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EmailIphone Application    Posted: 14th May 2013
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Tracking system monitors health
Mobile application sends health data

An innovative system known as CowView could help to improve bovine welfare, as it allows each animal in a herd to be tracked, with location and behavioural alerts sent to the farmer's PC, tablet or smartphone.

The system allows for continual analysis of the animal's position and behaviour, having significant implications for herd health management, as it can alert farmers to unusual behaviour which could be indicative of ill health.

As smaller farms are consolidating to meet the increasing demands, GEA Technologies and Zebra Technologies Corporation have collaborated on the innovative system which could act as an early warning sign for health issues.

GEA collaborated closely with Zebra to create CowView, using real time location solutions (RTLS) to help farmers meet the demands of larger herds.

The CowView tag is hung from each animal's neck using specially designed collars. This tag then transmits the animal's location and activity to the preferred device of the farmer - PC, tablet or smartphone - via stationary sensors.

Jill Stelfox from Zebra said: "For the first time, farmers can now obtain a full and continuous analysis of the position and behaviour of each individual cow and use this knowledge to ensure the wellbeing of their animals."

CowView is currently monitoring 4000 cows across seven farms in Germany, the Netherlands and Denmark, and is now being installed in farms in the UK and Scandinavia.

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Practices urged to audit neutering data

News Story 1
 RCVS Knowledge has called on vet practices to audit their post-operative neutering outcomes.

It follows the release of the 2024 NASAN benchmarking report, which collates data from neutering procedures performed on dogs, cats and rabbits.

The benchmarking report enables practices in the UK and Ireland to compare their post-operative outcomes to the national average. This includes the rate of patients lost to follow-up, which in 2024 increased to 23 per cent.

Anyone from the practice can submit the data using a free template. The deadline for next report is February 2026.

Visit the RCVS Knowledge website to complete an audit. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
RCVS pays tribute to well-loved equine vet

The RCVS and the Riding Establishments Subcommittee has paid tribute to well-loved veterinary surgeon and riding establishment inspector, Rebecca Hamilton-Fletcher MRCVS.

Linda Belton MRCVS, RCVS President, said: "I, along with my colleagues on the RESC, RCVS Council, RCVS Standards Committee, as well as RCVS staff, was very saddened to hear of the sudden death of Rebecca, or Becca as we knew her, last week.

"She was a true advocate for equine welfare and in her many years on the RESC worked to continually improve the quality and consistency of riding establishment inspections, all in the interests of enhanced horse welfare and rider safety."