Farmers use ‘smart collar’ tech to monitor bird flu, other illnesses in cattle

• Dairy farmers are using Wi-Fi “smart” collars, as well as ear and leg tags, on millions of dairy cows across the nation to combat diseases and the spread of bird flu. A new report from The Wall Street Journal on Thursday revealed these smart collars, which are used to track cattle movements, can also provide clues into the overall health of livestock.
• Machine-learning algorithms trained on previous cattle herds can determine when a cow is showing signs of abnormal behavior, ranging from decreased movement to increased panting.
• Farmers say if a cow is not grazing or shows irregular behavior, it could be a sign they’re sick, helping them to more quickly detect viruses like bird flu, which has run rampant through dairy herds in the United States.

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Dairy farmers are using Wi-Fi “smart” collars, as well as ear and leg tags, on millions of cows across the nation to combat diseases and the spread of bird flu.

A new report from The Wall Street Journal on Thursday, March 20, revealed these smart collars, which are used to track cattle movements, can also provide clues into the overall health of livestock.

What can the monitors detect?

Machine learning algorithms trained on previous cattle herds can reportedly determine when a cow is showing signs of abnormal behavior, ranging from decreased movement to increased panting.

Farmers say if a cow isn’t grazing or shows irregular behavior, it could be a sign they are sick, helping farmers more quickly detect viruses like bird flu, which has run rampant through dairy herds in the United States.

How big is the bird flu problem now?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention now reports nearly a thousand cattle herds across 17 states have been infected with bird flu. It has also impacted chickens, causing the price of eggs to soar to more than $8 per dozen in early March before dropping dramatically, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

With these concerns at the forefront, it’s more important than ever for a farmer to know when an animal is sick.

So how does the monitoring device work?

Most devices function by using a microphone, as well as heat and motion sensors, to look at changes in a cow’s movement, which is sent back to the user through radio or Bluetooth. Farmers can then use smartphone apps or computers to monitor their herd.

One dairy farmer tells The Wall Street Journal that when any of his more than 3,200 cows change their behavior, he gets a health alert telling him to check on his livestock.

The technology has also allowed farmers to do more with less, with more cattle and fewer workers.

How much money is involved in livestock monitoring?

Industry analysts also predict monitoring animal health and growth conditions may produce up to $90 billion in value by 2030.

The technology, however, does have its drawbacks for farmers in internet deserts, which means the collars have not caught on in many rural areas yet.

The technology is not cheap either. A single collar can range from $50 to $200, plus the cost of maintenance, subscriptions and software updates.

Despite the cost, the overall livestock monitoring industry is reportedly expected to bring in more than $1.6 billion in revenue this year and grow to more than $2.5 billion in revenue by 2031.