Abstract: An ingestible bolus may be disposed within the stomach of an animal. The bolus may comprise one or more sensors to monitor one or more internal and/or external animal characteristics. The bolus may comprise a data transmitter in wireless communication with a base station. The base station may receive messages from the bolus comprising one or more measured animal characteristics. The base station may comprise a process to monitor the animal and/or be in communication with a process to monitor the animal. The process may build an animal profile based upon the observed characteristics of the animal, the characteristics of other animals in a group associated with the animal, and/or characteristics associated with the breed and/or sex of the animal. Based on this profile, the process may detect a change in a health condition of the animal.

Abstract: An ingestible bolus configured to be maintained in a stomach of an animal may be formed from a substantially cylindrical enclosure shell. Ballast weight and a power source may be disposed therein. The ballast weight may be configured to cause the bolus to be maintained in contact with a stomach wall of the animal when disposed therein. The bolus may comprise sensors to measure one or more animal characteristics, a transmitter in wireless communication with an animal monitoring system, a memory unit to store measured characteristics and bolus configuration data, and processor to control the operation of the bolus components. The transmitter may be in communication with an antenna, which may be formed as a trace on an antenna circuit substrate, such as a printed circuit board (PCB). The antenna may be separated from the sensors, processors, and transmitter to prevent and/or reduce interference and/or coupling therebetween.