Pneumonia in Calves:

Pneumonia is one of the most severe health threats for calves, accounting for a third of calf deaths in the first year of life and costing the UK livestock industry approximately £65 million annually. Its impact extends beyond mortality, with affected livestock showing reduced weight gain and lower lifetime productivity, resulting in long-term financial losses for farmers.

For example, just one pneumonia case can cost a farmer thousands in veterinary bills, lost growth potential, and decreased overall herd performance. Early detection of environmental risks is critical, yet traditional tools fall short in providing actionable insights.

Pneumonitor:

PneuMonitor is a groundbreaking IoT-enabled device designed to monitor environmental conditions in calf pens to prevent pneumonia. Unlike traditional solutions, it offers a rugged, reliable, and entirely novel approach to measuring wind speed, wind chill, and other critical environmental factors.

Key Features & Innovations:

• Rugged & Compact: Built for farm environments, withstanding harsh conditions.

• 6-Month Battery Life: Long-lasting performance without constant maintenance.

• Plug-and-Play Design: Easy setup for farmers, minimising downtime.

• 4G Connectivity: Real-time data transfer for immediate insights.

• Novel Wind Speed & Wind Chill Measurement: Eliminates failure-prone moving parts like traditional anemometers.

• Accessible Dashboard: Intuitive software with actionable recommendations based on veterinary data science.

PneuMonitor produces several actionable outputs:

1. Environmental Monitoring: Tracks temperature, humidity, barometric pressure, gas quality (CO2, N2O, CO), light intensity, wind chill, and wind speed.

2. Early Alerts: Provides real-time warnings when environmental conditions pose a pneumonia risk.

3. Integration with Farm Systems: Interfaces with heaters, fans, and other environmental controls for seamless automation.

4. Comprehensive Dashboard: Combines environmental data with veterinary insights to recommend preventative measures.

Impact on Farmers:

• Up to 50% reduction in pneumonia cases.

• Reduced medical costs and improved herd health.

• Increased productivity and profitability by mitigating risks before they escalate.

PneuMonitor is observative and preventative. It shifts the focus from treating disease to preventing it by monitoring the environmental conditions most likely to trigger pneumonia. Unlike conventional tools, PneuMonitor’s innovative design eliminates moving parts prone to failure, ensuring reliability and durability.

PneuMonitor is already demonstrating its value in field tests, where farmers have reported significant improvements in livestock health and productivity. Its plug-and-play functionality and easy integration with existing farm management systems make it a game-changer for the agricultural sector.

With proven efficacy, PneuMonitor is set to expand its reach, helping farmers protect their herds and increase profitability. Future enhancements include deeper integration with APIs and the development of additional features based on user feedback.