CERES GEN6 Satellite Smart Ear Tag for Livestock

CERES TAG is an Australian agtech company, described on its press pages as a Queensland invention, founded by producers David and Melita to give livestock owners data on where their animals are, how many there are and what condition they are in. It reports use in more than 30 countries by farmers, conservationists and research organisations.

CERES GEN6 is a solar-powered, tamper-resistant smart ear tag that sends data directly to low earth orbit satellites, so it needs no towers, base stations, mobile coverage or battery changes. On-tag analytics turn GPS location and movement into insights on grazing, resting, activity and pasture feed intake, and new reproduction algorithms detect estrus in beef cattle, send calving alerts and track bull behaviour. Data flows into partner livestock management platforms through an open integration model, supporting traceability, biosecurity, theft detection and sustainability reporting.

• Direct-to-satellite link: data sent via low earth orbit satellites without ground infrastructure.
• GPS tracking: accurate animal location with alerts for unusual or no movement.
• Behaviour analytics: grazing, resting and activity levels at individual and herd level.
• Reproduction algorithms: estrus detection, calving alerts and bull activity monitoring.
• Pasture feed intake: estimates of grazing intake for performance management.
• Open software integration: data delivered into partner livestock management platforms.

• Beef cattle companies tracking grazing herds in the Central Highlands without network infrastructure.
• Livestock insurers and lenders using animal-level data to verify herds.
• Breeding programmes detecting estrus and calving in extensively managed cattle.

• Works anywhere without infrastructure: direct-to-satellite connectivity with no towers or mobile coverage.
• Improves conception rates and calving intervals through estrus detection and calving alerts.
• Strengthens traceability, biosecurity and theft detection with continuous location records.
• No battery replacement or maintenance thanks to solar power, according to the company.

Beef and dairy producers increasingly need animal-level data for traceability, export documentation, insurance and sustainability reporting. In Vietnam, beef cattle farming is expanding in the Central Highlands and mountainous provinces where mobile coverage is limited, making satellite-connected tags relevant for grazing herds and disease traceability.

Founded by livestock producers David and Melita and described in its press archive as a Queensland invention launched globally in 2022. Recent partners include Acies Agricultural Risks, C-Lock Inc., the University of Wyoming and USDA APHIS. CERES GEN6 was recognised in the 2026 Australian Good Design Awards.