Sheep Tracker and Activity Monitor
Monitor sheep behaviour
Dog attacks on sheep, commonly referred to as sheep worrying, are a serious and costly problem for farmers, particularly during lambing season and at night. Even well-behaved dogs on leads can cause panic in flocks, resulting in injuries and miscarriages.
BT-Brotech recognised a significant gap in the market for a real-time, automated system that could monitor sheep behaviour and alert farmers to possible attacks or disturbances. The challenge lay in creating a durable, low-power, sensor-based solution capable of detecting unusual activity and transmitting accurate alerts — even in remote rural areas with limited network connectivity.
Sheep tracking and activity monitoring device
BT-Brotech engaged with the WiSAR Lab to design, develop, and prototype a sheep tracking and activity monitoring device. The project focused on creating both the hardware and firmware required for a robust, field-ready prototype.
The resulting device integrates:
- Movement sensors and GPS tracking, to collect and transmit data via a rural-network-compatible communication module.
- Intelligent firmware algorithms, to identify unusual flock behaviour.
- A low-power design, using deep sleep mode to preserve battery life — extending operational time from several months up to five years depending on usage.
- Mobile app integration, providing real-time alerts and live location data to farmers.
Three prototype units were deployed during field trials, allowing BT-Brotech and WiSAR to collect real-world performance data, validate detection algorithms, and refine the system for practical farming conditions.
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Irish Company
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EDIH Project
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Field-tested prototype
“Before this project we had a clear idea of what we wanted to achieve but lacked the technical expertise to build a working prototype. WiSAR helped us bridge that gap, delivering a device we could test in the field and giving us the knowledge and data needed to take our idea to the next stage“.
Robert Beattie, Co-founder, BT-Brotech Ltd
BT-Brotech & WiSAR Technology Gateway partnership
The partnership between BT-Brotech and WiSAR Lab successfully delivered a fully functional, field-tested prototype with strong commercial potential.
Key outcomes included:
- Validation of detection algorithms using live field data.
- Confirmation of reliable communication and GPS tracking performance.
- Establishment of a solid technical foundation for future development and scale-up.
- Enhanced readiness for funding applications and regulatory engagement.
This collaboration turned BT-Brotech’s concept into a tangible, working product — addressing a long-standing agricultural problem and paving the way for broader adoption within the livestock monitoring sector.
The Sheep Tracker and Activity Monitor delivers significant social and economic benefits by reducing farmer stress, improving animal welfare, and preventing costly livestock losses. Its scalable design enables wider adoption across different livestock types and integration into smart farming systems, driving rural innovation and digital transformation in agriculture.