October 10, 2024

Interpretive Summary: Technical note: assessing GPS sensor accuracy using real-time kinematic device for livestock tracking

Interpretive Summary: Technical note: assessing GPS sensor accuracy using real-time kinematic device for livestock tracking

By: Biquan Zhao, Rebecca L McDermott, Galen E Erickson, Yijie Xiong

GPS sensors play a pivotal role in modern livestock tracking, enabling producers and researchers to monitor grazing livestock, understand their behavior, and assess health indicators. Despite their widespread use, effectively interpreting the gathered data poses challenges due to positioning inaccuracies. This technical note delves into the methodology of assessing the positioning accuracy of 3 commercial GPS sensor types using a survey-grade real-time kinematics device. Results reveal meter-level precision with variations in accuracy among individual sensors and brands. The study emphasizes the critical need to evaluate GPS sensor positioning accuracy in livestock tracking, offering valuable insights for animal scientists, ecologists, and livestock producers for enhanced research and practices using GPS sensors.

Read the full article in the Journal of Animal Science.