A smart tail ring presented at the 33rd Yangling Agricultural Hi-Tech Fair in Shaanxi province on Oct. 25 aims to inform farmers when a cow is about to calve or may develop a health problem.
The device merges motion, temperature and pulse-wave sensors to track physical signs and behavior of cattle.
In trials covering more than 1,800 calving cases, the ring reached an 88% accuracy rate for calving alerts and could forecast labor up to 2.5 hours ahead. It also detected possible subclinical mastitis up to 36.5 hours before onset.
Weighing roughly 300 grams, the ring transmits data to an AI model that evaluates cow behavior and health risks, then notifies farmers when intervention might be required.
The projected initial price is about 1,000 yuan (around $140) per unit, and a single ring can be rotated among 8-15 cows over a year.
Could smart devices like this change how farmers care for their herds? 🐮
