Animal Factors Engineering

Nose ring sensor system to monitor Dairy cow cardiovascular and Respiratory Metrics

The challenge of assessing pain in animals

Animal welfare is defined by assessing the animal's physical and mental condition, in relation to the conditions in which it lived and died. In severe illness, pain and distress are visible. Diagnosing minor morbidity may be complex, And the treatment may be given late, when the damage to the cow or the herd is significant. In addition, Pain and distress harms the well-being and profitability of the cow - reduces yield, and delays conception.

Partners:

Dr. Ariel Shabtay, Animal Science, Agriculture Research Organization – Volcani Center

External Partners:

Hen Honig, DVM,

Prof. Barak Fishbein, Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Technion – Israeli Institute of Technology

Prof. Shai Kendler

Funds:

Chief Scientist, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Israel, Grant ID 20-07-0025.

Precision agriculture and animal welfare

Continuous, automatic and real-time multidimensional monitoring of various data is the basis for the development of decision-supporting management system, which will enable ongoing supervision of health and welfare of farm animals.

Physiological indicators (pulse, breathing, blood oxygenation SpO2, etc.) can teach us about pain, distress and discomfort in animals.

The goal: to develop a wearable sensor system for measuring heart rate, oxygenation and breathing

The wearing system have as little impact as possible on the animal. The system can be adapted to the body structure of the animal. Aspects of shape, material, color, location, method of connection are taken into account, while referring to the biology as well as the behavior of the animal.