Smart ear tags help Texas A&M AgriLife research cattle health and habits
AgriLife Research and CERES TAG test new technology to improve livestock care and industry education
Texas A&M AgriLife Research scientists will use a new digital ear tag technology to capture real-time livestock data, advancing efforts to improve production efficiency, enhance environmental sustainability and respond to rapidly changing market demands.
The collaboration with CERES TAG will give animal scientists, students and producers access to advanced data collection tools. Sensors inside the tags, or Pasture Feed Intake Tags, collect detailed behavioral and environmental data including grazing patterns, resting and ruminating time, walking, drinking, pasture dry matter intake and estimated methane output.
Benefits of new data collection capabilities
Researchers expect new measuring capabilities from CERES TAG to assist in new management strategies that improve animal health and production.
“These new capabilities dovetail with AgriLife Research’s work to deliver life-sustaining and industry-changing impacts to Texans and around the world,” said G. Cliff Lamb, Ph.D., director of AgriLife Research. “We expect this new tool to support leading-edge innovations, sustainable production systems, economic strength and healthy living.”
In addition to driving research, the ear tags and the data they collect will support producer education programs and hands-on student training.
“This collaboration is an opportunity to build new industry capability using a platform that was previously unavailable to researchers,” said David Smith, founder of CERES TAG. “Our goal is to enable valuable research in the livestock industry and enhance education.”
CERES TAG, a nationally available product, will use findings from this research to further refine and enhance the technology. Field studies are underway, with broader applications expected to become available as research progresses.
