Animal management systems

Abstract

A system for controlling and monitoring animals, including control devices ( 10 ) that are fittable to the animals and arranged for communication with one another. Each control device ( 10 ) includes means for determining the position of an animal relative to a second animal, means for determining the distance between the two animals, and means for determining movement of the animals relative to one another. The system also includes stimulus application devices ( 12 ) arranged for selective application of a stimulus to an animal based on the relative position, distance and/or movement of the animals.

1 . System for controlling and monitoring at least two animals, including control devices that are adapted to be fitted to said animals and arranged for communication with one another, wherein each control device includes distance and movement processor means for determining the distance of said control device relative to other control devices and for determining relative movement of said control device with respect to other control devices, and trigger signal generating means arranged to generate a trigger signal upon comparison of the determined distance and relative movement values with one or more predetermined or situation-dependent selectable distance and relative movement threshold values deviating from allowable values thereof, the system further including at least one stimulus application device that is adapted to be fitted to at least a selected one of said animals and arranged for selective application of a stimulus to the animal upon activation by the trigger signal. 
   
   
       2 . System for controlling and monitoring at least two animal, including control devices that are adapted to be fitted to animals and arranged for communication with one another, wherein each control device includes: means for determining the position of the animals fitted with such control device; means for determining the distance between the animals; means for determining movement of the animals relative to one another; the system further including: at least one stimulus application device arranged for selective application of a stimulus to an animal carrying said device, the stimulus application device being arranged to be responsive to one or more of the control devices; and means for determining the need to apply a stimuli to the animal in response to the determination of at least one of the relative position, distance and movement and comparison thereof with one or more predetermined or situation-dependent selected attributes thereof. 
   
   
       3 . A system according to  claim 1 , wherein said control devices further include: processing and storage means for processing the determinations made and effect comparison thereof with stored predetermined allowable threshold values for relative position, distance, and/or movement. 
   
   
       4 . A system according to  claim 1 , wherein said control devices further include a radio signal transmitter and receiver. 
   
   
       5 . A system according to  claim 1 , wherein determining whether a stimulus, and strength or intensity thereof, needs to be applied to one or more of the animals may include additional attributes not related to relative position, distance and/or movement. 
   
   
       6 . A system according to  claim 5 , wherein said additional attributes include one or more of environmental attributes, animal identity, sex and behaviour. 
   
   
       7 . A system according to  claim 1 , wherein said control devices are arranged to allow data transmission along a chain of said control devices. 
   
   
       8 . A system according to  claim 7 , wherein said data includes a unique control device identifier. 
   
   
       9 . A system according to  claim 1 , the system further including one or more secondary sensors associated with said control devices for monitoring animal centric and/or environmental attributes. 
   
   
       10 . A system according to  claim 1 , wherein the control devices are arranged to allow data to be acquired from and/or provided to, a selected control device. 
   
   
       11 . Method for localised controlling and monitoring of at least two animals, including determining the distance and relative movement of a first animal with respect to a second animal at a location of the first and/or the second animal, and selectively applying a stimulus to one or more of the animals upon comparison of the determined distance and relative movement values with one or more predetermined or situation-dependent selectable distance and relative movement threshold values deviating from allowable values thereof. 
   
   
       12 . A method for controlling and monitoring at least two animals, according to  claim 11 , including at least two control devices that are fittable to said animals and arranged for communication with one another, the method including the steps of: a) determining the position of a first said animal relative to a second said animal; b) determining the distance between a first said animal and a second said animal; c) determining movement of said first and second animals relative to one another; d) initiating stimulus application to one or more selected animals in response to the determination of at least one of the relative position, distance and movement and comparison thereof with one or more predetermined or situation-dependent selected attributes thereof; e) stopping stimulus application to one or more selected animals in response to the determination of at least one of the period of stimulus application, relative position, distance and movement, and comparison thereof with one or more predetermined or situation-dependent selected attributes thereof. 
   
   
       13 . A method according to  claim 11 , wherein step a) includes the further sub-step of said first control device transmitting a signal which is received by the second control device. 
   
   
       14 . A method according to  claim 11 , wherein determining whether a stimulus, and strength or intensity thereof, needs to be applied to one or more of the animals may include additional attributes not related to relative position, distance and/or movement. 
   
   
       15 . A method according to  claim 13 , wherein said additional attributes include one or more of environmental attributes, animal identity, sex and behaviour. 
   
   
       16 . A method according to  claim 11 , the method further including the step of transmitting data along a chain of said control devices. 
   
   
       17 . A method according to  claim 16 , wherein said data includes a unique control device identifier. 
   
   
       18 . A method according to  claim 11 , the method further including the step of monitoring animal centric and/or environmental attributes using one or more secondary sensors associated with said control devices. 
   
   
       19 . A method according to  claim 11 , the method further including the step of acquiring data from and/or provided data to a selected control device. 
   
   
       20 . (canceled)