Livestock Producers Adopt Satellite-Enabled Cattle Tracking Technologies

The livestock industry is adopting innovative tracking technologies to improve cattle management and reduce costs. Three companies - Merck, 701x, and Ceres - are offering electronic identification (EID) devices and herd-management systems that use satellite or cellular signals to transmit data to producers' smartphones.

Merck's SenseHub system requires an antenna placed at a central location, connected to a cellular gateway that sends information to the cloud for analysis. The 701x xTpro tag is solar-powered, battery life not being a concern, and can be reassigned to other animals if needed. Ceres' GEN6 device is $40 per tag with a $4.99-per-tag per-month subscription for its active life.

The tags provide real-time data on cattle health, activity levels, GPS location, and more, allowing producers to make informed decisions about their herds. The systems are scalable and can be used on ranches of any size, with the 701x system available in certain international markets. Ceres' devices work on 42 different species in 44 countries worldwide.