WO2008084905A1

WO2008084905A1 - An indicator of sexual excitement starting time for cattle

Info

Publication number: WO2008084905A1
Application number: PCT/KR2007/004410
Authority: WO
Inventors: Won Mo Cho; Bong Hyun Paek; Eung Gi Kwon; Young Moo Cho; Seon Sik Chang; Young Kyeung Choi
Original assignee: Republic Of Korea(Management : Rural Development Administration)
Priority date: 2007-01-09
Filing date: 2007-09-12
Publication date: 2008-07-17
Also published as: CN101578516A; KR100810812B1; CN101578516B

Abstract

Disclosed herein is an indicator for indicating an estrus starting time, which is capable of easily checking an estrus starting time while a manager does not continuously monitor a female animal when the female animal is in estrus. The indicator includes a pressure detecting portion which detects a physical pressurization state and generates a pressure detection signal; a light-emitting portion which emits light according to a light-emitting operation signal output from a controller; the controller which receives the pressure detection signal generated by the pressure detecting portion and generates and sends the light-emitting operation signal to the light-emitting portion when the pressure detection signal is continuously received for a predetermined time; and a power source which supplies power necessary for the operations of the components. When the indicator is mounted on a cow and the pressure detecting portion generates the pressure detection signal for 3 to 10 seconds due to mounting of another cow, the controller sends the light-emitting operation signal to the light-emitting portion for an estrus duration of the cow, that is, 48 hours. Accordingly, a manager can easily check estrus of a female animal through such a signal.

Description

AN INDICATOR OF SEXUAL EXCITEMENT STARTING TIME

FOR CATTLE

Technical Field

[1] The present invention relates to an indicator for indicating an estras starting time, and more particularly, to an indicator capable of easily checking an estrus starting time while a manager does not continuously monitor a female animal when the female animal is in estrus. Background Art

[2] A female animal has a specific estrus cycle. Hereinafter, estrus of a female animal will be described, concentrating on a cow which is usually bred.

[3] The cow generally has an estrous cycle of 18 to 24 days and an average estrus cycle of 21 days. When the cow is in estrus, the cow's eyes grow dim and the cow bellows and becomes nervous. Accordingly, the cow mounts on another cow and permits mounting of another cow. The estrus lasts about 16 to 21 hours and ovulation occurs after about 30 to 37 hours from an estrus starting time. That is, the ovulation occurs within 15 to 19 hours after the estrus is completed.

[4] According to a research result, a conception rate is 43.1% if fertilization occurs within four hours after the estrus, the conception rate is 50% if fertilization occurs within four to 16 hours after the estrus, and the conception rate is gradually decreased if 16 hours or more pass after the estrus.

[5] Accordingly, in order to prevent a breeding time of an animal from being missed, a manager should continuously observe a female animal. It is cumbersome that the manager continuously observes the animal in order to check the estrus of the animal.

[6] In order to solve such a problem, a method for continuously photographing an animal using a camera and a recording apparatus and checking an image recorded on the recording apparatus was suggested.

[7] However, since the recorded image is not checked in real time, it is impossible to check the estrus of the animal at a proper timing. Disclosure of Invention Technical Problem

[8] Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide an indicator for indicating an estrus starting time, which is capable of easily checking estrus of a female animal. Technical Solution

[9] In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, the above and other objects can be accomplished by the provision of an indicator for indicating an estrus starting time in order to check estrus of a female animal, the indicator including: a pressure detecting portion which detects a physical pressurization state and generates a pressure detection signal; a light-emitting portion which emits light according to a light- emitting operation signal output from a controller; the controller which receives the pressure detection signal generated by the pressure detecting portion and generates and sends the light-emitting operation signal to the light-emitting portion when the pressure detection signal is continuously received for a predetermined time; and a power source which supplies power necessary for the operations of the components .

[10] The indicator for indicating the estrus starting time may be mounted on a cow, determine that the cow is in estrus when the pressure detection signal is detected for 3 to 10 seconds, and emit light for 48 hours.

[11] The light-emitting operation signal generated by the controller may be maintained for

48 hours.

[12] The controller may stop the generation of the light-emitting operation signal and reset the indicator when the pressure detection signal is received for more than 10 seconds.

[13] The light-emitting operation signal generated by the controller may be an ON signal for operating the light-emitting portion for 0.5 seconds in a period of 5 seconds.

[14] The components may be received in a predetermined inner space of a casing including an adhesion portion having an adhesive coated on a lower surface thereof and a protective cover which forms the inner space above the adhesion portion, and the casing may be attached to coccygeus muscle of the female animal by the adhesive.

[15] The adhesion portion and the protective cover may be formed of a transparent soft synthesized resin. Description of Drawings

[16] The above and other objects, features and other advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[17] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an indicator for indicating an estrus starting time according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[18] FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the indicator for indicating the estrus starting time according to the embodiment of the present invention;

[19] FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the indicator for indicating the estrus starting time according to the embodiment of the present invention; and

[20] FIG. 4 is a status diagram showing an example of using the indicator for indicating the estrus starting time according to the embodiment of the present invention. Best Mode

[21] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[22] In describing the present invention, if it is determined that the detailed description of a related known function or construction renders the scope of the present invention unnecessarily ambiguous, the detailed description thereof will be omitted. Meaning of terminology used herein should be determined in consideration of functionality of the present invention, and it may be variable depending on a producer's intention, or customs in the art. Therefore, corresponding meaning should be determined with reference to the entire pages of the specification.

[23] Embodiment

[24] Hereinafter, an indicator for indicating an estrus starting time according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4.

[25] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an indicator for indicating an estrus starting time according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a schematic cross- sectional view showing the indicator for indicating the estrus starting time according to the embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the indicator for indicating the estrus starting time according to the embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a status diagram showing an example of using the indicator for indicating the estrus starting time according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[26] As shown, the indicator 100 for indicating the estrus starting time (hereinafter, abbreviated to an indicator, for convenience of description) according to the embodiment of the present invention includes an adhesion portion 101 having an adhesive 104 coated on the lower surface thereof, a pressure detecting portion 120 mounted in a protective cover 102 which forms a predetermined inner space above the adhesion portion 101, a light-emitting portion 130, a controller 150, and a power source 140.

[27] The adhesion portion 101 is used to attach the indicator to the skin of a female animal and the lower surface thereof is coated with the adhesive 104.

[28] The protective cover 102 is used to prevent the components mounted in the inner space thereof from being damaged. The adhesion portion 101 and the protective cover 102 configure a casing, which is formed of transparent soft synthesized resin such as urethane.

[29] A pressing switch 121 functions as a pressure detecting portion 120 for detecting a physical pressurization state and generating a pressure detection signal.

[30] The light-emitting diode 131 functions as the light-emitting portion 130 which emits light according to a light-emitting operation signal output from a control chip 151 which is the controller 150. As the light-emitting diode 131, a high-brightness LED which can be externally susceptible to being recognized may be used.

[31] The control chip 151 receives the pressure detection signal generated by the pressing switch 121 which is the pressure detecting portion 120, generates the light-emitting operation signal when the pressure detection signal is continuously received for 3 to 10 seconds, and outputs the light-emitting operation signal to the light-emitting diode 131 which is the light-emitting portion 130.

[32] A mercury battery 141 functions as the power source 140 for supplying power necessary for the operations of the components.

[33] Hereinafter, the example of using the indicator according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described.

[34] In the first operation, the indicator 100 is attached to coccygeus muscle (intersection between the backbone and the tailbone) of a cow 10 using the adhesive 104 coated on the lower surface of the adhesion portion 10.

[35] In the second operation, when the cow 10 is in estrus, mounting of another cow presses the pressing switch 121 of the indicator 100. The mounting of the cow is generally performed for 3 to 10 seconds. Since a cow generally mounts on another cow and a mounting allowance time is short, it is determined whether the pressing switch is pressed by mounting or external stimulus on the basis of the mounting allowance time. A protective support 103 fixed by a substrate 160 prevents the indicator 100 from being damaged.

[36] In the third operation, when the pressing switch 121 is pressed, the pressing switch

121 generates and sends the pressure detection signal to the control chip 151.

[37] In the fourth operation, the control chip 151 measures the continuous input time of the pressure detection signal and generates and sends the light-emitting operation signal for operating the light-emitting diode 131 to the light-emitting diode 131 when the continuous input time of the pressure detection signal is 3 to 10 seconds. At this time, the light-emitting operation signal is generated for 0.5 seconds in a period of 5 seconds. Accordingly, the light-emitting diode 131 periodically emits light.

[38] In the fifth operation, the light-emitting operation signal is maintained in an estrus duration of the cow, that is, 48 hours. Accordingly, the manager checks whether the indicator 100 emits light for 48 hours to easily check the estrus time.

[39] In the sixth operation, the manager, who checks the light-emitting operation signal and checks the estrus, presses the pressing switch 121 for more than 10 seconds in order to prevent an unnecessary waste of power.

[40] In the seventh operation, the control chip 151 stops the generation of the light- emitting operation signal and resets the indicator 100, when it is determined that the pressure detection signal is received for more than 10 seconds.

[41] The manager can easily check the estrus of the animal through the above-described operations.

Industrial Applicability

[42] As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide an indicator for indicating an estrus starting time, which is capable of easily checking estrus of a female animal.

[43] Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims.

Claims

[1] An indicator for indicating an estrus starting time in order to check estrus of a female animal, the indicator comprising: a pressure detecting portion which detects a physical pressurization state and generates a pressure detection signal; a light-emitting portion which emits light according to a light-emitting operation signal output from a controller; the controller which receives the pressure detection signal generated by the pressure detecting portion and generates and sends the light-emitting operation signal to the light-emitting portion when the pressure detection signal is continuously received for a predetermined time; and a power source which supplies power necessary for the operations of the components .

[2] The indicator according to claim 1, wherein the indicator for indicating the estrus starting time is mounted on a cow, determines that the cow is in estrus when the pressure detection signal is detected for 3 to 10 seconds, and performs a light- emitting operation for 48 hours.

[3] The indicator according to claim 2, wherein the light-emitting operation signal generated by the controller is maintained for 48 hours.

[4] The indicator according to claim 2, wherein the controller stops the generation of the light-emitting operation signal and resets the indicator when the pressure detection signal is received for more than 10 seconds.

[5] The indicator according to claim 1, wherein the light-emitting operation signal generated by the controller is an ON signal for operating the light-emitting portion for 0.5 seconds in a period of 5 seconds.

[6] The indicator according to claim 1, wherein: the components are received in a predetermined inner space of a casing including an adhesion portion having an adhesive coated on a lower surface thereof and a protective cover which forms the inner space above the adhesion portion, and the casing is attached to coccygeus muscle of the female animal by the adhesive.

[7] The indicator according to claim 6, wherein the adhesion portion and the protective cover are formed of a transparent soft synthesized resin.