In a significant step towards strengthening technology-driven yak husbandry in the Indian Himalayan region, a team of scientists from the National Research Centre on Yak (NRCY) in West Kameng district and the Assam Don Bosco University, Guwahati have developed an Internet of Things (IoT)-based smart system for yak health monitoring, stress prediction, and geo-fencing. The innovative technology is designed to address the major challenges in yak management in remote, high-altitude regions, where continuous physical monitoring of animals is often difficult. The system is also expected to help address issues related to livestock movement near international border areas.
Congratulating the team of inventors, NRCY Director Dr Mihir Sarkar said, “Yaks are a vital livelihood resource for communities living in the high-altitude Himalayan region. However, yak farmers often face challenges in tracking animal movement, detecting health problems at an early stage, and managing herds spread across vast grazing landscapes. The newly developed technology can assist farmers by providing timely information on animal health, stress levels, and movement patterns, enabling better decision-making in day-to-day herd management and ensuring timely veterinary intervention whenever required.” Dr Sarkar emphasised that developing field-oriented, need-based technology is essential for supporting yak-rearing communities and strengthening scientific interventions in the Indian Himalayan region, despite the unique challenges associated with the region.
The system is expected to be particularly beneficial for yak farmers practicing traditional free-ranging grazing system, where animals often roam in distant and difficult-to-access locations. By enabling real-time health monitoring and geo-fencing, the technology can help reduce the risk of animals straying away, facilitate early detection of stress or illness, and minimise the need for frequent manual tracking under harsh climatic conditions. This will not only save farmers time and effort but also improve animal safety, productivity and welfare.
The technology was developed by a multidisciplinary team comprising Dr Mokhtar Hussain, senior scientist (AR&G); Dr Vijay Paul, principal scientist (VPY); Dr Dinamani Medhi, principal scientist (AN); and Dr Mihir Sarkar. The team also included Assam Don Bosco University Assistant Professors Dr Rupesh Mandal, Dr Nupur Choudhury, Dr Gitu Das, and Dr Jyoti Kumar Barman. The NRCY acknowledged the valuable collaborative contribution of the Assam Don Bosco University, particularly in the areas of artificial intelligence, IoT, embedded systems and technology development.
The successful development of this smart yak health monitoring and geo-fencing system marks an important milestone in advancing precision livestock technologies, and demonstrates the commitment of the NRCY to promoting innovation, precision livestock management, and sustainable yak husbandry in the Indian Himalayan region.
