US 7,350,481 B2
Method and system for monitoring physiological conditions of, and/or suitability of animal feed for ruminant animals
Avshalom Bar-Shalom, Kibbutz Nachsolim, 30815 Doar Na Hacarmel (Israel)
Appl. No. 10/332,198
PCT Filed Jul. 18, 2001, PCT No. PCT/IL01/00659
§ 371(c)(1), (2), (4) Date Jan. 07, 2003,
PCT Pub. No. WO02/07644, PCT Pub. Date Jan. 31, 2002.
Claims priority of application No. 137381 (IL), filed on Jul. 19, 2000.
Prior Publication US 2003/0205208 A1, Nov. 06, 2003
Int. Cl. A01K 29/00 (2006.01)
U.S. Cl. 119—859 9 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A monitoring system for monitoring the suitability of animal feed, of ruminant animals, comprising:
at least one sensor for sensing chewing actions of the animal produced by the animal while chewing animal feed, including the time of each chewing action and the number of chewing actions per predetermined time interval, for indicating a ruminating activity;
and a data processor accumulating both the time of each of said sensed chewing actions and the number of said chewing actions per unit time interval, for determining the chewing rhythm of the animal indicating ruminating activities over a predetermined time period to provide an indication of desirable changes in the animal feed for maximizing milk production or for maintaining animal health.