This month’s column features a metal electronic identification (eID) tag, a rumen bolus for livestock monitoring, a means to lower your utility bill and an artificial-intelligence (AI) system to predict cattle feed intake and make feeding predictions.

Metal RFID tag

Shearwell Data Livestock Systems has introduced its Metal Cattle eID Tag, a first-of-its-kind radio frequency identification (RFID) cattle ear tag that is made out of stainless steel. This easy-to-apply tag combines the retention reliability of a metal identification tag with a built-in RFID chip. RFID technology allows users to swipe the RFID chip with an RFID reader, then enter or access on-farm management data like calving, health, weaning or any other records with ease.

Using a permanent laser mark process, tag numbers or owner contact information is applied directly on the metal side, so the animal can be identified chuteside even when an RFID reader is not available. Shearwell Metal Cattle eID Tags meet official USDA identification standards.

Each tag costs $2.99, and tags are supplied in strips of 20 tags.

For more, visit https://www.shearwell.com/cattle-tags.

Cattle location technology

Wandering Shepherd prides itself on its revolutionary autonomous livestock-monitoring technology. It recently launched the Wireless Rumen Bolus^TM–Large Breed. Much like a rumen magnet, Wandering Shepherd’s 24 mm-by-40 mm wireless bolus is given orally and spends its lifetime in the rumen of the mature cow or bull.

During its 10-year lifespan, this battery-operated and hotspot-enabled bolus sends updates to the livestock owner via any internet-enabled device, providing the owner with animal ID, supply chain traceability, body temperature range, location, calving detection, heat detection and illness detection. Geofencing allows the operator to locate the animal within the pasture or be alerted if the animal is outside its designated pasture.

A 99.9% retention rate offers reliability and reduces labor costs associated with application.

The Wireless Rumen Bolus–Small Breed is geared toward younger animals, including baby calves. With a lifespan of three-plus years, this 18 mm-by-30 mm bolus offers illness protection by sending temperature alerts as soon as a temperature spike is detected and again once normal temperature is achieved, in addition to location data and, in the case of replacement heifers, heat detection.

For more information visit https://www.wanderingshepherd.com/.

Free utility audit

Lumen Utility Consult ensures companies are getting the best possible rates on their utility bills for free. Send Lumen up to three years’ worth of each utility bill you’d like them to review. This can include: electricity, natural gas, garbage and recycling, water and sewer, telecom, and/or freight. Within seven days Lumen will contact you with an estimated savings amount. Thus far, Lumen has found $46,000,000 worth of savings and worked with customers in 17 states.

Lumen uses accounting, tariffs, laws, rate adjustments and ordinances to find refunds and savings. By changing the way companies are billed for their utilities, Lumen can reduce those bills.

Lumen Utility Consult is based out of Round Rock, Texas. For more information visit https://lumenutilityconsult.com/.