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ARS Home » Plains Area » Las Cruces, New Mexico » Range Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #397404
Research Project: Science and Technologies for the Sustainable Management of Western Rangeland Systems

Location: Range Management Research

Title: Calculation of daily distance walked by grazing cattle using real-time activity and position data collected by LoRa-WAN sensors

Author
item NYAMURYEKUNG'E, SHELEMIA - New Mexico State University
item DUFF, GLENN - New Mexico State University
item CIBILS, ANDRES - New Mexico State University
item Estell, Richard - Rick
item MCINTOSH, MATTHEW - New Mexico State University
item FUNK, M - New Mexico State University
item COX, ANDREW - New Mexico State University
item CAO, H - New Mexico State University
item CHEN, H - New Mexico State University
item Spiegal, Sheri
item PEREA, A - New Mexico State University
item RAHMAN, S - New Mexico State University
item UTSUMI, SANTIAGO - New Mexico State University

Submitted to: Site Specific Farming Conference Proceedings
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/10/2022
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: LoRa-WAN sensors were implemented to compare methods for determining walking distances by grazing cattle in near real-time. The performance of relaying on a global position system (GPS) alone or in combination with motion data derived from triaxial accelerometers was compared using control trackers (Control) that were placed stationary in the field (n=6) or testing trackers (Test) that were mounted on cows (n=6) grazing on pasture at the New Mexico State University’s Clayton Livestock Research Center. Trackers communicated motion data at 1-minute and GPS positions at 15-minutes intervals for seven days. Daily distance walked was determined using: 1) raw GPS data (RawDist), 2) when erroneous GPS locations have been removed (CorrDist), or 3) when erroneous GPS locations have been removed and the exclusion of GPS data associated with the static state (CorrActDist). Distances were analyzed via one-way ANOVA to compare Control vs. Test deployment effects. No difference (P=0.43) in walking distance was detected between Control vs. Test for RawDist. However, distances calculated for CorrDist differed (P<0.01) between the two tracker deployments. Due to the random error of GPS measurements, CorrDist for stationary devices was different (P=0.01) from zero. The walking distance calculated by CorrActDist differed (P<0.01) between Control vs. Test trackers, with distances for Control trackers being indifferent (P=0.44) from zero. The fusion of GPS and accelerometer data was the more suitable method for calculating walking distance by grazing cattle. This result may highlight the value of combining more than one source of independent sensor data in Precision Livestock Farming applications.