Prairie Systems is a web-based data management provider, primarily servicing the swine industry. Their products include the Feed Allocation System, which helps producers manage feed inputs, Smart Order, which helps feed manufacturers and distributors manage feed order fulfillment, and LeeO, which tracks individual animals through RFID technologies. Prairie Systems’ line of products is implementing precision agriculture practices into the livestock industry.

To help producers better manage their operations, Prairie Systems is seeking to gain a better understanding of the daily activity of market hogs. To do this, we were tasked with designing and fabricating a container to collect activity data using an existing sensor package. Ideally, the container must maximize stability of the system while testing in the field and minimize the amount of interference when collecting data. The system will automatically report the data as an Internet of Things (IoT) device. The data can then be analyzed for significance in daily animal activity and feed consumption. Unlike some current systems on the market, this device will not utilize cameras to track activity which lack portability and require consistent cleaning.