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Mizzou animal sciences researchers use smart ear tags to detect heat in cows and boost breeding precision. Researchers at the University of Missouri’s Southwest Research, Extension and Education Center (SW-REEC) are bringing 21st-century technology to the pasture. By outfitting beef cattle with smart ear tags, researchers hope they can help producers pinpoint the ideal time for breeding — blending traditional livestock know-how with cutting-edge innovation. “It’s like a smartwatch for a cow,” said Cecilia Constantino Rocha, assistant research professor in the Division of Animal Sciences based at the SW-REEC. “You have your smartwatch to monitor your steps and heart rate. This is the same, but instead of steps, it’s tracking lots of movement patterns associated with activity, grazing, and rumination.” Certain head movements — such as when a cow lowers its head to graze grass or moves it head while chewing its cud — can offer insight into the animal’s energy intake. The smart tag, similar in technology to a fitness tracker, is attached to the cow’s ear and sends real-time data directly to the rancher’s phone. Researchers believe this data can reliably indicate when a cow is entering estrus, or heat, a critical window for successful breeding. Constantino Rocha is leading a project to test the accuracy and efficiency of these sensors, while her colleague Jordan Thomas, assistant professor in the Division of Animal Sciences, is applying the technology to a study aimed at better using sex-sorted semen in beef herds. |
