Advanced Telemetry System for Early Detection of Feedlot Disease and Lifetime Tracking

The goal of Objective 1 is to develop and demonstrate a reliable, cost-effective monitoring device and wireless network for monitoring individual animal condition with approximately 1-mile read range. There are many different approaches and wireless communication methods that may be used to obtain remote temperature information from the cattle. These approaches can cover the gamut from battery-free RFID technology to battery powered 2.45 GHz transceivers. The proposed proof-of-concept monitoring devices will be developed to operate over a predetermined range. Prototypes to be developed will use off-the-shelf technology and components with special attention being paid to the temperature sensor to be incorporated into the system. The development of a custom temperature sensor may be required to operate successfully in the cattle industry environment. Objective 2 will require verification of the functionality, accuracy and reliability of new generation monitoring devices in actual animal test conditions. Temperature measurement accuracy, read range and potential sources of system interference will be priorities. This phase of testing is planned to be the most demanding in terms of system components. Once consistent and reliable animal readings have been realized from tests conducted in everyday normal conditions the next stage of testing will be to subject system components to extremes that may only occasionally be encountered in the producer and feedlot environments. In addition to temperature monitoring there is interest within the cattle industry in the possibility of additional sensing methods to be used in monitoring individual animal health. Blood oxygen and pulse monitoring may be practical additions to the system's monitoring capabilities. The feasibility of adding these sensing capabilities will be included in both Objective 1 and 2.
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The US cattle industry is subjected to two billion dollars in health care costs and losses annually. The majority of these losses relating to feedlots are a result of dense animal populations. Historically diagnosis of sick animals has been visual and by the time a sick animal is identified the illness is advanced. In the case of communicable diseases the infected animals have had time to infect others. Death loss, treatment cost, lost productivity, lower meat quality and diseases that go undiagnosed are the major components of the industry's health care problems. Additionally, the threat of terrorist activity and the diagnosis of Mad Cow have fast tracked the development of a national animal ID program to protect the US food supply. The proposed system will provide continuous electronic monitoring of beef cattle and will provide early warning of the onset of disease as much as two to five days earlier than current visual diagnostic methods. Early diagnosis will reduce the number of infected animals by allowing the quarantine of sick animals prior to infecting others and will allow earlier and more successful treatment of those that become sick. Additionally, inherent in the system's design is the ability to track individual animal history. The cost of adapting the system to provide animal ID tracking and trace-back will be minimal as a result of the system having been cost justified by its use as a health monitoring tool.
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There is no known product or development activity that is focused on consistent health monitoring and lifetime tracking of food animals. Two primary objectives have been identified; Objective 1 includes the research necessary to identify the most functional RF technology to be interfaced with sensors in optimizing the monitoring devices that are the heart of the system. Objective 2 focuses on animal testing in an outside environment as well as testing requiring the use of environmental chambers. Objective 1, system component development will be a continuation of earlier studies focused on determining the optimal RF carrier. Key requirements include: read distance, signal strength, consistency of readings, reading accuracy, power requirements, sensor interface/compatibility and the ability to function in a demanding environment. Early devices merged battery-less passive RFID with temperature sensing. RFID did not provide the read distances and consistent signal strength necessary for monitoring and tracking. It became obvious that a battery-powered solution is required to extend the range and provide the signal strength necessary. Sensing devices powered by lithium coin cell batteries operating in either the 400MHz or 900MHz range are thought to be the solution. A major goal of this project will be to determine which frequency range will provide optimum performance. The 400MHz band is more limited in read range than is 900MHz and as a result will require a network of multiple access points. 900MHz offers the use of a single access point, easy installation and read distances of approximately one mile. 900MHz may be ideal for animal monitoring and tracking but also creates engineering challenges regarding power requirements and battery life. Recent industry announcements in the 900 MHz area regarding mesh networks may ultimately affect the final frequency selection. This technology allows communication between the animal mounted devices as well as directly with access points. An animal that cannot communicate directly with the access point will be able to communicate with other animals who will in-turn relay the readings to an access point. Objective 2, animal testing will use the procedures that were employed in earlier testing and once the new generation of monitoring devices has been proven in environmental chambers the testing will move outside where the devices will be subjected to the conditions found in the producer and feedlot segments of the industry. This testing will determine temperature accuracy, reliability, read distances, power requirements and interference issues. It will also focus on device design as it relates to retention on the animal which has historically been an industry problem. Monitoring devices will incorporate temperature contact points that maintain constant contact with the ear surface. An alternative to constant contact will be studied using of a proximity temperature sensor that does not require actual contact with the ear surface. The cattle ear itself will be studied to determine the effects of blood flow on surface temperature and to determine optimum positioning on the ear.