SIP2
Smart Livestock Monitoring with UHF Electronic Identification
Sector
Livestock / beef production
Country
France
Partners involved
IDELE (SIP Leader, ADS) / CIRBEEF (Farm and end users)
Target group
Ruminant farmers in extensive production system
The challenge
Enhancing Livestock Management for Health and Efficiency
Livestock farmers operating in extensive grazing systems face increasing challenges in effectively monitoring animal health and movement. Traditional methods rely on labor-intensive, manual observations that are time-consuming, expensive, and often insufficient for early disease detection.
Key challenges include
- Tracking and locating animals across large pasturelands, requiring frequent and costly farm visits.
- Detecting early signs of illness or stress, where symptoms can go unnoticed until they become severe, leading to productivity losses.
- Minimizing operational costs by reducing the need for unnecessary field inspections and labor-intensive monitoring efforts.
How the ADS Works
SIP2 introduces an RFID-based livestock monitoring system that leverages UHF (Ultra High Frequency) electronic identification to provide real-time tracking, automated health monitoring, and early health status and behaviour changes. This system transforms cattle management by integrating remote sensing, cloud connectivity, and data-driven analysis. The system functions as follows:
Battery-free UHF ear tags, which provide real-time identification of each animal.
Automated water through attendance tracking, monitoring drinking patterns to detect health issues.
Device installed in the pasture — UHF antenna positioned directly above the drinking trough, out of reach of the animals.
By replacing manual inspections with continuous digital monitoring, the system provides farmers with reliable, real-time data, improving decision-making and herd welfare.
ADS modes
This SIP explores two different modes of the ADS:
Cloud-Based Model: Stores and processes livestock tracking data on a central cloud platform for remote access.
Number of visits to the drinking trough over a month for a group of 10 cattle (e.g. France / Brittany, June 2025) :
Number of visits per day for a herd of 42 cattle (Limousin, France, 27 April 2026)
Edge-Based Model: Performs localized processing on-site, reducing the need for continuous cloud connectivity.
Using the mobile app
Generating daily attendance reports :
OpenAgri OS Services
SIP2 integrates the following OpenAgri OS services:
- Weather Data Service: Provides climate-based forecasts (THI – Temperature Humidity Index) for improved animal welfare monitoring
- Farm Calendar & Reporting: Logs cattle movement and generates health reports for farm management.
Real-World Benefits & Impact
- Reducing labor costs by minimizing the need for manual herd inspections and farm visits.
- Enhancing animal welfare through early illness detection, reducing mortality rates and improving productivity.
- Increasing efficiency in livestock tracking, preventing losses and improving farm security.