The UK mortality rate of calves and cows during birth could be reduced by as much as 80%, predicts Vodafone.
The mobile operator has developed 'Moocall', a unique calving sensor linked to Vodafone’s Internet of Things (IoT) network. The predication comes at peak calving season, which started this month.
In the UK, more than 110,000 calves and around 50,000 cows die every year due to birth complications.
The number of deaths and complications could be dramatically reduced by mobile technology which informs farmers how long a cow has been calving, so that they can intervene or call a vet if needed.
Beecham Research says the development of such smart farming and precision agriculture must accelerate rapidly and learn lessons from smart city projects if it is to meet challenges.
In 2015, Cambridge Industrial Design (CID) created a wearable tracking collar enabling farmers to locate exactly where their dairy cattle are, helping better manage grazing patterns and milk yields.
Increasing productivity
With Vodafone's Moocall, around 150,000 calves in the UK and Ireland have been born using the tail-mounted sensor to send alerts to farmers over Vodafone’s network.
The system also enables farmers to increase productivity of their herds and save money, with the average replacement value of a cow between £1,000 and £2,000 while pedigree breeds can command fees of up to £5,000 per cow.
The palm-sized sensor accurately predicts the onset of calving by measuring specific movements of a cow’s tail triggered by labour contractions.
The device sends an audible alert, via Vodafone’s IoT network, directly to a farmer’s mobile phone when contractions reach a certain level of intensity, usually an hour before calving. An App also allows farmers to manage and monitor multiple sensors.
