Wearable sensors for animal health and wellness monitoring.

Abstract

Biosensors are rapidly emerging as a key tool in animal health management, therefore, gaining a significant recognition in the global market. Wearable sensors, integrated with advanced biosensing technologies, provide highly specialized devices for measuring both individual and multiple physiological parameters of animals, as well as monitoring their environment. These sensors are not only precise and sensitive but also reliable, user-friendly, and capable of accelerating the monitoring process. In livestock management, novel biosensors offer significant benefits in various areas, including disease detection, health monitoring, detection of reproductive cycles, and assessment of the overall physiological well-being of animals through environmental analysis. A wide range of advanced technologies are being applied in the development of wearable sensors, including microfluidics, fluorescence resonance energy transfer, surface plasmon resonance, image detection techniques, electrochemical sensing, cantilever-based sensing, and many others. The data generated from these integrated monitoring systems provides crucial insights into the biochemical, emotional, and physiological functions of farm animals. This not only helps identify the most productive animals but also enables farmers to predict which animals may be more resilient to common diseases. This chapter explores the various technological advancements used in wearable sensor development, digital animal health, and the different types of wearable sensors and their applications in livestock management.