CA2009355A1 - Calving detector - Google Patents
Calving detectorInfo
- Publication number
- CA2009355A1 CA2009355A1 CA 2009355 CA2009355A CA2009355A1 CA 2009355 A1 CA2009355 A1 CA 2009355A1 CA 2009355 CA2009355 CA 2009355 CA 2009355 A CA2009355 A CA 2009355A CA 2009355 A1 CA2009355 A1 CA 2009355A1
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- detector
- heat
- cow
- trigger
- transmitter
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
Links
- 230000007423 decrease Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 7
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 claims description 3
- 238000012544 monitoring process Methods 0.000 claims description 3
- 230000003247 decreasing effect Effects 0.000 claims 2
- 230000005540 biological transmission Effects 0.000 claims 1
- 241000283690 Bos taurus Species 0.000 description 30
- 244000309466 calf Species 0.000 description 5
- 235000013365 dairy product Nutrition 0.000 description 4
- 239000012080 ambient air Substances 0.000 description 3
- 238000001514 detection method Methods 0.000 description 2
- 241001465754 Metazoa Species 0.000 description 1
- 239000000853 adhesive Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000001070 adhesive effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000013872 defecation Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000010586 diagram Methods 0.000 description 1
- 244000144980 herd Species 0.000 description 1
- 230000011664 signaling Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000001960 triggered effect Effects 0.000 description 1
Landscapes
- Arrangements For Transmission Of Measured Signals (AREA)
Abstract
ABSTRACT
A calving detector comprising a heat sensor, apparatus for fixing the heat sensor to the tailhead of a cow adjacent the body of the cow, and a radio transmitter connected to the heat sensor for transmitting a radio signal when the heat sensed by the sensor decreases due to the tail of the cow being raised during labor.
A calving detector comprising a heat sensor, apparatus for fixing the heat sensor to the tailhead of a cow adjacent the body of the cow, and a radio transmitter connected to the heat sensor for transmitting a radio signal when the heat sensed by the sensor decreases due to the tail of the cow being raised during labor.
Description
20093~5 01 This invention relates to the field of 02 calving detection, particularly in bovine animals such 03 as cows.
04 In managing herds of cattle, it is 05 desirable to provide aid to the cow during the calving 06 process. While cows sometimes calve in the barn, they 07 often calve in the field, which may be a significant 08 distance from the barn. Often the dairy farmer is 09 distracted or busy with other things, and fails to make note that a particular pregnant cow may be due to 11 calve soon. For these reasons it is desirable that 12 the dairy farmer should become aware of when the cow 13 goes into labor.
14 The present invention provides means for signalling the dairy farmer from a remote cow that she 16 has gone into labor. A remote indicator is comprised 17 of a small heat sensor that is located between the 18 tailhead of the cow and the body of the cow, and is 19 held there by a retainer such as a bandage wrapped around the tailhead.
21 Under normal conditions, the tail takes a 22 normal position with the heat sensor close to the 23 body. Because of this position, temperature sensor 24 senses a temperature which is elevated relative to the ambient. However when the cow is ready to deliver, 26 she raises her tail. This subjects the temperature 27 sensor to cooler ambient air. The heat sensor is 28 connected to a battery powered radio transmitter fixed 29 to the tailhead which transmits a signal to a receiver in the farm buildings. The receiver is connected to a 31 strip chart or alarm, and the dairy farmer can thereby 32 obtain an indication that the cow is ready to deliver 33 a calf.
34 In order to avoid false alarms, a time delay to the alarm of e.g. 3 minutes is preferably 36 provided at the receiver.
37 In addition, in order to save battery c ~ ,, :.; , , . : . ", ......... .
:. i ~ . .. :, ,., ~. .... .
. , .. . , ... : . .. ~ .. , " ..
20093~
01 power at the transmitter, the heat sensor is in the 02 form of a thermistor which is connected in a voltage 03 divider to a trigger, which circuit utilizes very 04 little battery power. With the drop in temperature, 05 the trigger is triggered by the voltage divider, 06 turning on the radio transmitter, which utilizes a 07 heavy current draw from the battery in order to 08 initiate and continue transmitting. It has been found 09 that with this structure the heat sensor, trigger and transmitter can remain on the cow for long periods of 11 time without depletion of the battery.
12 A preferred embodiment of the invention is 13 a calving detector comprising a heat sensor, apparatus 14 for fixing the heat sensor to the tailhead of a cow adjacent the body of the cow, and a radio transmitter 16 connected to the heat sensor for transmitting a radio 17 signal when the heat sensed by the sensor decreases.
18 A better understanding of the invention 19 will be obtained by reference to the detailed description below, and to the following drawings, in 21 which:
22 Figure lA illustrates a side view of the 23 hind quarters of a cow prior to labor, 24 Figure lB illustrates a side view of the ~ -hind quarters of a cow during labor, and -26 Figure 2 is a block diagram of a preferred 27 embodiment of the invention.
28 Turning to Figure lA, the hindquarters of 29 a pregnant cow is shown. It may be seen that the tail 2 is in a normal position, with the tailhead 3 close 31 to the body of the cow.
32 A heat sensor 4, such as a thermistor, is 33 disposed between the tailhead and the body of the 34 cow. mhe thermistor is affected by the temperature of the body of the cow in a similar manner as in the 36 armpit of a human person. As a result the temperature 37 of the thermistor increases above that of the ambient.
20093~5 . .
01 When the cow goes into labor, she raises 02 her tail, as shown in Figure lB. Now the thermistor 03 is removed from the near location that it previously 04 was held close to the body of the cow. It is 05 therefore exposed to ambient air, and cools.
06 The thermistor may advantageously be held 07 to the tailhead of the cow by means of a bandage 5 08 wrapped around the tailhead.
09 The thermistor 4 is connected in series with a preferably variable resistor 5 as shown in 11 Figure 2. The series circuit thus formed is connected 12 across a battery +V and ground, as a voltage divider.
13 ~he junction between the resistor and thermistor is 14 connected to a trigger circuit 6, in a manner such that when the thermistor changes its resistance due to 16 it being cooled by the ambient air, trigger 6 is 17 enabled. The voltage divider can be connected to 18 trigger 6 in a manner such that when the voltage 19 increases trigger 6 is enabled, or when the voltage decreases the trigger 6 is enabled, depending on the 21 preferance of the designer. Resistor 5 can be varied 22 to set the trigger point of trigger 6.
23 When the trigger 6 is enabled, it provides 24 an output signal to a radio frequency transmitter 7, which is thereby caused to output a radio frequency 26 signal in a well known manner.
27 Receiver 8, located where the farmer may 28 easily have access to it, provides an output signal to 29 strip chart recorder 9. With no signal being received by receiver 8, the recorder records a low level 31 signal. With the transmitter transmitting and 32 receiver 8 receiving that signal, the recorder 33 indicates a high level signal. By monitoring the 34 level of signal recorded by recorder 9, the farmer receives an indication of labor of the cow.
36 In addition to, or in place of recorder 9, 37 an alarm can be used which can be a light, bell or :
_ .... , . , , .. . .. , .. ,, , , .. , .. . ., ., . . , .. , .. ,.. , .. .. . - . . ... .
. " ., . , ~ , ' , ' ! . " . ' ' ' . ' ' ' ', ; ; : ' ~ ' ' ' `
01 other alerting device. It is preferred that there 02 should be a delay in enabling the alarm because the 03 tail of the cow may be temporarily raised for various 04 reasons, such as by the wind, or to accommodate 05 defecation. The delay can be contained in the output 06 circuit of receiver 8, in the alarm itself, or in the 07 trigger-transmitter circuit.
08 In order to accommodate several cows that 09 may be ready to calve at the same time, the signal provided by transmitter 7 can be encoded, and receiver 11 8 can be of a type that recognizes the code and 12 selects a particular strip chart recorder pen and/or 13 alarm, depending on the received code. Alternatively 14 several receivers can be used, each of which is sensitive to a particular code. As another 16 alternative, various transmitters can be used having - -17 different frequencies, and various receivers tuned to 18 those frequencies could be used.
19 In a successful prototype, a three-volt ~ :
battery was used, and needed to be replaced only every 21 four or five calvings. The bandage was held to the 22 tailhead by means of an adhesive, and also held the 23 trigger and transmitter to the tailhead.
24 Due to the very small physical dimensions of the invention, it has been found not to be an 26 annoyance to the cow, and therefore the cow has little 27 or no tendency to attempt to remove it.
28 The invention, while described as useful 29 for the detection of labor in a cow, may also be used to detect labor in other animals which normally keep 31 their tailheads next to the body, and which raise 32 their tails during labor.
33 A person understanding this invention may 34 conceive of variations in the design raising the principles described herein. All are considered to be 36 within the sphere and scope of the invention which 37 fall under the claims attached hereto.
04 In managing herds of cattle, it is 05 desirable to provide aid to the cow during the calving 06 process. While cows sometimes calve in the barn, they 07 often calve in the field, which may be a significant 08 distance from the barn. Often the dairy farmer is 09 distracted or busy with other things, and fails to make note that a particular pregnant cow may be due to 11 calve soon. For these reasons it is desirable that 12 the dairy farmer should become aware of when the cow 13 goes into labor.
14 The present invention provides means for signalling the dairy farmer from a remote cow that she 16 has gone into labor. A remote indicator is comprised 17 of a small heat sensor that is located between the 18 tailhead of the cow and the body of the cow, and is 19 held there by a retainer such as a bandage wrapped around the tailhead.
21 Under normal conditions, the tail takes a 22 normal position with the heat sensor close to the 23 body. Because of this position, temperature sensor 24 senses a temperature which is elevated relative to the ambient. However when the cow is ready to deliver, 26 she raises her tail. This subjects the temperature 27 sensor to cooler ambient air. The heat sensor is 28 connected to a battery powered radio transmitter fixed 29 to the tailhead which transmits a signal to a receiver in the farm buildings. The receiver is connected to a 31 strip chart or alarm, and the dairy farmer can thereby 32 obtain an indication that the cow is ready to deliver 33 a calf.
34 In order to avoid false alarms, a time delay to the alarm of e.g. 3 minutes is preferably 36 provided at the receiver.
37 In addition, in order to save battery c ~ ,, :.; , , . : . ", ......... .
:. i ~ . .. :, ,., ~. .... .
. , .. . , ... : . .. ~ .. , " ..
20093~
01 power at the transmitter, the heat sensor is in the 02 form of a thermistor which is connected in a voltage 03 divider to a trigger, which circuit utilizes very 04 little battery power. With the drop in temperature, 05 the trigger is triggered by the voltage divider, 06 turning on the radio transmitter, which utilizes a 07 heavy current draw from the battery in order to 08 initiate and continue transmitting. It has been found 09 that with this structure the heat sensor, trigger and transmitter can remain on the cow for long periods of 11 time without depletion of the battery.
12 A preferred embodiment of the invention is 13 a calving detector comprising a heat sensor, apparatus 14 for fixing the heat sensor to the tailhead of a cow adjacent the body of the cow, and a radio transmitter 16 connected to the heat sensor for transmitting a radio 17 signal when the heat sensed by the sensor decreases.
18 A better understanding of the invention 19 will be obtained by reference to the detailed description below, and to the following drawings, in 21 which:
22 Figure lA illustrates a side view of the 23 hind quarters of a cow prior to labor, 24 Figure lB illustrates a side view of the ~ -hind quarters of a cow during labor, and -26 Figure 2 is a block diagram of a preferred 27 embodiment of the invention.
28 Turning to Figure lA, the hindquarters of 29 a pregnant cow is shown. It may be seen that the tail 2 is in a normal position, with the tailhead 3 close 31 to the body of the cow.
32 A heat sensor 4, such as a thermistor, is 33 disposed between the tailhead and the body of the 34 cow. mhe thermistor is affected by the temperature of the body of the cow in a similar manner as in the 36 armpit of a human person. As a result the temperature 37 of the thermistor increases above that of the ambient.
20093~5 . .
01 When the cow goes into labor, she raises 02 her tail, as shown in Figure lB. Now the thermistor 03 is removed from the near location that it previously 04 was held close to the body of the cow. It is 05 therefore exposed to ambient air, and cools.
06 The thermistor may advantageously be held 07 to the tailhead of the cow by means of a bandage 5 08 wrapped around the tailhead.
09 The thermistor 4 is connected in series with a preferably variable resistor 5 as shown in 11 Figure 2. The series circuit thus formed is connected 12 across a battery +V and ground, as a voltage divider.
13 ~he junction between the resistor and thermistor is 14 connected to a trigger circuit 6, in a manner such that when the thermistor changes its resistance due to 16 it being cooled by the ambient air, trigger 6 is 17 enabled. The voltage divider can be connected to 18 trigger 6 in a manner such that when the voltage 19 increases trigger 6 is enabled, or when the voltage decreases the trigger 6 is enabled, depending on the 21 preferance of the designer. Resistor 5 can be varied 22 to set the trigger point of trigger 6.
23 When the trigger 6 is enabled, it provides 24 an output signal to a radio frequency transmitter 7, which is thereby caused to output a radio frequency 26 signal in a well known manner.
27 Receiver 8, located where the farmer may 28 easily have access to it, provides an output signal to 29 strip chart recorder 9. With no signal being received by receiver 8, the recorder records a low level 31 signal. With the transmitter transmitting and 32 receiver 8 receiving that signal, the recorder 33 indicates a high level signal. By monitoring the 34 level of signal recorded by recorder 9, the farmer receives an indication of labor of the cow.
36 In addition to, or in place of recorder 9, 37 an alarm can be used which can be a light, bell or :
_ .... , . , , .. . .. , .. ,, , , .. , .. . ., ., . . , .. , .. ,.. , .. .. . - . . ... .
. " ., . , ~ , ' , ' ! . " . ' ' ' . ' ' ' ', ; ; : ' ~ ' ' ' `
01 other alerting device. It is preferred that there 02 should be a delay in enabling the alarm because the 03 tail of the cow may be temporarily raised for various 04 reasons, such as by the wind, or to accommodate 05 defecation. The delay can be contained in the output 06 circuit of receiver 8, in the alarm itself, or in the 07 trigger-transmitter circuit.
08 In order to accommodate several cows that 09 may be ready to calve at the same time, the signal provided by transmitter 7 can be encoded, and receiver 11 8 can be of a type that recognizes the code and 12 selects a particular strip chart recorder pen and/or 13 alarm, depending on the received code. Alternatively 14 several receivers can be used, each of which is sensitive to a particular code. As another 16 alternative, various transmitters can be used having - -17 different frequencies, and various receivers tuned to 18 those frequencies could be used.
19 In a successful prototype, a three-volt ~ :
battery was used, and needed to be replaced only every 21 four or five calvings. The bandage was held to the 22 tailhead by means of an adhesive, and also held the 23 trigger and transmitter to the tailhead.
24 Due to the very small physical dimensions of the invention, it has been found not to be an 26 annoyance to the cow, and therefore the cow has little 27 or no tendency to attempt to remove it.
28 The invention, while described as useful 29 for the detection of labor in a cow, may also be used to detect labor in other animals which normally keep 31 their tailheads next to the body, and which raise 32 their tails during labor.
33 A person understanding this invention may 34 conceive of variations in the design raising the principles described herein. All are considered to be 36 within the sphere and scope of the invention which 37 fall under the claims attached hereto.
Claims (11)
1. A calving detector comprising a heat sensor, means for fixing the heat sensor to the tailhead of a cow adjacent the body of the cow, and a radio transmitter connected to the heat sensor for transmitting a radio signal when the heat sensed by the sensor decreases.
2. A detector as defined in claim 1, further including a trigger connected to the heat sensor which is enabled by the heat sensor sensing decreased heat, the trigger being connected to the transmitter for enabling transmission by the transmitter when the trigger is enabled.
3. A detector as defined in claim 2, in which the heat detector is a thermistor.
4. A detector as defined in claim 3, in which the thermistor is connected in a voltage divider circuit across a battery, an output of the voltage divider being connected to the trigger for enabling the trigger when the heat sensed by the thermistor decreases to a predetermined level.
5. A detector as defined in claim 4, in which the voltage divider circuit is comprised of a variable resistor connected in series with the thermistor, the junction of the resistor and thermistor being connected to the trigger.
6. A detector as defined in claim 4, further including a receiver for the radio signal, an alarm connected to the output of the radio receiver, and means for delaying operation of the alarm for a predetermined interval following enabling of the trigger.
7. A detector as defined in claim 4, further including a receiver for the radio signal, and a recorder connected to the output of the radio receiver for permanently recording the presence of the radio signal with time.
8. A calving detector comprising a heat sensor fixed to a cow between its tailhead and its body, a trigger connected to the heat sensor which is enabled when the heat sensor senses decreased heat, a radio frequency transmitter enabled by operation of the trigger, a receiver for receiving a radio frequency signal transmitted by the transmitter, and means for indicating the operation of the transmitter connected to the receiver.
9. A calving detector as defined in claim 8 including means for delaying indication of the operation of the transmitter for a predetermined time period.
10. A method of detecting calving comprising fixing a heat detector to the tailhead of a cow adjacent the body of the cow, and monitoring a decrease in heat detected by the detector to determine the presence of labor in the cow.
11. A method of detecting calving comprising fixing a heat detector to the tailhead of a cow adjacent the body of the cow, and monitoring the heat detected by the detector to determine the presence of labor when the detected heat decreases for a predetermined interval.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2009355 CA2009355A1 (en) | 1990-02-05 | 1990-02-05 | Calving detector |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2009355 CA2009355A1 (en) | 1990-02-05 | 1990-02-05 | Calving detector |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2009355A1 true CA2009355A1 (en) | 1991-08-05 |
Family
ID=4144212
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2009355 Abandoned CA2009355A1 (en) | 1990-02-05 | 1990-02-05 | Calving detector |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA2009355A1 (en) |
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WO2012153047A1 (en) * | 2011-05-12 | 2012-11-15 | Foal Option | Device for the notification of parturition |
-
1990
- 1990-02-05 CA CA 2009355 patent/CA2009355A1/en not_active Abandoned
Cited By (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WO2012153047A1 (en) * | 2011-05-12 | 2012-11-15 | Foal Option | Device for the notification of parturition |
| FR2974999A1 (en) * | 2011-05-12 | 2012-11-16 | Foal Option | DEVICE FOR ALERTING A FALLING. |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| FZDE | Dead |