NZ715012A0

NZ715012A0 - Automated body condition score measurement

Info

Publication number: NZ715012A0
Application number: NZ715012A
Authority: NZ
Inventors: Mcmahon Chris
Original assignee: Agresearch Limited
Filing date: 2015-12-10
Publication date: 2017-08-01

Abstract

Described herein is an automated body condition score (BCS) measurement apparatus and methods of use. More specifically, an apparatus and methods of use are described that automate the process of testing an animal’s body condition score and minimise animal handling and errors in measurement of body condition score. In one embodiment, the apparatus may comprise an enclosure; an animal; at least one animal width sensor located on or about the enclosure, the at least one animal width sensor being an arm or arms extending from the enclosure side or sides that the animal contacts or nearly contacts as relative movement occurs between the animal and apparatus; and, when relative movement occurs between the animal and the at least one width sensor, the animal width and/or height is measured about at least one point along the animal body which is then used to calculate a body condition score (BCS) for the animal. condition score. In one embodiment, the apparatus may comprise an enclosure; an animal; at least one animal width sensor located on or about the enclosure, the at least one animal width sensor being an arm or arms extending from the enclosure side or sides that the animal contacts or nearly contacts as relative movement occurs between the animal and apparatus; and, when relative movement occurs between the animal and the at least one width sensor, the animal width and/or height is measured about at least one point along the animal body which is then used to calculate a body condition score (BCS) for the animal.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS: 1. An apparatus to measure the body condition score (BCS) of an animal, the apparatus comprising: (a) an enclosure; (b) an animal; (c) at least one animal width sensor located on or about the enclosure, the at least one animal width sensor being a mechanical arm or arms extending from the enclosure side or sides that the animal contacts as relative movement occurs between the animal and apparatus; and wherein, when relative movement occurs between the animal and the at least one width sensor, the animal width and/or height is measured about at least one point along the animal body which is then used to calculate a body condition score (BCS) for the animal.
2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the at least one width sensor may in one embodiment generate a signal that is received by a processor and the processor uses the measured width to calculate the BCS for the animal.
3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the enclosure is substantially stationary and the animal walks through the enclosure during animal width sensing.
4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the animal remains in a substantially stationary position relative to the enclosure while the enclosure and/or animal width sensor or sensors move during animal width sensing.
5. The apparatus as claimed in any one of the above claims wherein the enclosure comprises opposing side walls defining an elongated space therein, the side walls being spaced to allow only one animal at a time between the walls.
6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 5 wherein the at least one animal width sensor is located about or on the enclosure wall or walls.
7. The apparatus as claimed in any one of the above claims wherein the apparatus comprises at least two opposing animal width sensors and the animal passes through the opposing sensors.
8. The apparatus as claimed in any one of the above claims wherein the arm or arms comprise at least one sensor measuring arm position relative to at least one fixed point, the variation in movement between the arm and fixed point corresponding to the animal width.
9. The apparatus as claimed in any one of the above claims wherein the arm or arms or a part thereof that contacts the animal comprise at least one sensor.
10. The apparatus as claimed in any one of the above claims wherein the at least one arm is biased to an animal blocking position.
11. The apparatus as claimed in any one of the above claims wherein the arm or arms pivot about a pivot point to move in a horizontal plane relative to the animal width.
12. The apparatus as claimed in any one of the above claims wherein the arm or arms move along a slide or slides in a horizontal plane relative to the animal width.
13. The apparatus as claimed in any one of the above claims wherein the arm incorporates at least one animal contacting ending, the ending having a generally circular shape that rotates about a generally vertical axis of rotation.
14. The apparatus as claimed in claim 13 wherein the animal contacting ending comprises at least one roller.
15. The apparatus as claimed in claim 13 wherein the animal contacting ending comprises at least one rotating disc.
16. The apparatus as claimed in claim 15 wherein the animal contacting ending has a plurality of aligned discs with a common substantially vertical axis of rotation and disc diameter.
17. The apparatus as claimed in claim 15 or claim 16 wherein the at least one disc is segmented so as to have a plurality of pin endings about at least part of the disc circumference.
18. The apparatus as claimed in any one of the above claims wherein the arm or arms of the at least one animal width sensor emits an electromagnetic radiation signal directed towards the animal side or sides and the variation in electromagnetic radiation signal length is measured when relative movement occurs between an animal and the at least one animal width sensor in order to determine the animal width.
19. The apparatus as claimed in claim 18 wherein the electromagnetic radiation signal is selected from: laser light; infrared light; side scanning radar.
20. The apparatus as claimed in any one of the above claims wherein the animal is selected from: sheep, cows, cattle, goats, deer, llama, pigs.
21. The apparatus as claimed in any one of the above claims wherein the animal width is measured about at least one point along the animal body selected from: the chest, the shoulder, the flank, the belly, the rump, the hip height, Withers height and combinations thereof.
22. The apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 20 wherein the animal width is measured continuously along a part or all of the length of the animal body.
23. The apparatus as claimed in any one of the above claims wherein the animal weight is also measured by: (a) use of at least one weight measuring member separate to the apparatus; and/or (b) using a correlation between BCS and animal weight to calculate animal weight.
24. The apparatus as claimed in any one of the above claims wherein the apparatus comprises at least one animal separating assembly integrated with or linked to the apparatus.
25. The apparatus as claimed in any one of the above claims wherein the apparatus comprises at least one sensor to measure the ID tag of an animal.
26. The apparatus as claimed in any one of the above claims wherein at least one door is integrated into the enclosure at or about the animal entry and/or the animal exit.
27. A method of determining the BCS of an animal by the steps of: (a) providing an apparatus as claimed in any one of the above claims; and (b) urging relative movement between the animal and the at least one width sensor; (c) using the width and/or height results to determine BCS.
28. A method of determining the weight of an animal by the steps of: (a) providing an apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 26; and (b) urging relative movement between the animal and the at least one width sensor; (c) using the width and/or height results to determine animal weight.
29. A method of determining the meat yield of an animal by the steps of: (a) providing an apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 26; and (b) urging relative movement between the animal and the at least one width sensor; (c) using the width and/or height results to determine animal meat yield.
30. A method of selecting animals based on their nutritional needs by the steps of: (a) providing an apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 26; and (b) urging relative movement between the animal and the at least one width sensor; (c) using the width and/or height results to determine BCS and using the BCS results to separate animals according to their nutritional needs.
31. The method as claimed in claim 30 wherein animal selection is based on a percentage.