Internet Wireless Sensor to Beef Up Cattle Health
June 14 - EdmontonIncreased production, profitability and effectiveness for ranchers, veterinarians and feedlot operators will soon be possible through new a wireless internet sensor technology being developed in Edmonton.
This technology marries the real time power of the Internet to wireless collars and ear tags on cattle, and will help farmers find and treat health issues in their animals quickly and with precision. This is the first cattle health monitoring system ever developed to deliver information in real time.
Ovistech Corporation is developing the real-time intelligent software with key assistance from the Alberta Research Council Inc. (ARC), Precarn Incorporated, Harding Instrument Co. Ltd., Xanantec Technologies Inc. and the University of Alberta.
This technology, called the FARM (Feedlot Animal Remote Sensing) project, is currently being field tested near Thorsby, Alberta. Early indications show the technology will be an effective tool in managing animal health. “There have been several instances where the system has detected a decline in an animal’s health before the feedlot operator did,” says Lloyd Osler, President and CEO of the Ovistech Corporation. “This means animals will receive treatment faster and producers can track disease outbreaks, which will reduce losses and costs for the producer.”
The Alberta Research Council Inc. (ARC) supplied its expertise in sensor technology and managed the $500,000 project on behalf of Precarn Incorporated, a national, independent not-for-profit company that supports the pre-commercial development of leading edge technologies.
“The FARM project is an outstanding example of the public and private sector working together to address a fundamental need: the health and security of our food chain,” says Osler.
Osler expects to have the FARM technology commercially available for the dairy industry in six months, and in 12 to 18 months for the beef industry. He also plans to extend this technology to applications in many other industries such as industrial plant management, environmental and asset management, security and healthcare.
The solution uses low-power radio frequency technology to transmit sensor information from the animal to a network-connected server where the information is stored and analyzed in real-time. This information can then be accessed anywhere via the Internet and used by a feedlot operator, rancher, veterinarian or a third party in their decision-making processes. The operators control what information is released and to whom, which protects the privacy of the farmer, while allowing for the selective sharing of information.
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The Alberta Research Council Inc. (ARC) delivers innovative science and technology solutions to meet the priorities of industry and government in Alberta and beyond. Integrated multi-disciplinary teams help customers and partners take technologies from the laboratory to the field, strengthening their competitiveness and sustainability. ARC accelerates the development of products, processes and services in the energy, life sciences, agriculture, environment, forestry and manufacturing sectors.
Ovistech Corporation is an innovative technology company focused on developing and deploying real-time solutions for disease, disaster, asset and event management. Harding Instrument Co. Ltd. is a privately-owned Canadian corporation operating as Harding Instruments; it specializes in the design and manufacture of advanced technology microprocessor-based electronic products and systems. Xanantec Technologies Inc. is a privately-owned engineering design and development company, specializing in the development of advanced low power wireless medical sensor systems.
Precarn Incorporated is an independent not-for-profit company that supports the pre-commercial development of leading-edge technologies. Precarn works with Canadian companies who are seeking to develop and commercialize new ideas to get an edge in global markets. Unlike other research funding programs, Precarn uses a collaborative model that includes a developer, a customer and an academic research partner in every project. This collaboration accelerates development, reduces risk and shares the cost of the R&D.
For more information contact:
Lloyd Osler
Ovistech Corporation
Tel : (780) 628-2797
E-mail : losler@ovistech.com
Reg Schmidt
Owner, Rivera farms and
Chairman, Feeder Association of Alberta
Tel: (780) 789-2353
E-mail: regfaa@airsurfer.ca
Jodi Tauber
Alberta Research Council Inc.
Tel: (780) 450-5062