10 Jan 2024

With rustlers depriving farmers of their animals everyday, a young Motswana has developed a livestock tracking device to thwart them and to alert farmers of the condition of their animals.

The 35-year-old Letlhakane East residents digital defence against livestock thieves is likely to be popular due to the rampant theft of livestock across the country, especially along border villages. 

Mr Johnson Ramotswaiso said in an interview that the gadget he developed has special capabilities such as direct satellite GPS to monitor livestock movement and to check their temperature. 

The young innovator explained that he was inspired to develop the tracking device after seeing the pain and stress that his family went through after their cattle went missing at their farm.

He said he thought about how to help his family and he came up with the tracking belt that could be used to monitor cattle, sheep, goats and horses as well as inform farmers about the state of health of their animals. 

He explained that the device combined the electronic animal collar and the application, and that it was strapped on animals to monitor their movement. 

He added that if any abnormal movement was detected or the animal went beyond their normal grazing area the system alerted the farmer and workers via a message on their mobile phone. 

He noted that the device tracked animals in real-time and sent alert messages to the animal’s location, adding that it helped to prevent theft or death to animals.

Mr Ramotswaiso also noted that a normal animals temperature ranged below 37.5 degrees and that if it went above 38 degrees the animal was sick, and that a notification message would be sent to the owner or farmer. 

He said the device used batteries that could last over a year and was waterproof. 

“I believe my device can have a wider application and help the whole nation in fighting stock theft in our country,” said Mr Ramotswaiso

He said both large and small-scale farmers could use the device since all that was needed was a mobile phone, the tags and the app. Ends