisition in the sensor for livestock management can be reduced, and the precision of livestock management can be improved.

It is a figure which shows the structure of the livestock management apparatus of this embodiment. It is a figure which shows the example of a process sequence of the livestock management method of this embodiment. It is a figure which shows the change result of the failure rate in this embodiment. It is a figure which shows the change result of action amount data in this embodiment.

---- Livestock management device ---
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a livestock management apparatus 100 of the present embodiment. A livestock management apparatus 100 shown in FIG. 1 reduces the acquisition of abnormal data in a livestock management sensor and improves the accuracy of livestock management. In the present embodiment, a cow is assumed as an example of the livestock 1 to be managed, but of course, the application target is not limited to only cattle, and can be applied to various other livestock.

  Moreover, the action amount sensor 10 with which this livestock management apparatus 100 is equipped can assume the condition where it is connected with the server apparatus so that communication is possible on a wireless network, for example. The behavior amount sensor 10 is a device attached to a cow 1 (livestock) that is bred in various facilities such as a barn or a grazing farm of a livestock farmer. The action amount sensor 10 is an apparatus integrated with a binding tool 30 such as a band attached to the neck 2 of the cow 1 and counts the vibration frequency of the neck of the cow 1.

  The action amount sensor 10 includes a control unit 14 such as a CPU, a storage unit 11, a RAM 13, a clock function 15 for managing date and time information, a sensor unit 16, a communication unit 17, and the like connected to each other by a BUS. In the storage unit 11, a program 12 and a livestock ID are stored. Such a behavior amount sensor 10 is executed by the control unit 14 by reading the program 12 stored in the storage unit 11, which is a nonvolatile storage unit, into a volatile memory such as the RAM 13. The communication unit 17 is a network interface card (NIC) that transmits the behavior amount data collected by the behavior amount sensor 10 and stored in the storage unit 11 or the like to the behavior amount data collection server.

  The structure of the livestock management apparatus 100 provided with such a behavior amount sensor 10 will be described in detail. The livestock management apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment includes a sensor storage case 20 having insertion holes 21 and 22 at both ends of the outer edge, in addition to the behavior amount sensor 10 that measures the amount of behavior of the cow 1 as a domestic animal, and the sensor storage. This is an apparatus provided integrally with a band-shaped binding tool 30 that passes through both insertion holes 21 and 22 of the case 20.

  The sensor storage case 20 includes a shell body 29 which is a shell-like case member made of a material having an appropriate strength and weather resistance such as resin or metal, a base member 29A for supporting the shell body 29, and the base member. The holding member 27B is fixed to the bolt 29A via a bolt 27A. The adjusting means 27 includes the bolt 27A and a holding member 27B that is bolted to the base member 29A via the bolt 27A. The adjusting means 27 is a means 27 for fixing the inner air height 23 of each of the insertion holes 21 and 22 so as to be movable up and down. In addition, the sensor storage case 20 includes a limiting unit 28 that limits the vertical movement of the adjusting unit 27 so that the inner air height 23 does not become smaller than the thickness 31 of the binding tool 30. In the example shown in the figure, as the restricting means 28, a spacer is provided between the holding member 27B and the base member 29A and communicating with the bolt 27A. This spacer is made of a material such as rubber or resin, and has substantially the same thickness 31 as the thickness 31 of the binding tool 30 but more than that.

  The binding tool 30 is a band-shaped member having appropriate strength, plasticity, and elasticity such as resin or canvas, and has a predetermined thickness 31. In addition, the binding tool 30 includes display means 32 that indicates the section 5 between the temple portion 3 of the cow 1 and the portion 4 immediately below the back of the head 1 when the neck 2 of the livestock 1 is wound around the binding tool 30. This is preferable. This display means 32 is, for example, an emphasized color, a specific pattern, a different material, or a character arranged in a portion corresponding to a section 5 from the temple portion 3 to the portion 4 immediately below the back of the head in the longitudinal direction of the binding portion 30. Symbols can be assumed.

  The insertion holes 21 and 22 of the sensor storage case 20 have an inner height 23 that is equal to or greater than the thickness 31 of the binding tool 30, and the inner empty top portion 24 of the insertion holes 21 and 22 and an insertion hole at one end. It is preferable that the height 26 between the binding tool 30 that has passed through 21 and the case surface top 25 wound around the insertion hole 22 at the other end is equal to or greater than a predetermined value.

  The fact that the inner height 23 of the insertion holes 21 and 22 is equal to or greater than the thickness 31 of the binding tool 30 means that the base 30 increases as the thickness of the binding tool 30 passed through the insertion holes 21 and 22 decreases. It means that the member 29A is not fixed by crimping.

  Further, the height 26 between the inner hollow top portion 24 of the insertion holes 21 and 22 and the case surface top portion 25 around which the binding tool 30 that has passed through the insertion hole 21 at one end is wound toward the insertion hole 22 at the other end. Means that the tying member 30 passed through the insertion hole 21 at one end has a sufficient bulge (= the thickness of the bulge is the height of the shell body 29). In the form, it means that it enters the insertion hole 22 at the other end and is fixed to the neck 2 of the cow 1.

  Therefore, although it is not bound by the insertion holes 21 and 22, it can be said that it passes through the shell body 29 and thus the case surface top 24 in an upwardly convex form with a sufficient bulge. In this case, for example, even if the binding tool 30 is pulled by some action of the cow 1, the portion of the sensor storage case 20 where a large load is applied is the part of the shell body 29 that the binding tool 30 is in contact with. The entire surface, the entire bottom surface of the holding member 27B, and the top surface of the base member 29A. Therefore, for example, it can be avoided that a load is applied only locally, such as only around the bolt 27A of the base member 29A.

---- Livestock management method ---
Then, the procedure of the livestock management method in this embodiment is demonstrated. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure example of the livestock management method of this embodiment. In addition, as the livestock management apparatus 100 to be used, the livestock management apparatus 100 in the present embodiment described above is applied. In this case, first, when the insertion hole 21 of the sensor storage case 20 = the above case, the band-shaped binding tool 30 is inserted into the opening between the holding member 27B and the base member 29A at one end (s300).

  Further, the binding tool 30 that has passed through the insertion hole 21 is sent out as it is, passed through the case surface top 25, and passed through the insertion hole 22 at the other end (s301). At this time, the height 26 between the insertion holes 21 and 22 and the case surface top 25 is a predetermined value or more according to a predesigned value.

  Subsequently, the holding member 27B, which is the adjusting means 27 of the sensor storage case 20, is moved downward by tightening the bolt 27A, and the openings = insertion holes 21 and 22 are narrowed (s302). On the other hand, a spacer which is the limiting means 28 is communicated with the bolt 27A, and even if the holding member 27B is continuously moved downward, the inner height 23 of the insertion holes 21 and 22 can be reduced by the spacer. It stops in the range which is not smaller than the thickness 31 of the binding tool 30. Therefore, for example, when the holding member 27B comes into contact with the spacer, the tightening of the bolt 27A is stopped and fixed (s303).

  By the process so far, the fixing operation for integrating the sensor storage case 20 in which the action amount sensor 10 is housed with the binding tool 30 is completed. Next, an operation of attaching the integrated sensor storage case 20 and the binding tool 30 to the neck 2 of the cow 1 is performed. In this case, the binding tool 30 is temporarily wound around the neck 2 of the cow 1, and the temple portion of the livestock 1 when the neck 2 of the livestock 1 is wound around the binding tool 30 indicated by the display means 32. The winding operation is performed so that the sensor storage case 20 is positioned in the section 5 between 3 and 4 immediately below the back of the head (s304). When the sensor storage case 20 is placed in the section 5, the winding is fixed with a predetermined fastener provided at the end of the binding tool 30 (s305), and the operation is finished.

  The inventors have obtained knowledge of the situation improvement when the above livestock management method is actually applied to livestock farmers. In FIG. 3, the observation result regarding the damage rate change of the sensor storage case 20 is shown. As shown in this figure, when a conventional livestock management method was executed using a conventional livestock management apparatus, as many as 11 damages were recognized in all 40 sensor storage cases 20 in 96 days. If livestock management continues for one year at this pace, the annual damage rate will exceed 100% in the calculation. In other words, even if all the sensor storage cases 20 are replaced, there is a case where a second replacement is required. On the other hand, when the livestock management method of the present embodiment was executed using the livestock management apparatus 100 of the present embodiment, only 1 out of the total 40 was damaged (although it was somewhat short). Even if the annual damage rate was calculated, it was 38%.

  In addition, the inventors have actually observed the abnormal value of the behavior amount data obtained when the livestock management apparatus 100 of the present embodiment is applied and the livestock management method of the present embodiment is applied. As a result, as shown in FIG. 4, the action amount level far exceeds a certain level until the date when this embodiment is applied (“11/7” in ranch a and “11/9” in ranch b). Although there were many days on which abnormal values were detected, no cases where those abnormal values were detected were observed after the application of this embodiment. Naturally, the results of various analyzes (such as the time of pregnancy and parturition of livestock) using such behavior data are also good.

  Therefore, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to reduce the abnormal data acquisition in the livestock management sensor and improve the accuracy of livestock management.

  As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention was described concretely based on the embodiment, it is not limited to this and can be variously changed in the range which does not deviate from the summary.

1 Livestock (cow)
2 Livestock neck 3 Livestock temple 4 Directly below the back of the head 5 Section from the temple to the back of the head 10 Action sensor 20 Sensor housing cases 21, 22 Insertion holes 23 Inner height of the insertion holes 24 Inner top of the insertion holes 25 Case surface top part 26 Height 27 between inner empty top part and case surface top part 27 Adjustment means 27A Bolt 27B Holding member 28 Restriction means 29 Shell body 30 Binding tool 31 Binding tool thickness 32 Display means 100 Livestock management device

Claims (6)

  A sensor for measuring the amount of behavior of livestock, a sensor storage case having insertion holes at both ends of the outer edge, and a band-shaped binding tool that passes through both insertion holes of the sensor storage case, the insertion hole having an inner height Is the thickness of the binding tool, and the height between the inner top of the insertion hole and the top of the case surface where the binding tool that has passed through the insertion hole at one end is wound toward the insertion hole at the other end is A livestock management apparatus characterized by being a predetermined value or more.   The sensor storage case includes an adjustment means for fixing the inner height of each insertion hole so as to be movable up and down, and a restriction for restricting the vertical movement of the adjustment means so that the inner height is not smaller than the thickness of the binding tool. The livestock management apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: means.   The said binding tool is provided with the display means which shows the area between the temple part of livestock when the neck part of livestock is wound with the said binding tool, and just under the back of the head. Livestock management device. A sensor for measuring the amount of behavior of livestock, a sensor storage case having insertion holes at both ends of the outer edge, and a band-shaped binding tool that passes through both insertion holes of the sensor storage case, the insertion hole having an inner height Is the thickness of the binding tool, and the height between the inner top of the insertion hole and the top of the case surface where the binding tool that has passed through the insertion hole at one end is wound toward the insertion hole at the other end is It is a livestock management method using a device that is a predetermined value or more,
A case surface in which a band-shaped binding tool is inserted into both insertion holes of the sensor storage case, and the binding tool that has passed through the insertion hole and the binding tool that has passed through the insertion hole at one end are wound toward the insertion hole at the other end. The livestock management method characterized by making the height between the tops a predetermined value or more. Adjusting means for fixing the inner air height of each insertion hole so as to be movable up and down, and limiting means for restricting the vertical movement of the adjusting means so that the inner air height does not become smaller than the thickness of the binding tool. Using the sensor storage case,
A band-shaped binding tool is inserted into both insertion holes of the sensor storage case, and the height of the inner space of the insertion hole is not increased or decreased by the adjustment means and the restriction means of the sensor storage case within a range not smaller than the thickness of the binding tool. It is moved and fixed, The livestock management method of Claim 4 characterized by the above-mentioned. Using the binding tool provided with a display means for indicating a section between the domestic animal temple when the livestock neck is wound with the binding tool and immediately below the back of the head,
Inserting the binding tool into both insertion holes of the sensor storage case, and the display means shows a section between the domestic animal temple when the livestock neck is wound with the binding tool and immediately below the back of the head, The livestock management method according to claim 4, wherein the binding tool is wound so that the sensor storage case is positioned.

Images