US-12616161-B2 - Livestock restraining devices, systems for livestock management, and uses thereof

US12616161B2US 12616161 B2US12616161 B2US 12616161B2US-12616161-B2

Abstract

Tools for smart farming, including devices, management systems and methods of livestock management are provided.

Inventors

Yehonatan GROSS

Assignees

CO-EXIST LTD

Dates

Publication Date: 20260505
Application Date: 20210615

Claims (17)

1 . A system for management of a plurality of livestock animals in a group, the system comprising: a. a plurality of devices for restraining livestock animals, each device having at least one open configuration and at least one closed configuration and comprising: at least one opening configured to allow passage of an upper part of a body of a livestock animal when the device is in the open configuration; a locking mechanism having a locked state and an unlocked state, wherein the locking mechanism is configured to switch the device from the open configuration to the closed configuration and from the closed configuration to the open configuration, wherein the locking mechanism comprises an electromagnetic or electromechanical device configured to switch the device via an axis; at least one animal identification element configured to identify individual livestock animals; at least one controller in communication with the animal identification element and the locking mechanism; at least one local computer comprising data storage, in communication with the controller and the animal identification element; and at least one signaling element, in communication with the controller, the signaling element configured to generate a sensory output recognizable by the livestock animal, the sensory output associated with a stimulus and signaling the livestock animal to implement a predefined action; b. a centralized operation center comprising a data storage, processor and a main controller, in communication with the plurality of devices; and c. a user interface, wherein the controller of each device is configured to automatically control access of individual livestock animals to feeding areas by selectively switching the locking mechanism between the locked and unlocked states based on animal identification data and individual animal feeding data stored in the computer; wherein the signaling element of each device is configured to generate animal-specific sensory outputs, to direct identified livestock animals to approach specific devices for controlled feeding access; and wherein the operation center is configured to monitor individual animal feeding behavior across the plurality of devices to optimize feeding efficiency for each individual livestock animal in the group.
2 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising a milking system in communication with at least one of the plurality of devices and with the operation center.
3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the devices for restraining livestock animals comprises a gate.
4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the operation center is configured to perform at least one of: collecting animal-related data acquired by a data acquisition module of the plurality of the devices; collecting environmental data; collecting data related to system performance, processing collected data; sending instructions to the controller of the at least one of the plurality of devices for restraining a livestock animal, providing output related to the livestock animal or a plurality of livestock animals based on collected data, and providing instructions to the controller.
5 . The system of claim 4 , wherein the environmental data are selected from air temperature, indoor temperature, humidity, precipitations, barometric pressure, UV irradiation, and wind speed.
6 . The system of claim 4 , wherein the animal-related data is selected from: animal identification data; health status; food intake; body temperature; weight; body scoring; days in milking, number of milking periods; animal weight per passage on scale; health-disease data; reproductive status; and milk quality.
7 . The system of claim 4 , wherein the output comprises at least one of: daily feed intake per animal; feed intake per animal; feed intake per meal; meal duration; feeding rate; milking costs; daily milk yield; number of milkings per animal per day; number of meals per day; residual feed intake (RFI); food cost; food composition; feed efficiency; animal destined for selection; and income over feed cost (IOFC).
8 . The system of claim 1 , further configured to differentially control the amount of food and/or water dispatched to the plurality of the devices for restraining the livestock animal.
9 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising a data acquisition module in communication with the controller and the computer, wherein the controller is configured to fulfill at least one of the functions selected from: receiving instructions from the computer; switching the locking mechanism from the locked state to the unlocked state; switching the locking mechanism from the unlocked state to the locked state; activating the animal identification unit; receiving animal identification data from the animal identification unit, inactivating the animal identification unit; activating the signaling unit; inactivating the signaling unit; receiving data from the data acquisition module; and transmitting data to the computer, and wherein the data acquisition module is configured to collect animal feeding behavior data for generating the individual animal feeding data stored in the computer.
10 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the animal identification element is selected from image acquisition sensor, data reader, or a combination thereof; and, wherein the animal identification element is physically engaged with a portion of the device or remote to the device.
11 . The system of claim 1 , wherein a transition from the closed configuration to the open configuration of the device is triggered by contact of the upper part of a body of the livestock animal with the device.
12 . The system of claim 1 , wherein a transition from the closed configuration to the open configuration of the device is triggered by the controller based on animal identification data transmitted to the computer by the animal identification element.
13 . The system of claim 9 , further comprising a weighting system in communication with the controller and the data acquisition module, wherein the weighting system comprises a food weighting unit, and wherein the weighting system is operably engaged with a trough and/or a manger.
14 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the data acquisition module is configured to acquire data selected from: data related to the livestock animal; environmental data; and data related to the device.
15 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the sensory output is selected from the group consisting of: sound; vibration; touch; light; electric current; and smell.
16 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the stimulus and the predefined action is selected from the group consisting of: light from the restraining device to approach a specific location; light indicating a path to a selected restraining device; light signaling that the restraining device is in the closed configuration; light signaling that the restraining device is in the open configuration; a sound signaling to approach the restraining device; a sound indicating that the animal is moving in a wrong direction; a vibration from the restraining device located on the livestock animal; and an electric shock.
17 . A method of managing livestock comprising: a. providing a system for management of a plurality of livestock animals in a group, the system comprising: i. a plurality of devices for restraining livestock animals, each device having at least one open configuration and at least one closed configuration and comprising: at least one opening configured to allow passage of an upper part of a body of a livestock animal when the device is in the open configuration; a locking mechanism having a locked state and an unlocked state, wherein the locking mechanism is configured to switch the device from the open configuration to the closed configuration and from the closed configuration to the open configuration, wherein the locking mechanism comprises an electromagnetic or electromechanical device configured to switch the device via an axis; at least one animal identification element configured to identify individual livestock animals; at least one controller in communication with the animal identification element and the locking mechanism; at least one local computer comprising data storage, in communication with the controller and the animal identification element; and at least one signaling element, in communication with the controller, the signaling element configured to generate a sensory output recognizable by the livestock animal, the sensory output associated with a stimulus and signaling the livestock animal to implement a predefined action; ii. a centralized operation center comprising a data storage, processor and a main controller, in communication with the plurality of devices; and iii. a user interface; b. generating animal-specific sensory outputs by the signaling element, to direct identified individual livestock animals to approach specific devices for controlled feeding access; c. identifying individual livestock animals using the animal identification element; d. automatically controlling access of individual livestock animals to feeding areas by selectively switching the locking mechanism between locked and unlocked states based on animal identification data and individual animal feeding data stored in the computer; e. collecting animal-related data; and f. managing activity of individual livestock animals based on the collected data.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is the U.S. national phase of PCT Application No. PCT/IL2021/050723 filed on Jun. 15, 2021, which claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 63/039,248 filed Jun. 15, 2020 and U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 63/039,263 filed Jun. 15, 2020, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated in their entirety by reference herein. TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention generally relates to tools for smart farming. Specifically, the invention relates to smart headlocks for livestock animals. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Modern days livestock farming requires managing large groups of animals, monitoring each animal, monitoring the herd, groups of animals within the herd, the conditions in the farm and the like. Head locks are devices that are installed in front of a trough or rack, and which are intended to limit the movements of animals when they are eating. These devices allow animals to be separated, save food, and help maintain tranquility in the herd. In general, conventional feeders comprise a plurality of individual stations arranged in series, each presenting a space through which the animal must pass its head to access the food, said space being delimited laterally by a vertical straight bar, and by a bent bar mounted so as to be able to pivot in a vertical plane between a passage position and a retaining position, a restraining device being also associated with each bent bar to allow automatic locking of said bent bar after tilting of the latter in its retaining position. While the field of smart farming develops, no significant technological breakthrough was made so far with livestock restraining system. It is thus crucial to develop user friendly, cost effective, headlock systems as an important tool in precision farming. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a high-level block diagram illustrating an exemplary embodiment of the restraining device according to the embodiments of the invention; FIG. 2A-F is an illustration, depicting an exemplary embodiment of a restraining device of the invention in closed and open configuration; FIG. 3 is a high-level block diagram illustrating an exemplary embodiment of the management system according to the embodiments of the invention; FIG. 4 is a high-level block diagram illustrating an exemplary embodiment of the third-party interfaces of the management system according to the embodiments of the invention; FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary embodiment of the method of managing livestock according to the embodiments of the invention; FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary embodiment of the method of controlling profitability according to the embodiments of the invention; FIG. 7 is a high-level block diagram illustrating an exemplary embodiment of the livestock management system; FIG. 8 is a high-level block diagram illustrating an exemplary embodiment of the feeding component of the livestock management system of the invention; FIG. 9 is a high-level flowchart illustrating an exemplary embodiment of a method of livestock management of the invention; and, FIG. 10 is a high-level flowchart illustrating an exemplary embodiment of a computer implemented method of managing a plurality of livestock animals of the invention. It will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration, elements shown in the figures have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements may be exaggerated relative to other elements for clarity. Further, where considered appropriate, reference numerals may be repeated among the figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is a principle object of the present invention to provide effective tools for smart farming. The invention provides a device for restraining a livestock animal characterized by having at least one open configuration and at least one closed configuration, said device comprising: a) at least one opening configured to allow passage of the upper part of the body of the animal when in the open configuration; b) a locking mechanism having a locked state and an unlocked state, wherein the locking mechanism is configured to switch the device from the open configuration to the closed configuration and from the closed configuration to the open configuration; c) at least one animal identification element configured to identify the livestock animal; d) at least one controller in communication with the animal identification element and the locking mechanism; e) at least one computer comprising data storage, in communication with the controller and the animal identification element; and, optionally, f) at least one signaling element configured to generate a sensory output in communication with the controller. The invention further provides system for management of a plurality of livestock animals comprising a. a plurality of de