A Low Power GPS-based device to develop KDE analyses for managing herd in extensive livestock systems

Nowadays the use of wearable sensors to record animal activity in intensive livestock systems has attract increasing attention for both improving quality of production and early detection of diseases. Their application may be also significant in extensive livestock systems, where there is an infrequent farmer-to-animal contact. The aim of the present study was to prove the feasibility of a novel automatic system for locating and tracking cows in extensive livestock systems based on space-time data provided by a low power global positioning system (LP-GPS). A customized device was equipped with a LP-GPS omnidirectional system, an integrated SigFox communication system and a power supply. The experimental trial was carried out in an existing semi-natural pasture characterized by good availability of meadow and cultivated grazing areas. Ten cows were embedded with LP-GPS collars by recording data every 20 minutes. In detail, data were collected through a developed AppWeb to be further imported and elaborated by using a GIS software tool. Through GIS software, the daily distances travelled by each cow were used for carrying out heatmaps by applying Kernel Density Estimation models. The results of the study made it possible to obtain information on some relevant aspects for livestock’s management. The LP-GPS system could be further integrated with other sensors for monitoring a wider range of animal behavior such as that related to feeding and estrus.