WO2019059363A1

WO2019059363A1 - System and method for managing animal health state

Info

Publication number: WO2019059363A1
Application number: PCT/JP2018/035140
Authority: WO
Inventors: 俊和阿出川; 宗央横山
Original assignee: 株式会社トプコン
Priority date: 2017-09-25
Filing date: 2018-09-21
Publication date: 2019-03-28
Also published as: JP6827393B2; JP2019058079A

Abstract

In a management system 1, a temperature measurement unit 3 for measuring a temperature distribution of a predetermined range without contact is provided to a suckling unit 2, a processing device 4 is provided with an extraction unit 31 for extracting a correlated temperature correlated with the body temperature of a calf C from a thermal image captured by a thermography camera 20 of the temperature measurement unit 3, and a management unit for managing a health state of the calf C from the extracted correlated temperature, and when the calf C suckles, a thermal image is captured by the thermography camera 20, the correlated temperature for the body temperature of the calf C is extracted from the thermal image, and the health state is managed on the basis of the correlated temperature.

Description

Animal health management system and management method

The present disclosure relates to a management system and method for managing the health status of animals such as livestock.

Conventionally, it is necessary to measure body temperature in managing the health condition of animals such as cattle. In the case of body temperature measurement for cattle and the like, a contact-type thermometer such as a thermometer is inserted in the rectum or in the mouth for measurement, and during the measurement, it has to be kept in a fixed position for a certain period of time. Therefore, both the measurer and the animals are under great stress and labor.

Therefore, as a method of determining the health condition of the animal, there is a method of constantly monitoring and managing the health condition of the animal by embedding a communicable semiconductor chip capable of measuring the temperature in the animal body. (See Patent Document 1).

JP, 2016-34265, A

However, in the invention described in Patent Document 1, in order to embed the semiconductor chip in the animal's body, a veterinarian needs treatment. In addition, even if the semiconductor chip breaks down, it is necessary to replace the semiconductor chip by treatment. Therefore, even when the technique of Patent Document 1 is used, there is a problem that a manager or an animal is subjected to a great deal of stress and labor.

In particular, since calf animals such as calves have weak immunity, there is also a problem that they are easily infected with bacteria, viruses and the like by the operation.

The embodiment of the present invention has been made to solve such problems, and the object of the present invention is to reduce the stress and labor on the person who manages the health condition of the animal and the animal to be measured. An animal health management system and management method capable of managing the health status of the animal.

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, an animal health management system according to an embodiment of the present invention is an animal health management system that manages the health status using the temperature of the animal, which is contactless and predetermined. A temperature measuring unit for measuring a temperature distribution of a range, an extracting unit for extracting a correlation temperature correlating with the body temperature of the animal from the temperature distribution, and managing the health condition of the animal from the correlation temperature extracted by the extracting unit And a management unit.

In the management system described above, the temperature measuring unit is a thermography camera that captures a thermal image showing the temperature distribution in the predetermined range, and the extraction unit is configured to measure the highest temperature in the thermal image as the correlation temperature. It may be extracted as

Further, in the management system described above, the temperature measuring unit measures temperature distribution in a plurality of ranges, and the extracting unit transmits, to the managing unit, an average value of correlation temperatures extracted from the temperature distributions in the plurality of ranges. It is good also as correlation temperature controlled.

In the management system described above, the management system may further include an individual identification unit that identifies an individual of the animal, and the management unit may manage the health condition of each individual.

In the management system described above, the management unit stores the correlation temperature extracted by the extraction unit in a storage unit, and calculates the normal state of the animal from the history of the correlation temperature stored in the storage unit. You may do it.

Further, in the management system described above, the management unit may determine the abnormality of the animal by comparing the correlation temperature extracted by the extraction unit with the normal state of the animal.

In the management system described above, the management unit may further include a communication unit for transmitting information related to the abnormality when the health condition of the animal is determined to be abnormal.

In addition, the management system described above may further include a calibration unit for calibrating the correlation temperature extracted by the extraction unit.

In addition, in order to achieve the above-mentioned object, in the animal health condition management method according to an embodiment of the present invention, the animal health condition management method for managing the health condition using the temperature of the animal, which is noncontact A temperature measuring step for measuring a temperature distribution in a predetermined range, an extraction step for extracting a correlation temperature correlating to the body temperature of the animal from the temperature distribution, and a health condition of the animal from the correlation temperature extracted in the extraction step And a control process of managing

According to the embodiment of the present invention using the above-mentioned means, it is possible to manage the health condition of the animal while reducing stress and labor for the person managing the health condition of the animal and the animal to be measured.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS It is a whole block diagram of the animal health condition management system which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the animal health management routine in one embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which extracts correlation temperature from a thermal image. It is a schematic block diagram of the animal health condition management system which concerns on the 1st modification of this invention. It is a schematic block diagram of the animal health condition management system which concerns on the 2nd modification of this invention. It is a block diagram of a proofreading part.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described based on the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows the entire configuration of the animal health condition management system according to the present embodiment, and the configuration of the management system in the present invention will be described based on the figure.

The management system 1 is a system that measures the temperature of the animal from outside of the animal without contact, and manages the health based on the measured temperature. In the present embodiment, an animal whose health condition is to be managed is a calf C, and a plurality of calves C are managed.

The management system 1 mainly includes a feeding part 2 for feeding a calf C, a temperature measuring part 3 provided in the feeding part 2 and measuring the temperature distribution in a predetermined range without contact, and the health of the calf C. It has a processing device 4 that centrally manages the state.

More specifically, in the feeding part 2, an artificial nipple 10 which the calf C crawls for feeding protrudes from the main body part 11, and the main body part 11 is connected to the milk tank 13 via the transport pipe 12. In the milk tank 13, milk which is a feed of the calf C is stored, and a camera support portion 14 is formed on the upper part of the milk tank. The camera support 14 protrudes in the same direction as the transport pipe 12, and the temperature measuring unit 3 is provided on the camera support 14.

The thermometry camera 20 is supported by the camera direction adjustment unit 21 in the temperature measuring unit 3. The thermography camera 20 is fixed so that the lens portion is pointed by the camera direction adjustment unit 21 to the head of the calf C at the time of feeding. The camera orientation adjustment unit 21 can also operate manually or automatically to change the orientation of the thermographic camera 20.

The thermography camera 20 is a camera capable of capturing a thermal image (still image or moving image) showing a temperature distribution in a predetermined range without contact based on the amount of infrared rays emitted from the measurement object.

The processing device 4 is a computer such as a personal computer (PC) or a server connected to the thermography camera 20 via a wired, wireless, or communication network such as the Internet, and includes an extraction unit 30, an individual identification unit 31, and a management unit. A storage unit 33, an output unit 34, and a communication unit 35 are provided. Note that each of these units indicates each processing function that a computer or an accessory executes according to a program, and these functions are mainly realized by an arithmetic processing unit such as a CPU.

The extraction unit 30 is a part that extracts a correlation temperature that correlates with the temperature of the calf C (core body temperature) from the thermal image captured by the thermography camera 20. As a method of extracting the correlation temperature, for example, the extraction unit 30 is a portion of the head of the calf C, which is a portion highly correlated with the core temperature, and the covering of body hair such as the eyeball, the periphery of the eye, or the inside of the ear is This is done by designating a small number of portions and extracting the temperature of the portion or by extracting the average temperature in the highest temperature range in the thermal image. Alternatively, instead of the thermal image itself, for example, a histogram of the thermal image may be calculated, and the temperature having a large temperature distribution may be extracted as the correlation temperature from the histogram.

The individual identification unit 31 is a part that identifies an individual of the calf C. For example, a scanner (not shown) is mounted on the milk tank 13 and scans a sign (for example, ear mark etc.) having individual information attached to the calf C. Next, the individual identification unit 31 identifies the individual of the calf C by comparing the scanned information with the individual information of each incorporated calf. In addition, you may identify the individual of the calf C not only by identifying the individual | organism | solid using the label | marker attached to the calf C but recognizing the calf hatch which accommodates the calf, for example.

The management unit 32 is a part that acquires the correlation temperature extracted by the extraction unit 30 and the individual information recognized by the individual identification unit 31, and stores the correlation temperature for each individual of the calf C in the storage unit 33. . Further, the management unit 32 calculates the flat thermal body temperature from the history of the correlation temperature of each individual of the calf C stored in the storage unit 33, and the abnormality of the calf C from the comparison of the flat thermal body temperature and the latest correlation temperature. It is also a part that performs health management such as discrimination. Furthermore, the management unit 32 is a unit that detects the start of feeding by the calf C in the feeding unit 2, controls the photographing of a thermal image by the thermography camera 20, and the like.

The storage unit 33 stores the correlation temperature of the calf C, the date and time of acquisition of the correlation temperature, and the thermal image, and is a portion in which a database of the correlation temperature is constructed for each individual calf C.

The output unit 34 is, for example, a display or a printer, and is a portion that outputs information on the health status managed by the management unit 32 on a screen or on paper.

The communication unit 35 is a part that can communicate with an external device as needed. For example, when the management unit 32 determines that the health condition of the calf C is abnormal, the communication unit 35 sends a message to that effect to a terminal or the like possessed by the administrator or veterinarian. Also, it is possible to select the destination according to the urgency of the situation. For example, when the calf C is in a low emergency condition such as a slight fever, it is sent only to the administrator, and when it is in a high emergency condition such as a high fever, it is sent to a veterinarian. Furthermore, when an abnormal state is detected, the output unit 34 outputs an alert display according to the urgency, or issues a warning sound by an alarm (not shown) or the like to the person operating the processing device 4. You may call attention.

The management system 1 configured in this way takes a thermal image with the thermography camera 20 when each calf C sucks, extracts the correlation temperature of the body temperature of the calf C from this, and outputs the correlation temperature to this correlation temperature. Manage the health condition based on it.

Specifically, FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the health condition management routine according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 3 shows an explanatory diagram for extracting the correlation temperature from the thermal image. Hereinafter, description will be made along the flowchart of FIG. 2 with reference to FIG. 3 in the middle. Note that the thermal image shown in FIG. 3 is thermally displayed only for the main part in order to simplify the description.

First, in step S1, the management unit 32 detects the start of feeding of the calf C in the feeding unit 2. At the same time, the management unit 32 identifies the individual of the calf C by recognizing an ear mark (not shown) attached to the calf C in the feeding via the individual identification unit 31.

Next, in step S2, the management unit 32 takes a thermal image of the head of the calf C during feeding with the thermography camera 20 (temperature measuring step). At this time, in order to reliably extract the correlation temperature after this, it is preferable to shoot a plurality of sheets (for example, about 30 sheets) by continuous shooting in the case of a still image, in the case of a moving image. It is preferable to shoot for a fixed time.

Next, in step S3, the extraction unit 30 extracts the correlation temperature T0 that correlates with the core temperature of the calf C from the thermal image captured in step S2 (extraction step). For example, as shown in FIG. 3, the extraction unit 30 manually or automatically selects a site having the highest temperature, ie, an exposed site S, from the thermal image P, and a predetermined area Z (for example, 8 × 8 to 16) from the site. The average temperature within × 16 pixels) is extracted as the correlation temperature. Moreover, in extraction of the correlation temperature here, when several still images are image | photographed, the precision of correlation temperature can be improved by calculating the average temperature in the predetermined area Z in each image.

Next, in step S4, the management unit 32 acquires the flat heat Tn of the corresponding individual stored in the storage unit 33 from the correlation temperature extracted in step S3, and the temperature difference between the correlation temperature T0 and the flat heat Tn It is determined whether (T0-Tn) is higher than the first predetermined temperature Ta. The first predetermined temperature Ta is a threshold for determining the high heat state in the calf C. If the determination result is true (Yes), that is, if the temperature difference between the correlation temperature T0 and the flat heat Tn is higher than the first predetermined temperature Ta, the process proceeds to step S5.

In step S5, the management unit 32 transmits, via the communication unit 35, a notification to the administrator and a terminal owned by the registered veterinarian that the calf C is in a high-heat state.

On the other hand, if the determination result in step S4 is false (No), that is, if the temperature difference between the correlation temperature T0 and the flat heat Tn is equal to or less than the first predetermined temperature Ta, the process proceeds to step S6.

In step S6, the management unit 32 determines whether the temperature difference between the correlation temperature T0 and the flat heat Tn is higher than the second predetermined temperature Tb. The second predetermined temperature Tb is a threshold for determining a slight heat state in the calf, and is set to a value lower than the first predetermined temperature (Tb <Ta). If the determination result is true (Yes), that is, if the temperature difference between the correlation temperature T0 and the flat heat Tn is higher than the second predetermined temperature Tb, the process proceeds to step S7.

In step S7, the management unit 32 transmits, via the communication unit 35, only to the manager's terminal, a notification that the calf C is in a slight heat state.

On the other hand, if the determination result in step S6 is false (No), that is, if the temperature difference between the correlation temperature T0 and the flat heat Tn is less than or equal to the second predetermined temperature Tb, the calf C is in a substantially normal state. Proceed to step S8.

In step S8, the management unit 32 updates the database in the storage unit 33 by storing the correlation temperature extracted in step S3 in the storage unit 33. After completion of the process of step S8, the routine is returned. Steps S4 to S8 are management steps.

Thus, the management system 1 in the present embodiment extracts the correlation temperature of the body temperature of the calf C without contact using the thermography camera 20, and manages the health state of the calf C based on the correlation temperature. Therefore, no special treatment or the like is necessary for calf C, and the administrator does not need to directly contact calf C to measure the temperature, thereby reducing stress and labor for calf C and the administrator. It can manage the health condition of animals.

In particular, the correlation temperature is easily extracted by extracting the correlation temperature by measuring the temperature with a thermography camera that captures a thermal image and extracting the temperature of the portion corresponding to the correlation temperature in the thermal image. It can be acquired.

Furthermore, individual health of individual calf C can be managed while performing health management collectively about a plurality of calf C by performing individual identification of calf C and managing the health status of each individual. it can.

In addition, the correlation temperature of the calf C is stored in the storage unit 33, and the caloric body temperature (normal state) of the calf C is calculated from the history of the stored correlation temperature. You can also check your health status.

Then, when the correlation temperature is extracted, the abnormality according to each calf C can be detected by determining the abnormality of the calf C in comparison with the normal state of the corresponding calf C.

Furthermore, when an abnormality is detected, it is possible to cope with the abnormality of the calf C by transmitting information on the abnormality from the communication unit 35 to the administrator or the veterinarian.

This completes the description of the embodiments of the present invention, but the aspects of the present invention are not limited to this embodiment.

In the above embodiment, the measurement by the thermographic camera 20 is started with the calf C starting to start feeding, but the trigger to start is not limited to this, and another element may be used as the trigger.

Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the temperature-measurement part 3 is provided in the feeding part 2, the thermography camera 20 of the temperature-measurement part 3 may be installed alone, and it may be provided in other feed provision parts etc. Good.

Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the extraction part 30 extracts correlation temperature from a thermal image, the extraction method of correlation temperature is not restricted to this. For example, the extraction unit may extract the correlation temperature not from the thermal image itself but from temperature data detected by a thermography camera or the like. For example, since the thermography camera can output temperature data for each pixel, the correlation temperature may be extracted from the temperature data group of the target area.

Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the object animal which manages a health condition is made into the calf C and the measurement object is made into a head, an object animal and a measurement object are not restricted to this. For example, other livestock such as pigs can be used as a target animal, or parts other than the head can be used as a temperature measurement target as long as it exhibits a surface temperature highly correlated with deep body temperature.

Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the case where the calf C is higher than normal heat by predetermined temperature or more is discriminate | determined as an abnormal state, discrimination | determination of an abnormal state is not restricted to this. For example, an abnormal state such as hypothermia may be detected by determining whether the temperature is lower than or equal to a predetermined temperature than normal heat.

Moreover, although temperature measurement is performed using one thermography camera 20 in the temperature measurement unit 3 in the above embodiment, the number of the thermography cameras in the temperature measurement unit is not limited to this.

For example, referring to FIG. 4, a schematic configuration diagram of the animal health condition management system according to the first modified example of the present invention is shown, and the first modified example will be described below based on these figures. The same reference numerals are given to the same components as those in the above embodiment, and the detailed description will be omitted.

FIG. 4 is a schematic configuration view of the configuration of FIG. 1 viewed from the top, and the processing device 4 is not shown. In the management system 1 'of the first modification, a camera support 14' provided in the milk tank 13 extends laterally (in the width direction) of the milk tank 13, and

thermographic cameras

20a and 20b are provided at both ends thereof. It is provided.

These

thermography cameras

20a and 20b are respectively arranged offset from the front direction of the head of the calf C at the time of feeding, and are lenses so as to point the head of the calf C from the lateral direction of the calf C Is pointed and fixed.

The processing device 4 (not shown) photographs the head of the calf C with such two

thermographic cameras

20a, 20b, extracts the correlation temperatures T1, T2 based on the respective

thermographic cameras

20a, 20b, and averages the values As the correlation temperature T0 used for body temperature control.

As described above, according to the management system 1 'according to the first modification, the

thermography cameras

20a and 20b capture the head of the calf C from the side to obtain a deep portion such as the eyeball, the periphery of the eye, or the inside of the ear A site with high body temperature correlation can be photographed more clearly. The temperature measurement accuracy can be improved by using the average value of the correlation temperatures T1 and T2 based on the two

thermographic cameras

20a and 20b.

Moreover, in order to improve the temperature measurement accuracy by the thermography camera 20 which temperature-measures non-contactingly, you may provide the calibration part for calibration (calibration) of a thermographic camera in the said embodiment.

For example, FIG. 5A shows a schematic configuration diagram of an animal health management system according to a second modification of the present invention to which a calibration unit is added, and FIG. 5B shows a configuration diagram of the calibration unit. Hereinafter, a second modification will be described based on these figures. The same reference numerals are given to the same components as those in the above embodiment, and the detailed description will be omitted.

As shown in FIG. 5A, in the management system 1 ′ ′ according to the second modification, a camera support 14 ′ ′ provided in the milk tank 13 extends to one side of the milk tank 13, and one end thereof Is provided with a calibration unit 40 for calibration. The adjustment 21 ′ ′ in the second modification is also rotatable horizontally under the control of the management unit 32.

For example, as shown in FIG. 5B, the calibration unit 40 includes a heating element 41 (for example, a Peltier element) and a rod-like heat transfer body 42 connected to the heating element 41, and the heating element 41 and the transmission element The thermistors 43a to 43d are provided at a plurality of locations of the heating element 42.

The heat generating body 41 is covered by a case 44 made of a cylindrical heat insulating material with a bottom, and the heat transfer body 42 protrudes upward from the upper surface of the case 44. Further, from the outer periphery of the case 44, a cylindrical cover 45 whose upper part is opened extends upward. The cover 45 is made of a transparent material through which infrared rays pass, and has a function of a windshield that prevents the wind from hitting the heat transfer body 42.

The heating element 41 and the thermistors 43a to 43d of the calibration unit 40 are connected to the management unit 32 (not shown), and the management section 32 performs temperature setting of the heating element 41 and temperature measurement by the thermistors 43a to 43d.

With such a configuration, the management unit 32 corrects the thermography camera 20 with the adjustment unit 21 ′ ′ before or after shooting the head of the calf C with the thermography camera 20 ′ ′, or after both. Point to 40 and take a thermal image. The management unit 32 associates the temperature distribution of the thermal image obtained by photographing the calibration unit 40 with the temperature measured by each of the thermistors 43a to 43d. Then, the management unit 32 calibrates the thermal image of the calf C with the temperature distribution of the thermal image of the calibration unit 40, and then extracts the correlation temperature by the extraction unit 30.

Thereby, the accuracy of the correlation temperature can be further improved. The calibration based on the calibration unit 40 of the second modification is also applicable to the two

thermographic cameras

20a and 20b shown as the first modification.

Reference Signs List 1 management system 2 feeding unit 3 temperature measurement unit 4

processing device

20, 20a, 20b, 20 '' thermographic camera 30 extraction unit 31 individual identification unit 32 management unit 33 storage unit 34 output unit 35 communication unit 40 calibration unit C calf P Thermal image S Exposed area Z area

Claims

An animal health management system for managing the health status using the temperature of the animal, comprising:
A temperature measuring unit which measures a temperature distribution in a predetermined range without contact.
An extraction unit for extracting a correlation temperature correlating to the temperature of the animal from the temperature distribution;
A management unit that manages the health condition of the animal from the correlated temperature extracted by the extraction unit;
Animal health management system comprising:
The temperature measuring unit is a thermography camera that captures a thermal image showing a temperature distribution in the predetermined range,
The animal health management system according to claim 1, wherein the extraction unit extracts the correlation temperature by extracting a temperature of a portion corresponding to the correlation temperature in the thermal image.
The temperature measurement unit measures temperature distribution of a plurality of ranges,
The animal health condition management system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the extraction unit sets an average value of correlation temperatures extracted from the temperature distribution of the plurality of ranges as a correlation temperature managed by the management unit.
And an individual identification unit for identifying an individual of the animal.
The animal health management system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the management unit manages the health status of each individual.
The management unit stores the correlation temperature extracted by the extraction unit in a storage unit, and calculates the normal state of the animal from the history of the correlation temperature stored in the storage unit. Animal health management system according to one of the claims.
The animal health condition management system according to claim 5, wherein the management unit determines the abnormality of the animal by comparing the correlation temperature extracted by the extraction unit with the normal state of the animal.
The animal health condition management system according to claim 6, further comprising: a communication unit that transmits information related to the abnormality when the management unit determines that the health condition of the animal is abnormal.
The animal health condition management system according to any one of claims 1 to 7, further comprising a calibration unit for calibrating the correlation temperature extracted by the extraction unit.
A method for managing the health status of an animal, wherein the health status is managed using the temperature of the animal,
A temperature measuring process for measuring a temperature distribution in a predetermined range without contact.
Extracting a correlation temperature correlating to the temperature of the animal from the temperature distribution;
A management step of managing the health condition of the animal from the correlation temperature extracted in the extraction step;
A method of managing the health of an animal comprising the