HUMANS aren’t the only creatures to use “Fitbits”, it has emerged.
Jersey cows are tagged with ear sensors allowing farmers to stay informed about how they are doing.
They are able to track and manage the livestock’s health, in the same way a Fitbit works for a person.
Dairy farmers receive a variety of information from the sensors, including information about herd health, fertility and nutritional status.
The sensors collect “real-time” data 24/7, which can be accessed on the farmer’s smartphones or computers, via the “CowManager” app.
The ear sensor uses temperature to monitor the cow’s habits, including eating and rumination – when a cow is chewing its cud.
A spokesperson for Jersey Dairy said that farmers can be alerted to potential health concerns in the herd, before the cows show any physical signs of sickness.
“If, for example, a cow wasn’t moving as much or had stopped eating, the farmer would receive an alert on their phone, notifying them of a change in behaviour.
This allows the farmer to intervene with the sick cow days before they show any clinical signs of illness, providing proactive care,” the spokesperson said.
