Microchip Technology Improves Cattle Management

Microchip Technology Improves Cattle Management Nexa Labs developed an implantable microchip to enhance disease detection in cattle and streamline breeding management. Unlike traditional monitoring systems that rely on external devices limited to behavioral and movement observations, Nexa believes its technology offers a unique approach by directly collecting detailed physiological and biometric data from within the animal. The tiny microchip is implanted just beneath the skin at the back of the ear. The USDA-compliant chip is paired with a small external ear tag, creating a system that tracks temperature, heart rate, breathing, blood oxygen, activity, GPS location and behavior. This broad-scale monitoring enables Nexa’s analytics to flag the earliest signs of respiratory distress, udder inflammation, ketosis, lameness and other health issues, often before these symptoms become visible in the barn. Beyond health monitoring, Nexa’s technology brings precision to breeding management. The system automatically identifies cows in estrus and helps schedule breeding windows more accurately, optimizing artificial insemination and boosting pregnancy rates. These insights help farmers maximize herd productivity and reduce labor wasted on false positives, a common problem with collar-based systems that often misidentify heat signals. Data collected by the microchip is transmitted via the ear tag to a central yard receiver, which uploads it to the cloud. Farmers access real-time insights through Nexa’s web and mobile platforms. Company technicians and veterinary specialists handle system installation and provide ongoing monitoring support. The software provides full access to health and reproductive analytics, and users can leverage integrated AI Copilot features to analyze the data. “The key differentiator is that other systems are all external and limited in what they can monitor, typically assessing only behavior and activity-related features like lying, walking, and standing time,” says Nexa co-founder and CEO Zarif Azher. “We monitor those as well, but because our microchip is under the skin, we can look at additional biometrics like body temperature, heart rate, and breathing rate; things you can’t monitor from the outside because the animal’s skin is thick and hair-covered. This increased accuracy helps reduce false positives and makes the system more reliable and worthwhile for modern cattle operations.” The chip is encased in a durable polymer and designed to last 8 to 10 years, typically covering the animal’s lifetime. “It’s powered wirelessly by a small battery on the ear tag component, which is good for 5-plus years with no recharging necessary. This capability will satisfy most beef operations, with only an occasional swap once in a lifetime for a mother cow,” Azher says. The system also offers long-range connectivity for seamless operation across lar n Nexa Labs handles all design and development in California, including smaller production runs. Large-scale manufacturing is done in Seattle. Currently in pilot trials with California partners, Nexa is taking a measured approach to expansion, with plans for broader trials in the U.S. and internationally. Its aim is a commercial launch in the near future. “We verify our accuracy and efficiency by testing and gathering data on farms,” Azher says. “That’s why we’re rolling it out in a pilot fashion. Once we feel we’re ready, we’ll lay out the statistics, but we’re encouraged by what we’re seeing so far.” Farmers will receive the entire system, including hardware, software, and ongoing monitoring, for a flat monthly fee of about $2 per cow, rather than complicated upfront and recurring costs. Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Nexa Labs, Dublin, Calif. (ph 925-475-9601; admin@nexa.farm; www.nexa.farm).

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