A tag attachable to an animal, the tag comprising: a battery connected to a radio transceiver that consumes power from the battery during transmissions and receptions of signals to and from one or more proximate tags attachable to one or more other animals to generate paired tag readings； and a controller configured to operate the radio transceiver for a predetermined duration and frequency of transmissions, and a predetermined duration and frequency of receptions； wherein the predetermined duration and frequency of transmissions and the predetermined duration and frequency of receptions are based on power consumptions of the radio transceiver during transmissions and receptions, and a targeted number of paired tag readings of the tag.
