What problem is this solving? Is a fence too expensive?
The claim here is that the device can actually induce a specific behavior in a cow. A fence can't do that.
Smart Cow Collars
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Re: Smart Cow Collars
#12Re: Smart Cow Collars
#13What problem is this solving? Is a fence too expensive?
The claim here is that the device can actually induce a specific behavior in a cow. A fence can't do that.
Huh? An electric fence can't induce a cow to stay within a boundary?
The collars here are basically the same training collars they make for dogs. They require constant recharging (at least once a week) and have other downsides like range, etc.
Re: Smart Cow Collars
#14I'd love to have this for goats or sheep. We have a bunch of trees and other vegetation on our property so fences would be a pain. If I could set up virtual fences and shift them around the yard it would be fantastic. There are a lot of places where I see complicated fencing put up to manage cattle in parks where this would be extremely nice as well. Instead of breaking up a nice park with barbed wire to protect area…
I would love to see this kind of technology take off. In the western US there is barbed wire everywhere, even on public land.
Yes, drives me insane when I'm out in the middle of nowhere enjoying a view only to stumble across a stretch of barbed wire. I'm skeptical public grazing is a great use of public lands regardless, but now that we have this technology it should be mandatory that anyone who grazes on public lands use this instead of adding more fencing.
Re: Smart Cow Collars
#15Earlier quoted context omitted.
It seems so: > we instead use sound to replicate a fence line with a pulse used during the initial training period to help a cow understand the meaning of sound
"Pulse" is extremely vague. A pulse of what? Electric shock?
Yes, they are trying to be euphemistic. These are dog collars made for cows.
Re: Smart Cow Collars
#16I don't mean to be a pessimist but I believe the cows will get the collars hung on whatever they can and either tear them off, or if they're not strong enough; be stuck until they are found or die. Edit, I suppose it could work on a dairy where a human works with the animal every day. I would be curious to know how often these things break.
Cows are pretty smart and self-aware animals (e.g. they are ashamed if they are seen by their peers during milk extraction). I'm not sure that they'll take an aggressive stance against the collars if it's not used abusively. On the contrary, they might be more content if they are both being able to roam outside and be warned of the limits without being irritated so much.
AFAIK, cows are not aggressive animals unless they're physically attacked or threatened.
Re: Smart Cow Collars
#17Earlier quoted context omitted.
The claim here is that the device can actually induce a specific behavior in a cow. A fence can't do that.
Huh? An electric fence can't induce a cow to stay within a boundary? The collars here are basically the same training collars they make for dogs. They require constant recharging (at least once a week) and have other downsides like range, etc.
>How are we able to shift a cow to and from the milk shed with the click of a button?
A fence can't move a cow from one location to another at an assigned time.
Re: Smart Cow Collars
#18Earlier quoted context omitted.
It seems so: > we instead use sound to replicate a fence line with a pulse used during the initial training period to help a cow understand the meaning of sound
"Pulse" is extremely vague. A pulse of what? Electric shock?
Yes, the sound of a pulse of electricity similar to the fence they're already familiar with. Cows are typically kept in pens with high-voltage electric fencing. The energizer fires a 3,000V pulse, lasting about 300 microseconds, every second or two.
This 1Hz impulse is often audible as a repetitive hum if you stand near the wire. By replicating the sound I expect you could suggest the cattle move somewhere else.
Re: Smart Cow Collars
#19Earlier quoted context omitted.
Huh? An electric fence can't induce a cow to stay within a boundary? The collars here are basically the same training collars they make for dogs. They require constant recharging (at least once a week) and have other downsides like range, etc.
>How are we able to shift a cow to and from the milk shed with the click of a button? A fence can't move a cow from one location to another at an assigned time.
Moving cows is done today (as has been done for thousands of years) by calling them with, e.g. your voice. A lot of herds will come home on schedule without you even calling them.
Re: Smart Cow Collars
#20I did some video work this year for Nedap out of the Netherlands who have cow collars that track heat detection and health issues. e.g., they’ll track reduced movement or tossing of the head, rumination, etc. Coupled with smart gates at the dairy, they can isolate cows automatically to health pens for review, etc.
One dairy we visited had robotic milk machines running all night. The cows return as needed and the cups automatically find the tests, check for disease, track milk volume and so on.