April 20, 2022

New Zealand agri-tech startup's cattle smart tags set for large scale trials

New Zealand-based agri-tech startup ProTag's cattle smart tags are set for large scale trials later this year following a NZD 1 million investment to fast track the development of the smart ear tag sensors, which could revolutionise the country's cattle industry, Massey University of New Zealand reported.

The company's internet-connected gadget attaches to a cow's ear and allows farmers to track the animal's health, grazing, and breeding patterns in real time. Machine learning is utilised to interpret data from the device's temperature, movement, and location sensors, allowing farmers to map animal behaviour patterns and diagnose sickness early in real time.

Tyrel Glass, a co-founder of Protag, said that the company's compact, lightweight gadget uses 100 times less energy than rival GPS-based devices with bigger battery packs.

Baden Parr, the other company co-founder, said the device will allow farmers to recognise cattle health issues early such as mastitis, lameness, and reproductive concerns, while also promoting more sustainable farming.

While the company's immediate focus is on the New Zealand market, where the average dairy herd size is 440 cows, prospective markets overseas include Ireland and Brazil.

-      Massey University of New Zealand