Smart Biosensor for Early Detection and Treatment of Mastitis in Dairy Cows

Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE INVENTION Mastitis significantly impacts dairy farming profitability and milk quality. The proposed smart biosensor system enables early detection, monitoring, and treatment of mastitis in dairy cows. It integrates wearable biosensors to continuously measure critical health indicators, such as SCC, milk conductivity, udder temperature, pH levels, and cow behavior. Real-time data analysis identifies anomalies and alerts farmers or veterinarians for timely intervention. The system also tracks post-treatment recovery and maintains detailed health records for better herd management. By automating mastitis detection and management, the invention reduces economic losses, enhances animal health, and improves dairy farm productivity.

Specification

Description:TITLE
Smart Biosensor for Early Detection and Treatment of Mastitis in Dairy Cows

FIELD OF INVENTION
The present invention relates to wearable biosensor technology. More particularly, the present invention relates to a smart biosensor system integrated with automated farm management software for the early detection, monitoring, and treatment of mastitis in dairy cows. The present invention significantly enhances herd health management by enabling real-time health monitoring, minimizing manual intervention, and reducing the economic impact of mastitis.

















BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Brief Theory
Dairy farming plays a pivotal role in global food supply, with milk being an essential source of nutrition. Mastitis, an inflammation of the udder tissue, is one of the most prevalent and costly diseases affecting dairy cows. It reduces milk quality and quantity, impacts animal health, and leads to significant financial losses. Mastitis occurs in two forms:
• Clinical Mastitis: Characterized by visible symptoms such as udder swelling, heat, and abnormal milk appearance.
• Subclinical Mastitis: Lacks visible signs but results in elevated somatic cell counts (SCC) in milk, affecting its quality.
Microorganisms such as Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Streptococcus agalactiae often cause mastitis. These pathogens enter the udder through the teat canal, especially in unsanitary or stressful conditions. Effective mastitis management requires early detection and treatment to minimize economic losses and maintain milk quality.
Prior Art
1. Prior art titled "Milk Quality Sensors" focuses on measuring SCC but lacks real-time alerts and integration with farm management systems.
2. Prior art titled "Wearable Animal Monitoring Devices" tracks basic parameters like body temperature but does not provide insights into mastitis-specific markers.
3. Another prior art titled "Automated Milking Systems with Health Monitoring" integrates some health indicators but is limited to milking parlors and not suitable for continuous herd-wide monitoring.
4. Yet another prior art titled "Udder Health Diagnostic Tools" provides point-of-care diagnostics but lacks automation and scalability.
From the prior art description, it is evident that existing solutions are either incomplete or inefficient in providing real-time, continuous, and actionable insights into mastitis management.

OBJECT OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
1. To develop a biosensor-based system for early detection of mastitis in dairy cows.
2. To automate the monitoring of critical health indicators, including SCC, milk conductivity, udder temperature, pH levels, and cow behavior.
3. To provide real-time notifications of potential mastitis cases to farmers and veterinarians.
4. To enable data-driven herd management decisions, such as culling and breeding strategies.
5. To reduce the economic impact of mastitis by lowering milk loss, veterinary costs, and unnecessary culling.















SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention introduces a smart biosensor system that continuously monitors dairy cows' health to detect mastitis at an early stage. The system integrates wearable biosensors and udder-mounted devices to measure SCC, milk conductivity, udder temperature, pH levels, and behavioral patterns. Real-time data is transmitted wirelessly to a central farm management system for analysis. The system identifies anomalies indicative of mastitis and alerts farmers or veterinarians via SMS, email, or a mobile app. Post-treatment recovery is also monitored using the same biosensors. This invention reduces manual labor, enhances detection accuracy, and minimizes financial losses associated with untreated mastitis.

















BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS
1. Figure 1: Block diagram of the smart biosensor system architecture.
2. Figure 2: Flowchart of the mastitis detection and notification process.
3. Figure 3: Illustration of the wearable biosensor design.
4. Figure 4: Overview of the farm management software interface.



















DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION WITH REFERENCE TO THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS
System Components
1. Wearable Biosensors:
o Monitors SCC, milk conductivity, udder temperature, pH levels, and cow behavior.
o Equipped with wireless communication modules (Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, or RFID).
2. Central Farm Management System:
o Receives and analyzes real-time data from multiple biosensors.
o Utilizes advanced algorithms to detect anomalies.
3. Alert Mechanism:
o Sends notifications to farmers or veterinarians via SMS, email, or a mobile app.
4. Post-Treatment Monitoring:
o Tracks recovery progress using the same biosensors.
o Logs health data for future reference.
Working Process
1. Data is continuously collected by wearable biosensors.
2. The central system analyzes the data to identify potential mastitis indicators.
3. Upon detecting anomalies, the system sends real-time alerts.
4. Farmers or veterinarians conduct physical examinations to confirm diagnosis.
5. Treatment plans are implemented based on severity, followed by recovery monitoring.




CLAIMS
I/We Claim
1. A Biosensor System for Mastitis Detection
A system for early detection of mastitis in dairy cows, comprising:
o wearable biosensors configured to monitor somatic cell count (SCC), milk conductivity, udder temperature, pH levels, and cow behavior,
o wherein the biosensors detect changes in these parameters indicative of potential mastitis infections.
2. Real-Time Data Transmission Module
The system of claim 1, further comprising a wireless data transmission module enabling real-time communication between the wearable biosensors and a central farm management system,
o wherein the data transmission supports multiple communication technologies, including Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and RFID.
3. Anomaly Detection Algorithms
The system of claim 1, wherein the central farm management system includes advanced algorithms to analyze collected data from the biosensors,
o configured to identify anomalies such as elevated SCC or changes in milk conductivity that are indicative of mastitis.
4. Automated Alert Mechanism
The system of claim 3, further comprising an automated alert mechanism,
o wherein the system is configured to notify farmers or veterinarians of potential mastitis cases through SMS, email, or mobile application notifications, enabling prompt intervention.
5. Post-Treatment Monitoring and Recovery Tracking
The system of claim 1, wherein the biosensors are further configured to monitor the recovery progress of cows post-treatment,
o allowing continuous tracking of health indicators to assess treatment efficacy and ensure the health restoration of the treated cow.
6. Comprehensive Data Logging and Record Keeping
The system of claim 1, wherein the central farm management system is configured to automatically log and store each cow's health data, diagnosis, treatment history, and recovery progress,
o enabling comprehensive health records that support informed decision-making for herd management.
7. Integration with Farm Management Software
The system of claim 6, wherein the central farm management system integrates with farm management software,
o enabling data-driven decision-making regarding breeding, culling, and overall herd health optimization based on the collected biosensor data.
8. Scalable User Interface for System Management
The system of claim 1, further comprising a user-friendly mobile and web interface,
o configured for scalable operation across diverse farm sizes, and allowing users to monitor herd health, receive alerts, and generate reports for farm management purposes.











ABSTRACT OF THE INVENTION
Mastitis significantly impacts dairy farming profitability and milk quality. The proposed smart biosensor system enables early detection, monitoring, and treatment of mastitis in dairy cows. It integrates wearable biosensors to continuously measure critical health indicators, such as SCC, milk conductivity, udder temperature, pH levels, and cow behavior. Real-time data analysis identifies anomalies and alerts farmers or veterinarians for timely intervention. The system also tracks post-treatment recovery and maintains detailed health records for better herd management. By automating mastitis detection and management, the invention reduces economic losses, enhances animal health, and improves dairy farm productivity.

, Claims:CLAIMS
I/We Claim
1. A Biosensor System for Mastitis Detection
A system for early detection of mastitis in dairy cows, comprising:
o wearable biosensors configured to monitor somatic cell count (SCC), milk conductivity, udder temperature, pH levels, and cow behavior,
o wherein the biosensors detect changes in these parameters indicative of potential mastitis infections.
2. Real-Time Data Transmission Module
The system of claim 1, further comprising a wireless data transmission module enabling real-time communication between the wearable biosensors and a central farm management system,
o wherein the data transmission supports multiple communication technologies, including Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and RFID.
3. Anomaly Detection Algorithms
The system of claim 1, wherein the central farm management system includes advanced algorithms to analyze collected data from the biosensors,
o configured to identify anomalies such as elevated SCC or changes in milk conductivity that are indicative of mastitis.
4. Automated Alert Mechanism
The system of claim 3, further comprising an automated alert mechanism,
o wherein the system is configured to notify farmers or veterinarians of potential mastitis cases through SMS, email, or mobile application notifications, enabling prompt intervention.
5. Post-Treatment Monitoring and Recovery Tracking
The system of claim 1, wherein the biosensors are further configured to monitor the recovery progress of cows post-treatment,
o allowing continuous tracking of health indicators to assess treatment efficacy and ensure the health restoration of the treated cow.
6. Comprehensive Data Logging and Record Keeping
The system of claim 1, wherein the central farm management system is configured to automatically log and store each cow's health data, diagnosis, treatment history, and recovery progress,
o enabling comprehensive health records that support informed decision-making for herd management.
7. Integration with Farm Management Software
The system of claim 6, wherein the central farm management system integrates with farm management software,
o enabling data-driven decision-making regarding breeding, culling, and overall herd health optimization based on the collected biosensor data.
8. Scalable User Interface for System Management
The system of claim 1, further comprising a user-friendly mobile and web interface,
o configured for scalable operation across diverse farm sizes, and allowing users to monitor herd health, receive alerts, and generate reports for farm management purposes.

Documents