The present invention relates to a birth prediction reporting system capable of informing that birth of large-sized livestock such as cows is near.
Knowing the delivery timing of large-sized livestock such as cows is important for a feeder in order to prevent accidents at the time of delivery by attending the delivery. For example, in the case of artificially inseminating cows, the expected delivery date is 285 days after the artificial insemination date. However, there are individual differences, and a calf is not always born on the expected delivery date. Moreover, in the case of group feeding livestock such as cows, and the like, it is difficult to attend expecting livestock to observe indications of delivery.
Therefore, a system for predicting various birth timings, which allows sufficient, conventional preparations for delivery, has been considered. A system that centrally controls at a livestock control center by attaching sensors to livestock and wirelessly transmitting measured data to a transponder is also proposed (Refer to Patent Document 1).
However, although this system utilizes measured data of at least one of respiratory rate, blood pressure, and body temperature, what state indicates possible birthing is unclear, and thus exact prediction is impossible.
In addition, prediction of birth based on finding that a cordless monitor inserted in the birth canal has come out due to rupture of the allantoic membrane before birth, which is obtained by detecting water or change in temperature, has also been proposed (Refer to Patent Documents 2 and 3). However, since sufficient preparation for the delivery cannot be made during the period from detection of membrane rupture to delivery, accurate delivery prediction at a much earlier time has been desired. Report of birth prediction is desirably a prediction indicating that membrane rupture or birth will start in 1 to 2 days.
Patent Document 1: International Publication for PCT Application No. WO01/80630
An objective of the present invention is to provide a system for accurately predicting birth of large-sized livestock such as cows sufficiently before the time of making delivery preparations and then attending delivery.
In order to achieve the aforementioned objective, the present invention is characterized by a birth prediction reporting system, comprising: a temperature sensor/transmission module, which is inserted in the vagina of a cow, measures vaginal temperature, and transmits wirelessly the measured vaginal temperature along with its own ID; a reception module, which receives transmission data based on the temperature sensor/transmission module and sends the received data via a communication line; and a monitor center, which receives data from the reception module via the communication line, predicts birth from a vaginal temperature, and reports it. The temperature sensor/transmission module measures with high accuracy within a specific range in the vicinity of average body temperature, and the monitor center measures a moving-average value of vaginal temperatures within a predetermined period of time for each livestock is measured based on the ID, compares the moving-average with previous moving-averages to predict birth, and reports birth prediction results via the communication line.
Moreover, the monitor center may determine detection of a value outside of a specified range as the temperature sensor/transmission module being pushed out of the vagina due to membrane rupture or birth, and report membrane rupture or birth via the communication line.
Furthermore, the temperature sensor/transmission module also measures a wide range of temperatures and transmits them wirelessly along with an identifier indicating a characteristic of temperature measurement, and the monitor center corrects the sent temperature based on the identifier indicating the characteristic of the temperature measurement.
When the livestock are cows, the temperature sensor/transmission module should measure with high accuracy within a range from 34.1° C. to 44.0° C., and the monitor center should measure a 4-hour moving-average value, compare it with both of the 4-hour moving-average value obtained 24 hours before and 4-hour moving-average value obtained 48 hours before, and report birth prediction when vaginal temperatures of both have decreased at least 0.3° C.
A temperature sensor/transmission module, which is inserted in the vagina of livestock, measures vaginal temperature and transmits wirelessly the measured vaginal temperature along with its own ID, preferably has an externality with at least two arms extending out from a main body where the arms are made of an elastic material, and when this module is inserted in the vagina, it fastens within the vagina by the arms pressing against the vaginal inner wall, and is pushed out of the vagina due to membrane rupture or birth. It is also preferable that an antenna with a conductive wire extends from between the arms to the outside of the cow body.
The temperature sensor/transmission module may include a main body and a stopper ring fixed to the main body. The stopper ring is made of an elastic material, and may include a ring portion and at least two arms extending from the ring portion, and the ring portion of the stopper ring may fit into the main body.
The antenna may include a resin ball for escape prevention at the tip thereof.
Since the birth prediction reporting system of the present invention utilizes calculated moving-average values, noise of vaginal temperature detection may be eliminated. Therefore, accurate birth prediction may be provided, and reporting the prediction with sufficiently extra time is possible. Moreover, membrane rupture and birth may also be reported.
A wide range of temperatures such as ambient temperature and water temperature may also be measured with sufficient accuracy through correction according to characteristics of each temperature sensor/transmission module.
In the case of cows, reporting with sufficiently extra time is possible by measuring a 4-hour moving-average value, comparing it with the 4-hour moving-average value obtained 24 hours before and 4-hour moving-average value obtained 48 hours before, and reporting birth prediction when vaginal temperatures of both have decreased at least 0.3° C.
The externality of a temperature sensor/transmission module inserted in a vagina has at least two arms extending out from a main body where the arms are made of an elastic material, and when is the module inserted in the vagina, it fastens within the vagina by pressing against the vaginal inner wall by the arms, and is pushed out of the vagina due to membrane rupture or birth, thereby allowing accurate measurement of vaginal temperature and detection of membrane rupture and the like.
The antenna extending from between the arms is inserted into the main body as the shape thereof changes to be close to an I shape as possible at the time of insertion so that it can get out from the body of the livestock easily, and expands within the vagina.
An embodiment of the present invention is described in detail using the appended drawings.
The IDs of the respective temperature sensor/transmission modules 100 and the same measurement results are transmitted five times from the respective temperature sensor/transmission modules 100 at random intervals during a period of approximately five minutes. When measurement results are transmitted from the respective multiple temperature sensor/transmission modules 100, they are converged and received by the reception module 200. However, if the reception module 200 receives multiple transmission signals simultaneously, it cannot receive them properly. Transmission at random intervals aims to minimize overlapped reception.
The vaginal temperatures received by the reception module 200 are each given a reception module 200 ID and sent to the monitor center 350 via the Internet. In the case where many cows are grazing in a large pastureland, use of these reception module 200 IDs allows finding of which one of multiple installed reception modules 200 have been received. This therefore allows prediction of location of cows inserted with a temperature sensor/transmission module 100 based on the location of the reception module.
The monitor center 350 is capable of storing the transmitted vaginal temperature data of each cow, predicting birth timings from the stored vaginal temperature data, and sending a warning of the birth timings by email or the like to a feeder's cellular phone 320 or a cellular phone 340 of an affiliated veterinarian. While the method of determining the birth timings will be explained in detail later, it results from the inventors of this application having examined many examples and having found optimal conditions. Note that an example of reporting a warning to a cellular phone is given; however, the notification may also be sent to a personal computer connected to the Internet. Moreover, the feeder has a personal computer (omitted from the drawing) connected to the Internet so as to inspect the data stored at the monitor center and conduct various management of the monitor center.
An exemplary system or working example of a configuration of the aforementioned respective modules constructed in order to actually predict birth timings of cows is explained in detail forthwith.
The temperature sensor/transmission module 100 is described in detail using
When inserting, the arms which extend on either side are straightened (see
While there are two arms 160 in a Y shape in the working example, there may be three or more arms 160. Polypropylene (PP), for example, is preferably used as the elastic material.
The temperature sensor/transmission module 100 with such an external appearance is not only used for birth prediction, but may be utilized for health management and the like of livestock by measuring body temperature.
Note that as described later, the temperature sensor/transmission module 100 has a configuration allowing not only precise measurement of the range of vaginal temperatures of cows but measurement of a wide range of temperatures such as ambient temperature, water temperature, and the like. While measurement of a wide range of temperatures is possible even with a Y-shaped outer shape as in
The control IC 110 includes an 8-bit micro control unit (MCU) 111, which includes ROM and RAM and controls the entirety, a tuning control circuit 112, which feeds back a signal from the antenna to control transmission output, a temperature/voltage detector circuit 150, a low-frequency oscillating/timer circuit 114, which also functions as a watchdog timer, an interface circuit 115 for interfacing with the outside, fuse ROM 116, which is externally settable, an oscillating circuit 117, which oscillates high frequency waves and is connected to the SAW module 130, and a modulator/transmitter circuit 118, which modulates the high frequency waves according to data and transmits them.
The MCU 111 is connected to the respective units via a bus, and performs setting and control of the respective units according to a program stored in the integrated ROM.
The temperature/voltage detector circuit 150 includes a temperature sensor and a power source voltage detector. The temperature sensor precisely measures temperature in the vicinity of a cow body, and also measures a wide range of temperatures. The power source voltage detector detects voltage of the lithium battery 140, which is used as the power source, using a successive approximation type A/D converter.
IDs for respective temperature sensor/transmission modules 100 and numbers for temperature correction (described in detail later), and various motion control values are stored in the fuse ROM 116. 12 bytes may be stored in the fuse ROM 116 in the working example.
The interface circuit 115 is capable of inputting binary signals from the outside and transmitting those signals. Signals input from the outside are not transmitted in the working example described here.
The modulator/transmitter circuit 118 modulates a carrier wave oscillated by the oscillating circuit 117 according to data such as the temperature data and transmits it from the antenna 120.
Using these circuits, vaginal temperature of the cows inserted therewith is measured once every five minutes, and the data attached with the temperature sensor/transmission module 100 ID is then transmitted five times at random intervals within a period of approximately five minutes. In the working example, the carrier wave is 315 MHz (typ.), the modulation scheme is frequency-shift keying (FSK), and the communication speed is 2.5 bps.
In the working example of predicting birth timings of cows, the temperature/voltage detector circuit 150 measures cow temperatures with resolution of 0.1° C. (±0.2° C. accuracy) in the range of 34.1° C. to 44.0° C., which is the neighborhood of 38.5° C. or the basic body temperature of cows, and ambient temperature or the like (−20° C. to 60° C.) with resolution of 0.5° C. (±0.1° C. accuracy).
As shown in
2 bits of a status (4 bits) are used to display a transmission counter, 1 bit of the same for over flow/under flow, and 1 bit of the same for power source abnormality.
The transmission counter (2 bits) is counted up once the same data is sent in a period of approximately 5 minutes. The transmission counter has one of values 0 to 3, which is counted up repeatedly.
The power source abnormality (1 bit) becomes 1 when the voltage of a Vpp terminal of the control IC 110 is measured and falls below a preset value.
Detected temperature with high accuracy is a 7-bit binary digit X, where the binary digit X denotes {(X/10)+34}[° C.].
Detected temperature with low accuracy is an 8-bit binary digit Y, where the binary digit Y denotes {Y/0.5−40}[° C].
Power source voltage is an 8-bit binary digit Z, where the binary digit Z denotes Z×18−[mV].
Error detection is 8 bits and denotes an error detection signal of the aforementioned data. A stop bit ‘1’ is then attached at the end.
In the aforementioned manner, the temperature sensor/transmission module 100 precisely measures temperature near the body, collects that data in a frame-by-frame format, and transmits the same data five times within a period of approximately five minutes to the reception module 200.
With such a structure allowing precise measurement of body temperature, accurate prediction of birth given below has become possible.
Moreover, measurement of a wide range of temperatures is possible, and precise measurement of body temperature and measurement of common temperatures such as ambient temperature may be performed by temperature sensor/transmission modules 100 with the same structure. Therefore, ambient temperature may be measured by a temperature sensor/transmission module 100 installed not in the vagina but externally, and water temperature may be measured when it is installed under water. In this case, the Y shape as shown in
In
The reception circuit 210 receives a frame transmitted from the temperature sensor/transmission module 100, demodulates it, and sends it to the MPU 220 as digital data.
The MPU 220 performs error detection using an error detection signal for the sent data, and when there is no error, attaches a unique ID for the respective reception modules, further attaches data from the external interface 250, and sends it to the wired LAN port 230 or wireless LAN port 240.
The external input from the external interface may be a switching signal for a barn door, a signal for whether there or not there is water in a tank, or the like depending on where the reception module 200 is installed.
Sent data is transmitted through the wired LAN port 230 or wireless LAN port 240 to the internally preset IP address of the monitor center 350 via the Internet.
The power source circuit 260 supplies electric power to the respective units of the reception module 200 using a constant DC voltage from an external AC adaptor 262. It also includes a battery circuit 266 for supplying a power source during a power failure, thereby electricity may be supplied for a given length of time even if the alternator fails. Note that when electricity can no longer be supplied from the power source circuit 264, a power source monitor circuit 268 sends a power failure notification signal to the MPU 220, which is then sent to the monitor center 350 as an emergency signal separate from the signal transmitting the temperature data.
Also note that in the working example of predicting birth timings of cows, external input data is not sent from the external input/output interface 250. Moreover, external input data may be sent as an emergency signal.
The vaginal temperature measured by the temperature sensor/transmission module 100 inserted in the cow is sent to the monitor center 350, which then carries out processing for birth timing prediction based on the sent data and notifies prediction of birth to the cellular phone 320 of the feeder or owner of the cow via the Internet 300 (see
The processing carried out at the monitor center 350, which is a server on the Internet, is described in detail using
When carrying out birth prediction, as mentioned above, since in the case of cows, for example, the expected delivery date is 285 days after copulation, the temperature sensor/transmission modules 100 are inserted and held in the cow vaginas 14 days before the respective expected delivery dates. In order to determine which of the temperature sensor/transmission modules 100 has measured the vaginal temperature, the IDs of the temperature sensor/transmission modules 100 measuring vaginal temperature are pre-registered at the monitor center 350.
Ambient temperature is measured by transmitting the data of the cow vagina temperatures from the temperature sensor/transmission modules 100 to the monitor center 350.
The flowchart of
The flowcharts of
As described above, the temperature sensor/transmission modules 100 of this working example detect cow vaginal temperature approximately every five minutes and transmit the same data five times during that period of approximately five minutes. In the working example, the same data is transmitted five times randomly between 280 to 310 seconds. Since the monitor center 350 will receive the same data between 280 and 310 seconds, the reference period for selecting a representative value of the vaginal temperatures is set to five minutes. While receiving data during the five minute period (NO in S506), the monitor center 350 only stores the received data in a temporary work memory area (S508).
When the beginning of a new five minute period approaches, check the sent IDs of the temperature sensor/transmission modules 100 so as to determine whether it is either a measurement of vaginal temperature or another temperature measurement, and determine whether the temperature data is within the range of 34.1° C. to 44.0° C. (S510). In the case of vaginal temperature measurement (YES in S510), read out multiple measurement results from the work memory area, and pick up and set the most frequent vaginal temperature data as a representative value out of the multiple pieces of vaginal temperature data (S512).
Next, detect membrane rupture or birth (S514). This is conducted by detecting that the temperature sensor/transmission module 100 has been pushed out from the vagina due to membrane rupture or birth. The temperature sensor/transmission module 100 being pushed out of the vagina is detected by finding whether the temperature falls below the vaginal temperature minimum value (described later) preset by the feeder (YES in S514). Notify the cellular phone 320 of the feeder or the like by email or the like of membrane rupture or birth (S516).
The feeder accesses and manages the vaginal temperature data or the like using a personal computer or the like connected to the monitor center 350 via the Internet 300. The feeder sets a vaginal temperature maximum value, vaginal temperature minimum value, report waiting period, and the like, which are references that allow the personal computer to judge whether to report. The report waiting period is reported when there is information to be reported continuously at a predetermined time. In the working example, the vaginal temperature maximum value is set to 41.0° C. while the vaginal temperature minimum value is set to 35.0° C. Moreover, these may be set from the monitor center 350.
With this system, birth is predicted by comparing moving-average data with previous data and finding the fact that the difference therebetween exceeds a predetermined value. Moving-average data is used in order to remove noise occurring in vaginal temperature detection and accurately predicting birth. Moreover, it is further useful for accurate prediction of birth to carry out comparison of the former moving-average data with each of two separate pieces of data obtained in two different previous periods.
In this working example, birth prediction is carried out using 4-hour moving-average data of cow vagina temperature, 4-hour moving-average data obtained 24 hours before, and the same obtained 48 hours while in the case of cows, birth prediction is carried out by finding the fact that it decreases at least 0.3° C.
In order to carry out such prediction, the monitor center 350 calculates a 4-hour moving average (S518), and stores the representative value and the calculated 4-hour moving average for each temperature sensor/transmission module 100 ID (S520). Then determine whether or not the 4-hour moving-average data has decreased at least 0.3° C. lower than each of 4-hour moving-average data obtained 24 hours before and 4-hour moving-average data obtained 48 hours before in the case of cows (S522). When the conditions are satisfied (YES in S522), send a report of the birth prediction to the cellular phone or personal computer of the feeder or the like (S524) and conclude the processing of the received data.
The processing shown in
First, set the most frequent temperature data of multiple pieces of temperature data as a representative value of detected temperature with low accuracy (S530). Then correct the selected representative value of detected temperature with low accuracy using a temperature correction equation (S532). This shows that approximately 25 different classifications are possible if a characteristic of the detected temperature with low accuracy detected by each temperature sensor of the temperature sensor/transmission modules 100 is premeasured. Then store a value (fuse value) of 1 to 25 according to that characteristic in the fuse ROM 116 of the respective temperature sensor/transmission modules 100. A further accurate temperature may be obtained by incorporating this value within the ID in the transmission format, sending it, and correcting it using a correction equation as shown in
As mentioned above, the reason that accurate birth prediction is possible with the present invention is because accurate measurement of cow vaginal temperature (0.1° C. resolution in the above working example) and detection that difference in 4-hour moving average is at least 0.3° C. lower is possible. Moreover, measurement of temperatures such as ambient temperature and water temperature is possible with the same structure.
The temperature sensor/transmission module 100 used in the above working example is entirely covered by an elastic material, and has a Y shape with arms (two) on both sides. Alternatively, three or more arms to prevent the temperature sensor/transmission module 100 inserted in the vagina from escaping, as mentioned above, may be used. Moreover, a structure in which an escape preventing arm portion is separated from the main body including the temperature sensor/transmission module 100 is also possible.
a) is a diagram showing an external appearance of the main body including the temperature sensor/transmission module 100.
As shown in
The antenna 120 extending in one direction from the main body has its conductive wire covered by an antenna covering tube. Moreover, a resin ball 180 for escape prevention is attached near the end of the far side from the antenna 120 main body.
The purpose of providing the resin ball 180 is to wrap the antenna 120 around the tail of the cow using a string or the like after the temperature sensor/transmission module 100 has been inserted into the cow's vagina. As a result, if the temperature sensor/transmission module 100 falls out of the cow's vagina for some reason, the resin ball 180 is caught where wrapped around, thereby preventing loss thereof by dropping out.
b) is a top view of the stopper ring 170, and
As shown in
The stopper ring 170 is made of an elastic material. Silicone resin, for example, is used as the elastic material.
The stopper ring 170 may be attached to the main body by inserting the main body into the stopper ring 170 (or fitting the stopper ring 170 to the main body).
Moreover, it is made such that the diameter of the cross-sectional circle of the main body (n in
a) shows the state where the stopper ring 170 is fixed on the side close to the antenna of the main body. In this fixing example, the stopper ring 170 curves in the extending direction of the antenna of the main body.
When the temperature sensor/transmission module 100 is inserted in the cow vagina in the direction of the arrow shown in
As a result, in the case of use for prediction of birth, for example, even when birth is approaching and the vagina expands, the temperature sensor/transmission module 100 may be prevented from dropping out until membrane rupture or expulsion of a fetus.
Meanwhile,
When the temperature sensor/transmission module 100 is inserted in the cow vagina in the direction of the arrow shown in
As a result, in the case of use for follow-up observation of a disease, for example, the temperature sensor/transmission module 100 may be easily extracted from a vagina when it is temporarily inserted therein.
As described above, the temperature sensor/transmission module 100 of this working example is structured with the main body and the stopper ring 170 separated from each other. Therefore, it is possible to select the size of the stopper ring 170 for the main body in consideration of the purpose of vaginal temperature measurement (birth prediction, detection of coming into heat, follow-up observation, etc.) and build of the cow and related points, and freely adjust direction and position for fixation.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2006-125231 | Apr 2006 | JP | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
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PCT/JP2007/059225 | 4/27/2007 | WO | 00 | 3/6/2009 |