Using animal data to drive better decision-making
What is the problem?
New traceability standards (e.g., mandatory electronic NLIS tags for sheep and goats from 2025 in most states) presents an opportunity for farmers to utilise high quality animal data. High integrity data is also essential to maintain compliance and reporting for national regulations, as well as domestic and export market requirements. With a growing number of solution providers, each offering different products and functionalities, you need to choose the one that best fits your operation and exisiting infrastructure.
Why is it important?
Capturing traceable data is now becoming a must-have for farmers to access both domestic and export markets. Some export markets (like the EU and UK) are likely to expect you to provide documented welfare and emissions data at the farm level in the near-future. Affordable, fit-for-purpose tools can help you meet these requirements.
What does success look like?
Adopt fit-for-purpose tools, such as smart ear tags, walk-over weighers, feed monitors, and livestock management platforms, that suit your operation’s size and type. These tools work together to help you make timely, data-driven decisions that improve productivity, animal welfare, and profitability.
Encompassed technologies
Wearable sensors
- Monitors cow health in real time and sends alerts for early intervention
- Saves time by reducing the need for manual health checks
CowManager
Wireless ear tag tracks cow activity, rumination, eating, and temperature in real time and delivers alerts and insights via a user-friendly dashboard or app.
Estimated Cost
N/A (quote required)
Afimilk
Cow collar and leg sensor provide 24/7 heat detection, behaviour and digestion monitoring for individual cows as well as groups.
Alerts triggered when data deviates from normal patterns (e.g. illness, calving, lameness)
Estimated Cost
N/A (quote required)
Ingestible sensors
- Tracks health and digestion parameters from inside the cow’s rumen
- Detects health issues early through AI-powered analysis
- Supports proactive herd health management
SmaXtec
Ingestible bolus sits in the cow’s rumen and continuously measures temperature, rumen pH, activity, and drinking.
AI-powered platform sends early alerts for illness and supports proactive treatment decisions.
Estimated Cost
N/A (quote required)
Gravity scales and RFID readers
- Records animal weight and ID with minimal handling
- Reduces labour by automating data capture in the field
- Integrates with livestock management systems for traceability
Gallagher
Offers a range of EID tag readers, handlers and drafters, weigh platforms, scales and data collectors.
Integrates well with most major Livestock Management Systems. Increasingly used for individual cattle and sheep management too.
Estimated Cost
• Collars ~AUD 380-400
• Base station ~AUD 7,500
Walk-over weighers
- Measures weight as animals move naturally over the platform
- Minimises handling stress and labour requirements
- Tracks growth trends for timely management decisions
Tru-Test Flexi Mobile 4000C
Designed to tow behind a vehicle, can be used in temporary or semi-permanent applications.
Can be set up in a ‘walk over weighing’ or ‘walk on 4 foot weighing’ configuration and sorts livestock based on weight criteria in real time.
Estimated Cost
~AUD 21,104 (fabricated unit)
In-paddock feed-weighers
- Weighs livestock in grazing areas without moving them to yards
- Provides continuous growth and feed intake data
- Supports early intervention by identifying performance changes
Optiweigh
Allows in-field weight monitoring and integrates with platforms like AgriWebb, Pairtree. Satellite comms included for subscription model.
Estimated Cost
N/A (quote required)
Mixed production management systems
- Combines livestock and cropping data in one platform
- Analyses trends and provides recommendations for productivity gains
- Reduces duplication and streamlines recordkeeping across enterprises
Black Box Co
Aggregates on-farm, feedlot, and processor data to generate performance and carcass insights using proprietary algorithms.
Visualises results in user-friendly dashboards to support genetics, management, and supply chain decisions.
Estimated Cost
$56 – $230 AUD / month (depending on tier)
Mobble
Individual animal and farm management for sheep/cattle; launched 2018; integrates with AgWorld.
Estimated Cost
~$30 AUD / month (billed annually) for “Small Producer” plan
AgriWebb
Farm-level livestock platform that enables data capture from crush-side, pasture, treatments, and performance.
Dashboard insights include weight gain, cost of production, drought planning, and traceability integration
Estimated Cost
~$300 AUD/year per organisation (base subscription) + add-ons
Livestock only management systems
- Stores and analyses animal data such as weight, treatments, and traits
- Improves health, welfare, and compliance through structured records
- Supports tailored management decisions for livestock enterprises
Masterbeef
Software collects carcass data for Wagyu genetic performance; used for pairing and forecasting.
Estimated Cost
N/A (quote required)
Elynx
StockMate app for full animal management; used by processors/feedlots.
Estimated Cost
N/A (quote required)
Sapien
KoolCollect tool collects individual cattle and sheep data in yards. Integrates with Gallagher and handheld devices.
Estimated Cost
~$400 AUD / year (baseline)