Allflex Livestock Intelligence has launched an updated version of its intelligent SenseHub monitoring ear tag, said to not only offer improved battery life but also featuring a multi-function LED to make it easier to find individual animals in a group environment.
The new tag constantly monitors subtle fertility and rumination behavioural patterns in dairy and beef cattle of all ages to provide an accurate assessment of when animals are in heat or in need of additional attention or treatment.
A bright flashing LED makes it easier for herd managers and their staff to spot which animals the SenseHub system has highlighted as being in need of attention either for heat, health or routine examinations, while the improved battery extends the lifespan from three years to five.
“The new monitoring ear tags have been developed as a result of feedback from existing SenseHub users who told us they wanted a system which would make it easier to spot individual animals when housed in a group environment,” explained Paul Mitcham, Allflex’s monitoring sales manager for the UK.
“The new tags not only make it easier and less time-consuming to find individual animals but can also be configured to the user’s preferred settings. For example, the LED can be programmed to flash quickly (every 0.6 seconds) or slowly (every 1.6 seconds) to differentiate between animals in heat and those which have been highlighted as requiring additional medical attention or treatment.”
To further enhance functionality and ease of use, the new tags can be configured to only flash at certain times of the day. For example, the LED can be set to be on during the day and off at night, and flash for a set duration ranging from 10 minutes to 10 hours.
The small (70mm x 38mm x 17mm) and lightweight (24.5gr) tags are fully waterproof and ideally suited for placement in the ears of cattle of all ages. They are also easy to remove and can be re-fitted to another animal. The new tags are compatible with all existing SenseHub Dairy, SenseHub Beef, Heatime Pro+ and DataFlow II monitoring systems and are covered by a four-year warranty.
| Dimensions | Height: 70mm. Width: 38mm. Depth: 17mm |
| Weight | 24.5 grams |
| Battery Life | Up to five years (depending on LED usage) |
| LED Modes | Fast (flashes every 0.6 seconds) Slow (flashes every 1.6 seconds) User-definable |
| Compatibility | SenseHub Dairy, SenseHub Beef, Heatime Pro+, DataFlow II |
| LED Operation Duration | User-definable – 10 minutes to 10 hours |