Farmers are to be able to closely monitor the health of their cows using mobile technology.
Using a special collar, farmers can keep up to date with the health of their livestock via mobile phone.
If a cow is in heat, going into labour or is in distress, for example, the collar sends a text message using similar technology to the Nintendo Wii console.
The Silent Herdsman system is a collaboration between University of Strathclyde "spin-out firm" Embedded Technology Solutions, supermarket retailer Morrisons, the Scottish Agricultural College, National Milk Records, livestock nutrition company Harbro and farm animal research firm Well Cow.
The Technology Strategy Board is financially backing the research, which could make the product affordable for farmers.
One of the collar's key features is the ability to sense the position of a cow's head. A warning would be sent to farmers should the cow's hind legs lower: a likely sign of trouble.
Avoiding unnecessary deaths of livestock is said to be vital to maintain sustainable farms, not just in Britain but around the world.
Professor Jim McDonald, principal of the University of Strathclyde, said: "It is essential that technology innovation, positive social impact and economic development go hand in hand. This exciting project will contribute to all of these themes.
"I am delighted to see Embedded Technology Solutions Ltd progress so well and continue Strathclyde's extensive record of translating ground-breaking research into high-value, high-quality products."
David Evans, Morrisons head of agriculture, said: "The future of farming is extremely important to us as a business. As is animal welfare. This technology can help secure it by allowing farmers to monitor the health conditions of individual cows far more easily and accurately."
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