E-capsule monitors cow health from the inside
Israeli company Veterix develops an electronic pill that reports on animal temperature, heart rate, and digestive activity; farmers receive wireless diagnostics that permit swift identification of the sick; improved monitoring of livestock health key to preventing ourbreaks of E. coli and other livestock diseases.
This should be easy for our readers to digest. An Israeli company named Veterix has developed an electronic capsule that sits in an animal’s stomach and wirelessly reports to the owner about the animal’s health. “We looked for a solution and the main reason was the welfare of the animals,” said company founder and CEO Eliav Tahar. “I wanted to give the quickest remedy to any problem an animal has. We believe if the animal is happy, the farmer will be happy.” He forgot about the consumer. Improved monitoring of livestock health is key to preventing ourbreaks of E. coli and other livestock diseases.
Veterix’s e-capsule can be administered by any farmer willing to put his hand near a cow’s mouth. Once inserted, the heavy polymer device stays in the cow’s reticulum, or second stomach, for the rest of his life (which in many cases will not be very long.) The device uses low-power sensors that measure temperature, heart rate, respiration and digestive processes — all of which data is transmitted to a simple monitoring system that tracks each animal over time. The software suggests improved watering and feeding egimes and can even tell the farmer when Bossie is ready to mate. Eventually, Veterix hopes the technology will also serve as an early warning system against bioterrorism and as a diagnostic tool for bovine illnesses.
Each device will cost approximately $75 per capsule, not including end-user monitoring tools and diagnostics software. The manufacturing plant is expected to be built in Israel.
-read more in Karin Kloosterman Israel21C report
