“Smart” collars help farmers monitor livestock health

An EU project developed a practical system for tracking and recording livestock vitals through electronic collars. This technology helps livestock farmers reduce operational animal management costs, improve animal welfare, and boost productivity – thus increasing profits.

The electronic collar is equipped with sensors and is placed around the animal’s neck. It includes GPS, temperature and vital sign sensors. While operating, the collar stores the data in a cloud-based online database where it is recorded and analysed. The data are then compared with the record of each animal and that of the herd overall to ensure that there are no anomalies. If an issue is detected, a notification is sent to the farmer’s mobile phone so they can take any necessary action. Additionally, the project includes a mobile app that farmers can use to access the data via their smartphones.

This enables the livestock farmer to monitor the animal’s location and health status at all times. Farmers are also informed of emergency events like illnesses, accidents, thefts, or animal attacks. This is especially important if grazing areas are considered risky.

Smart livestock technologies are key to animal welfare and are gaining interest from both farmers and consumers in the European market, helping guide better farming and consumption decisions.