| abstract |
A system and method for early prediction of and/or early detection of conditions affecting a livestock population and/or to monitor a state of livestock may include tracking behavior of previously identified sentinel individuals from a sample of the livestock in which some individuals cannot be directly distinguished. Optionally the tracking may be by means of an optical sensor. In some embodiments an unidentified sentinel may be tracked and/or an unidentified sentinel may be re-identified and/or sentinels may be marked. In some embodiments a behavior may be monitored in the population and a condition of the population may be detected based on a pattern of changes in the behavior. Optionally, the behavior may be monitored in individuals and/or a sample and/or a virtual flock. Optionally the method may be used for early detection of an outbreak of disease, for improved breeding and/or for development of treatments and/or vaccines. |