BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION A need exists for both livestock and wildlife farmers to monitor the mating habits of their herds. This aids the farmers when making decisions as to which animals are to be culled as animals that do not produce offspring are generally selected for culling in order to increase the calving percentage of the herd.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to an aspect of the invention there is provided a method for monitoring the occurrence of animal mating, the method including the following steps in any order: automatically detecting when a part of a male animal is located proximate a corresponding part of a female animal, which parts of the animals are parts which are typically located proximate each other when the male and female animals engage in mating; and automatically storing on data storage means, in response to such detection, information relating to the occurrence of mating.

Such detection may be facilitated by a triggering means, fitted to a part of either one of the male or female animal, and by a trigger for a transmitter, the trigger being fitted to a corresponding part of the other of the male or female animal, so that the triggering means triggers the trigger, causing the transmitter to transmit, when the triggering means comes within a predetermined distance from the trigger;

wherein the parts of the animals to which the triggering means and trigger are fitted are parts which are typically located proximate each other when the male and female animals engage in mating, and wherein the transmitter transmits information relating to the occurrence of mating.

The transmitter is typically connected to the trigger and fitted to the animal to which the trigger is fitted.

The method may include the step of receiving with a receiver the information relating to the occurrence of mating before the abovementioned step of automatically storing on the data storage means information relating to the occurrence of mating.

The receiver and data storage means may be fitted to the animal to which the triggering means is fitted.

The triggering means and/or the trigger may be fitted to the exterior of the animal. The triggering means and/or the trigger may be fitted to the exterior of the animal by way of a halter or a collar fitted to the animal.

The triggering means and/or the trigger may be fitted to the animal by way of implantation.

The part of the male animal to which the triggering means or the trigger is fitted may be anywhere proximate the underside of the male animal such as between the front legs, to the stomach, to the chest, to the underside of the neck or lower jaw, or the like, of the animal.

The part of the female animal to which the triggering means or the trigger is fitted may be anywhere proximate the tail, hind, back, top of the head, or the like, of the animal.

The information relating to the occurrence of mating which is transmitted by the transmitter may include the identity of the animal to which the trigger is fitted, the date of such detection, and/or the time of such

detection. It is to be appreciated that the transmitter may not transmit the date and/or time of the occurrence of mating and accordingly, after the abovementioned step of receiving the information relating to the occurrence of mating from the transmitter, the method may include the step of adding the date and/or time to the information received from the transmitter before the abovementioned step of storing such information.

The method may include the initial step of storing on the data storage means information identifying the animal to which the triggering means is fitted so that this information is added to the rest of the information relating to the occurrence of mating.

The method may include the further step of transferring the information stored on the data storage means to a processor programmed with instructions to analyse the information and produce a report on the fertility of both the male and female animal.

It is to be appreciated that the method extends to monitoring the occurrence of animal mating of a plurality of male animals and/or a plurality of female animals.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a first apparatus for monitoring the occurrence of animal mating, the first apparatus including a triggering means for fitment, in use, to a part of either one of a male or female animal, the triggering means being configured to trigger a trigger for a transmitter causing the transmitter to transmit information relating to the occurrence of mating when, in use, the trigger is fitted to a corresponding part of the other of the male or female animal and the triggering means comes within a predetermined distance from the trigger; a receiver for receiving the information from the transmitter; and data storage means for storing the information received by the receiver;

wherein the corresponding parts of the animals are parts which are typically located proximate each other when the male and female animals engage in mating.

The receiver and data storage means may be configured for fitment, in use, to the animal to which the triggering means is fitted.

The triggering means may be configured for fitment, in use, to the exterior of the animal. The triggering means may be configured for fitment to the exterior of the animal by way of a halter or a collar fittable to the animal.

The triggering means may be configured for fitment, in use, to the animal by way of implantation.

The part of the male animal to which the triggering means may be fitted, in use, is anywhere proximate the underside of the male animal such as between the front legs, to the stomach, to the chest, to the underside of the neck or lower jaw, or the like, of the animal.

The part of the female animal to which the triggering means may be fitted, in use, is anywhere proximate the tail, hind, back, top of the head, or the like, of the animal.

The information relating to the occurrence of mating which is transmitted by the transmitter typically includes the identity of the animal to which the trigger is fitted, the date of such triggering, and/or the time of such triggering. It is to be appreciated that the transmitter may not transmit the date and/or time of such triggering and accordingly, the first apparatus may include time keeping means which adds the current date and/or time to the information received from the transmitter, which information is then stored on the data storage means.

The data storage means may include thereon pre-stored information identifying the animal to which the triggering means is fitted so

that this information is in effect added to the rest of the information relating to the occurrence of mating.

It is to be appreciated that the invention extends to a plurality of first apparatuses for monitoring the occurrence of animal mating of a plurality of male animals and/or a plurality of female animals.

According to a further aspect of the invention there is provided a second apparatus for monitoring the occurrence of animal mating, the second apparatus including a transmitter configured to transmit information related to the occurrence of mating; and a trigger for the transmitter, the trigger being fittable to a part of a male or female animal, so that, in use, a triggering means fitted to a corresponding part of the other of the male or'female animal is able to trigger the trigger causing the transmitter to transmit when the triggering means comes within a predetermined distance from the trigger; wherein the corresponding parts of the animals are parts which are typically located proximate each other when the male and female animals engage in mating.

The transmitter is typically connected to the trigger and fitted to the animal to which the trigger is fitted.

The trigger may be configured for fitment to the exterior of the animal. The trigger may be configured for fitment to the exterior of the animal by way of a halter or a collar fittable to the animal. The trigger may be configured for fitment to the animal by way of implantation.

The part of the male animal to which the trigger may be fitted, in use, is anywhere proximate the underside of the male animal such as between the front legs, to the stomach, to the chest, to the underside of the neck or lower jaw, or the like, of the animal.

The part of the female animal to which the trigger may be fitted, in use, is anywhere proximate the tail, hind, back, top of the head, or the like, of the animal.

The second apparatus may include control means configured for communication with the transmitter, the control means including a data storage device having stored thereon information relating to the identity of the animal to which the trigger is fitted, so that such information can be transmitted as information related to the occurrence of mating when the trigger is triggered. The control means may include time keeping means so that the date of such triggering, and/or the time of such triggering can also be transmitted as information related to the occurrence of mating when the trigger is triggered.

It is to be appreciated that the invention extends to a plurality of second apparatuses for monitoring the occurrence of animal mating of a plurality of male animals and/or a plurality of female animals.

According to yet another aspect of the invention there is provided a system for monitoring the occurrence of animal mating, the system including a first apparatus as described above; and a second apparatus as described above.

The system may further include a data retriever and a processor, the data retriever being configured to read the information stored on the data storage means and to transfer such information to the processor, and the processor being programmed with a computer program for analysing the information and producing a report on the fertility of both the male and female animal.

The computer program may be stored on a portable data storage medium such as a floppy disc, a stiffy, a compact disc, or the like.

The computer program may be stored on the hard drive of the processor.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The invention is now described, by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the following diagrammatic drawing wherein Figure 1 shows a system for monitoring the occurrence of animal mating.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING In the drawing, reference numeral 10 generally indicates a system for monitoring the occurrence of animal mating. The system 10 includes a first apparatus 12 when fitted to a male animal, and a second apparatus 14 when fitted to a female animal.

The first apparatus 12 includes a triggering means 16 fitted to a part of the male animal by way of a halter 18 fitted around the neck of the animal. The second apparatus 14 includes a radio frequency transmitter 30 and a trigger 32 for the transmitter 30, the entire second apparatus 14 being fitted to a corresponding part of the female animal.

Said parts of the animals are defined as corresponding parts because said parts are typically located proximate each other when the male and female animals engage in mating.

The part of the male animal to which the triggering means 16 is typically fitted is anywhere proximate the underside of the male animal such as between the front legs, to the stomach, to the chest, to the underside of the neck or lower jaw, or the like, of the animal. In Figure 1, the triggering means is fitted to the underside of the neck of the animal by way of the halter 18 fitted around the neck.

The part of the female animal to which the trigger 32 is typically fitted is anywhere proximate the tail, hind, back, top of the head, or the like, of

the animal. In Figure 1, the trigger 32 is fitted to the back of the female animal by way of implantation in the back of the animal.

The triggering means 16 is configured to trigger the trigger 32, causing the transmitter 30 to transmit information relating to the occurrence of mating, when the triggering means 16 comes within a predetermined distance from the trigger 32.

In this embodiment of the invention, the triggering means 16 creates an electromagnetic field, in use. The trigger 32 includes a capacitor which is charged when the triggering means 16 comes within a predetermined distance from the trigger 32. Such charging facilitates triggering of the trigger 32. The triggering means 16 (and its associated electromagnetic field) and the trigger 32 (and its associated capacitor) are typically configured so that the predetermined distance is about 5 cm.

The first apparatus 12 also includes a receiver 20 for receiving the information relating to the occurrence of mating from the transmitter 30, and data storage means 22 for storing the information relating to the occurrence of mating. The receiver 20 and data storage means 22 are configured for fitment to the male animal by way of the halter 18.

The second apparatus 14 includes control means 34 configured for communication with the transmitter 30. The control means 34 includes a data storage device 36 having stored thereon information relating to the identity of the female animal so that such information can be transmitted as information related to the occurrence of mating when the trigger 32 is triggered. The control means 34 includes time keeping means so that the date and the time of such triggering can also be transmitted as information related to the occurrence of mating when the trigger 32 is triggered.

The data storage means 22 includes thereon pre-stored information identifying the male animal so that this information is in effect added to the rest of the information relating to the occurrence of mating.

It is to be appreciated that, in another embodiment of the invention wherein the transmitter 30 does not transmit the date and/or time of triggering, the first apparatus 12 then includes time keeping means which adds the current date and/or time to the information received from the transmitter 30, which information is then stored on the data storage means 22.

The system 10 further includes a mobile data retriever and a remote processor (neither of which are shown), the data retriever being configured to read the information stored on the data storage means 22 and to transfer such information to the processor. The processor is programmed with a computer program which analyses the information and produces a report on the fertility of both the male and female animal.

It is to be appreciated that, in another embodiment of the invention, the first apparatus 12 can be fitted to a part of a female animal and the second apparatus 14 to a corresponding part of a male animal. It is once again to be understood that the corresponding parts of the animals are parts which are typically located proximate each other when the male and female animals engage in mating.

It is also to be appreciated that the invention extends, in another embodiment thereof, to a plurality of first apparatuses 12 and a plurality of second apparatuses 14 for monitoring the occurrence of animal mating of a plurality of male animals and/or a plurality of female animals.

In such an embodiment, the report on the fertility of both the male and female animal for a particular period is typically in the form of a matrix wherein each column corresponds to a male animal and each row to a female animal. Accordingly, each matrix entry contains zero, one, or more date and time registrations, each corresponding to a mating occurrence between the relevant male and female animals. The report also includes a total for each column and a total for each row, which totals correspond to the total number of matings for that male and female respectively over the period.

It is to be appreciated that a total for a male is related to the libido and dominance of that male. Fertility of a bull can also be determined when compared with a pregnancy test performed on the females with which that male mated.

It is also to be appreciated that a total for a female together with an analysis of the dates reflected in her row can also be related to the number of times that female came on heat during the period.

The Inventor believes that the invention is advantageous in that it provides a farmer with information on the mating habits of the farmer's livestock and/or wildlife. Such information aids a farmer in reaching a decision as to which animals are to be culled from a herd of animals, which should in turn hopefully improve the offspring statistics for the herd. Such information may also increase the sale value of an animal.