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Doekes HP, Petie R, de Jong R, Adriaens I, Wisselink HJ, Stockhofe-Zurwieden N. Added Value of Sensor-Based Behavioural Monitoring in an Infectious Disease Study with Sheep Infected with Toxoplasma gondii. Animals (Basel) 2024; 14:1908. [PMID: 38998020 PMCID: PMC11240357 DOI: 10.3390/ani14131908] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2024] [Revised: 06/21/2024] [Accepted: 06/25/2024] [Indexed: 07/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Sensor technologies are increasingly used to monitor laboratory animal behaviour. The aim of this study was to investigate the added value of using accelerometers and video to monitor the activity and drinking behaviour of three rams from 5 days before to 22 days after inoculation with Toxoplasma gondii. We computed the activity from accelerometer data as the vectorial dynamic body acceleration (VDBA). In addition, we assessed individual drinking behaviour from video, using frame differencing above the drinker to identify drinking bouts, and Aruco markers for individual identification. Four days after inoculation, rams developed fever and activity decreased. The daytime VDBA from days 4 to 10 was 60-80% of that before inoculation. Animal caretakers scored rams as lethargic on days 5 and 6 and, for one ram, also on the morning of day 7. Video analysis showed that each ram decreased its number of visits to the drinker, as well as its time spent at the drinker, by up to 50%. The fever and corresponding sickness behaviours lasted until day 10. Overall, while we recognize the limited conclusiveness due to the small number of animals, the sensor technologies provided continuous, individual, detailed, and objective data and offered additional insights as compared to routine observations. We recommend the wider implementation of such technologies in animal disease trials to refine experiments and guarantee the quality of experimental results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Harmen P. Doekes
- Animal Breeding and Genomics, Department of Animal Sciences, Wageningen University & Research, P.O. Box 338, 6700 AH Wageningen, The Netherlands
- Wageningen Bioveterinary Research, Wageningen University & Research, 8221 RA Lelystad, The Netherlands
| | - Ronald Petie
- Wageningen Bioveterinary Research, Wageningen University & Research, 8221 RA Lelystad, The Netherlands
| | - Rineke de Jong
- Wageningen Bioveterinary Research, Wageningen University & Research, 8221 RA Lelystad, The Netherlands
| | - Ines Adriaens
- Research Group BioVism, Department of Data Analysis and Mathematical Modelling, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
- Livestock Technology Group, Department of Biosystems, Division of Animal and Human Health Engineering, Kleinhoefstraat 4, 2440 Geel, Belgium
| | - Henk J. Wisselink
- Wageningen Bioveterinary Research, Wageningen University & Research, 8221 RA Lelystad, The Netherlands
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Perez Marquez HJ, Schaefer AL, Bench CJ. Use of fidget and drinking behaviour in combination with facial infrared thermography for diagnosis of bovine respiratory disease in a spontaneous model. Animal 2024; 18:101096. [PMID: 38377813 DOI: 10.1016/j.animal.2024.101096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2023] [Revised: 01/19/2024] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 02/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Bovine respiratory disease (BRD) is a highly prevalent multi pathogen infectious disease (70-80%) in newly received feedlot cattle, causing significant economic losses and reduced animal welfare. Current BRD diagnosis involves stressful and invasive methods that can increase the incidence and transmission of BRD. An alternative is the use of an automated infrared thermography (IR) platform that can monitor facial temperature and behaviour traits to diagnose BRD in a non-invasive manner. The objective of this study was to investigate the use of fidget and drinking behaviours in conjunction with facial temperature as method of BRD diagnosis in beef calves. Sixty-five weaned calves (N = 65) were monitored over a 21-d period after 6 h transportation to predispose calves to BRD infection. Data collected from an automated IR platform placed at a water station included the number of IR frames during drinking (Fidget), number of drinking visits (Drinking bouts), total drinking duration, average drinking duration, average cheek temperature (AVG temp), and maximum orbital temperature (Max temp). Fidget, drinking behaviours, and IR were compared to a clinical score assessment based on respiratory, digestive, and lethargy signs (visual observation) and haematology analysis using a receiver operating characteristics curve analysis to identify the accuracy of each metric and combinations of metrics for BRD diagnosis. The greater accuracies observed were Fidget, Youden's index (J): 0.25 J), Drinking bout (0.28 J), and Total drinking duration (0.22 J). The average IR temperature accuracy resulted in 0.88 J and Max temp 0.77 J. Thirty-five combinations of drinking behaviour and facial IR metrics were evaluated to identify BRD calves. Optimum accuracy (100%) was achieved when combining Fidget, Drinking bout, Average drinking duration, AVG temp, and Max temp 1.00 J. Similar evaluations were performed at 48 and 24 h before d 0 using the most accurate Fidget, Drinking behaviour, and IR combination, resulting in 0.44 J 48 h prior to d 0 and 0.45 J 24 h prior to d 0. Combining fidget and drinking behaviour metrics increased the sensitivity to detect the onset of BRD infection and the specificity to discriminate true positive BRD calves from true negative BRD calves.
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Affiliation(s)
- H J Perez Marquez
- University of Alberta, Department of Agricultural Food and Nutritional Science, Agriculture/Forestry, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2P5, Canada.
| | - A L Schaefer
- Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Lacombe Research Centre, 6000 C and E Trail, Lacombe, Alberta T4L 1W1, Canada
| | - C J Bench
- University of Alberta, Department of Agricultural Food and Nutritional Science, Agriculture/Forestry, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2P5, Canada
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Hu S, Reverter A, Arablouei R, Bishop-Hurley G, McNally J, Alvarenga F, Ingham A. Analyzing Cattle Activity Patterns with Ear Tag Accelerometer Data. Animals (Basel) 2024; 14:301. [PMID: 38254470 PMCID: PMC11154254 DOI: 10.3390/ani14020301] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2023] [Revised: 01/11/2024] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
In this study, we equip two breeds of cattle located in tropical and temperate climates with smart ear tags containing triaxial accelerometers to measure their activity levels across different time periods. We produce activity profiles when measured by each of four statistical features, the mean, median, standard deviation, and median absolute deviation of the Euclidean norm of either unfiltered or high-pass-filtered accelerometer readings over five-minute windows. We then aggregate the values from the 5 min windows into hourly or daily (24 h) totals to produce activity profiles for animals kept in each of the test environments. To gain a better understanding of the variation between the peak and nadir activity levels within a 24 h period, we divide each day into multiple equal-length intervals, which can range from 2 to 96 intervals. We then calculate a statistical measure, called daily differential activity (DDA), by computing the differences in feature values for each interval pair. Our findings demonstrate that patterns within the activity profile are more clearly visualised from readings that have been subject to high-pass filtering and that the median of the acceleration vector norm is the most reliable feature for characterising activity and calculating the DDA measure. The underlying causes for these differences remain elusive and is likely attributable to environmental factors, cattle breeds, or management practices. Activity profiles produced from the standard deviation (a feature routinely applied to the quantification of activity level) showed less uniformity between animals and larger variation in values overall. Assessing activity using ear tag accelerometers holds promise for monitoring animal health and welfare. However, optimal results may only be attainable when true diurnal patterns are detected and accounted for.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuwen Hu
- Agriculture and Food, CSIRO, Saint Lucia, QLD 4067, Australia; (A.R.); (G.B.-H.); (J.M.); (A.I.)
| | - Antonio Reverter
- Agriculture and Food, CSIRO, Saint Lucia, QLD 4067, Australia; (A.R.); (G.B.-H.); (J.M.); (A.I.)
| | | | - Greg Bishop-Hurley
- Agriculture and Food, CSIRO, Saint Lucia, QLD 4067, Australia; (A.R.); (G.B.-H.); (J.M.); (A.I.)
| | - Jody McNally
- Agriculture and Food, CSIRO, Saint Lucia, QLD 4067, Australia; (A.R.); (G.B.-H.); (J.M.); (A.I.)
| | - Flavio Alvarenga
- NSW Department of Primary Industries, Armidale, NSW 2350, Australia;
| | - Aaron Ingham
- Agriculture and Food, CSIRO, Saint Lucia, QLD 4067, Australia; (A.R.); (G.B.-H.); (J.M.); (A.I.)
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Mora M, Piles M, David I, Rosa GJM. Integrating computer vision algorithms and RFID system for identification and tracking of group-housed animals: an example with pigs. J Anim Sci 2024; 102:skae174. [PMID: 38908015 PMCID: PMC11245691 DOI: 10.1093/jas/skae174] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2024] [Accepted: 06/19/2024] [Indexed: 06/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Precision livestock farming aims to individually and automatically monitor animal activity to ensure their health, well-being, and productivity. Computer vision has emerged as a promising tool for this purpose. However, accurately tracking individuals using imaging remains challenging, especially in group housing where animals may have similar appearances. Close interaction or crowding among animals can lead to the loss or swapping of animal IDs, compromising tracking accuracy. To address this challenge, we implemented a framework combining a tracking-by-detection method with a radio frequency identification (RFID) system. We tested this approach using twelve pigs in a single pen as an illustrative example. Three of the pigs had distinctive natural coat markings, enabling their visual identification within the group. The remaining pigs either shared similar coat color patterns or were entirely white, making them visually indistinguishable from each other. We employed the latest version of the You Only Look Once (YOLOv8) and BoT-SORT algorithms for detection and tracking, respectively. YOLOv8 was fine-tuned with a dataset of 3,600 images to detect and classify different pig classes, achieving a mean average precision of all the classes of 99%. The fine-tuned YOLOv8 model and the tracker BoT-SORT were then applied to a 166.7-min video comprising 100,018 frames. Results showed that pigs with distinguishable coat color markings could be tracked 91% of the time on average. For pigs with similar coat color, the RFID system was used to identify individual animals when they entered the feeding station, and this RFID identification was linked to the image trajectory of each pig, both backward and forward. The two pigs with similar markings could be tracked for an average of 48.6 min, while the seven white pigs could be tracked for an average of 59.1 min. In all cases, the tracking time assigned to each pig matched the ground truth 90% of the time or more. Thus, our proposed framework enabled reliable tracking of group-housed pigs for extended periods, offering a promising alternative to the independent use of image or RFID approaches alone. This approach represents a significant step forward in combining multiple devices for animal identification, tracking, and traceability, particularly when homogeneous animals are kept in groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mónica Mora
- Institute of Agrifood Research and Technology (IRTA) – Animal Breeding and Genetics, Barcelona 08140, Spain
- Department of Animal and Dairy Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | - Miriam Piles
- Institute of Agrifood Research and Technology (IRTA) – Animal Breeding and Genetics, Barcelona 08140, Spain
| | - Ingrid David
- GenPhySE, Université de Toulouse, INRAE, ENVT, Castanet Tolosan 31326, France
| | - Guilherme J M Rosa
- Department of Animal and Dairy Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA
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Knoll M, Gygax L, Hillmann E. Sow serenity: automatic long-term measurement of lying behavior in crates and free-farrowing pens using 3D accelerometers. J Anim Sci 2024; 102:skae101. [PMID: 38581277 PMCID: PMC11044708 DOI: 10.1093/jas/skae101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2024] [Accepted: 04/05/2024] [Indexed: 04/08/2024] Open
Abstract
Accelerometers are useful in analyzing lying behavior in farm animals. The effect of the farrowing system on sow lying behavior has been studied around parturition, but not long-term. In a natural environment, sows increase activity 14 d post parturition, which we expected to be also evident in housed sows when they can move freely. The objective of this study was (1) to validate the methodology to automatically measure sow lying bouts and duration with accelerometers and (2) to apply it to crated and free-farrowing sows 24-h pre-parturition until weaning. We used videos with manual behavior coding as the gold standard for validation and calculated the agreement with an intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), which was 0.30 (95% CI: -0.10 to 0.64) for the number of lying bouts. When transitional sitting bouts were excluded from the video dataset, the ICC for lying bouts increased to 0.86 (95% CI: 0.40 to 0.95). For lying duration, the ICC was 0.93 (95% CI: 0.26 to 0.98). We evaluated the effects of housing, day relative to parturition, and time of day on lying using the accelerometer data and linear mixed models. In crated sows, the number of lying bouts increased toward parturition, peaking at about five bouts per 6 h, and decreased to almost zero bouts after parturition. Then, it increased again (P = 0.001). In free-farrowing sows, the number of lying bouts gradually decreased from a high level towards parturition and was lowest after parturition. It remained constant, as in the crated sows, until day 15, when the number of bouts increased to eight bouts on day 20 (P = 0.001). Sows in both systems were lying almost all of the time between 18:00 and 00:00 hours and on all days (P = 0.001). The crated sows showed a very similar pattern in the other three-quarters of the day with a reduced lying time before parturition, a peak after parturition, reduced lying time from days 5 to 20, and an increase again towards weaning (P = 0.001). Free-farrowing sows had a similar pattern to the crated sows from 00:00 to 06:00 hours, but without the reduction in lying time from days 5 to 20. They showed an increase in lying time toward parturition, which remained constant with a final decrease toward weaning, especially during the day (P = 0.001). This study proves the accuracy of accelerometer-based sow lying behavior classification and shows that free-farrowing systems benefit lactating sows around parturition but also towards weaning in the nest-leaving phase by facilitating activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maximilian Knoll
- Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Department of Life Sciences, Albrecht Daniel Thaer Institute of Agricultural and Horticultural Sciences, Animal Husbandry and Ethology, 10099 Berlin, Germany
| | - Lorenz Gygax
- Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Department of Life Sciences, Albrecht Daniel Thaer Institute of Agricultural and Horticultural Sciences, Animal Husbandry and Ethology, 10099 Berlin, Germany
| | - Edna Hillmann
- Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Department of Life Sciences, Albrecht Daniel Thaer Institute of Agricultural and Horticultural Sciences, Animal Husbandry and Ethology, 10099 Berlin, Germany
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6
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Yin P, Tong Q, Li BM, Zheng WC, Wang Y, Peng HQ, Xue XL, Wei SQ. Spatial distribution, movement, body damage, and feather condition of laying hens in a multi-tier system. Poult Sci 2024; 103:103202. [PMID: 37980743 PMCID: PMC10684808 DOI: 10.1016/j.psj.2023.103202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2023] [Revised: 10/10/2023] [Accepted: 10/12/2023] [Indexed: 11/21/2023] Open
Abstract
The welfare and health of laying hens in the multitier system raise concern in public. The flock distributions during feeding time at 51 and 89 wk were studied in a multitier system. Furthermore, the ultra-high frequency radio frequency identification (UHF RFID) equipment was used to identify the transition between tiers and time spent in each tier of 48 focal hens (12 hens from each tier-group of the multitier system) at 92 wk of age. The body weight, tibia size (length and width), body damage (comb and rear part), and feather condition (neck, breast, back, tail, cloaca, and wings) of focal hens from different tier-groups were further compared. The results showed that the spatial distribution in flocks changed from top to bottom with increasing age. The hens at 51 wk of age were mainly distributed in the 4th tier (19.6 ± 5.0% in 1st tier, 9.6 ± 1.1% in 2nd tier, 23.6 ± 2.9% in 3rd tier and 47.3 ± 2.6% in 4th tier), and hens at 89 wk of age were mainly distributed in the lower tiers (33.5 ± 1.5% in 1st tier, 31.9 ± 5.1% in 2nd tier, 15.7 ± 3.4% in 3rd tier and 16.6 ± 3.1% in 4th tier). The spatial distribution of hens at 89 wk of age was more even than that at 51 wk of age. At 92 wk of age, the proportion of time spent in original tier of 4 tier-groups was 91.0 ± 5.7%, 51.9 ± 5.7%, 59.0 ± 7.0% and 63.0 ± 6.7%, respectively. Focal hens preferred to stay in the original tier and spent significantly less time in other tiers (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in body weight, body damage score, tibia width and partial feather scores (neck, breast, tail, and cloaca) of focal hens among 4 tier-groups (P > 0.05). However, focal hens from 1st tier had worse feather scores on wings and back, and shorter tibia length compared to other tiers suggesting that there were more lower ranking birds that located in lower tier to avoid competition, but had equal access to resource, which is good for their welfare and health. In summary, the overcrowding situation was improved near the end of the laying cycle in the multitier system, thereby mitigating the potential negative effects to the lower ranking hens and maintain a satisfactory level of welfare and health for laying hens near the end of the laying cycle.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Yin
- Department of Agricultural Structure and Environmental Engineering, College of Water Resources and Civil Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Q Tong
- Department of Agricultural Structure and Environmental Engineering, College of Water Resources and Civil Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100083, China; Key Laboratory of Agricultural Engineering in Structure and Environment Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Beijing 100083, China; Beijing Engineering Research Center on Animal Healthy Environment, Beijing 100083, China.
| | - B M Li
- Department of Agricultural Structure and Environmental Engineering, College of Water Resources and Civil Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100083, China; Key Laboratory of Agricultural Engineering in Structure and Environment Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Beijing 100083, China; Beijing Engineering Research Center on Animal Healthy Environment, Beijing 100083, China
| | - W C Zheng
- Department of Agricultural Structure and Environmental Engineering, College of Water Resources and Civil Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100083, China; Key Laboratory of Agricultural Engineering in Structure and Environment Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Beijing 100083, China; Beijing Engineering Research Center on Animal Healthy Environment, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Y Wang
- Department of Agricultural Structure and Environmental Engineering, College of Water Resources and Civil Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100083, China; Key Laboratory of Agricultural Engineering in Structure and Environment Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Beijing 100083, China; Beijing Engineering Research Center on Animal Healthy Environment, Beijing 100083, China
| | - H Q Peng
- Department of Agricultural Structure and Environmental Engineering, College of Water Resources and Civil Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100083, China
| | - X L Xue
- Department of Agricultural Structure and Environmental Engineering, College of Water Resources and Civil Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100083, China
| | - S Q Wei
- Department of Agricultural Structure and Environmental Engineering, College of Water Resources and Civil Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100083, China
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van Erp-van der Kooij E, de Graaf LF, de Kruijff DA, Pellegrom D, de Rooij R, Welters NIT, van Poppel J. Using Sound Location to Monitor Farrowing in Sows. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:3538. [PMID: 38003155 PMCID: PMC10668711 DOI: 10.3390/ani13223538] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2023] [Revised: 11/11/2023] [Accepted: 11/14/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Precision Livestock Farming systems can help pig farmers prevent health and welfare issues around farrowing. Five sows were monitored in two field studies. A Sorama L642V sound camera, visualising sound sources as coloured spots using a 64-microphone array, and a Bascom XD10-4 security camera with a built-in microphone were used in a farrowing unit. Firstly, sound spots were compared with audible sounds, using the Observer XT (Noldus Information Technology), analysing video data at normal speed. This gave many false positives, including visible sound spots without audible sounds. In total, 23 of 50 piglet births were visible, but none were audible. The sow's behaviour changed when farrowing started. One piglet was silently crushed. Secondly, data were analysed at a 10-fold slower speed when comparing sound spots with audible sounds and sow behaviour. This improved results, but accuracy and specificity were still low. When combining audible sound with visible sow behaviour and comparing sound spots with combined sound and behaviour, the accuracy was 91.2%, the error was 8.8%, the sensitivity was 99.6%, and the specificity was 69.7%. We conclude that sound cameras are promising tools, detecting sound more accurately than the human ear. There is potential to use sound cameras to detect the onset of farrowing, but more research is needed to detect piglet births or crushing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elaine van Erp-van der Kooij
- Department of Animal Husbandry, HAS Green Academy, University of Applied Sciences, P.O. Box 90108, 5200 MA ‘s-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands (J.v.P.)
| | - Lois F. de Graaf
- Department of Animal Husbandry, HAS Green Academy, University of Applied Sciences, P.O. Box 90108, 5200 MA ‘s-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands (J.v.P.)
| | - Dennis A. de Kruijff
- Department of Animal Husbandry, HAS Green Academy, University of Applied Sciences, P.O. Box 90108, 5200 MA ‘s-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands (J.v.P.)
| | - Daphne Pellegrom
- Department of Animal Husbandry, HAS Green Academy, University of Applied Sciences, P.O. Box 90108, 5200 MA ‘s-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands (J.v.P.)
| | - Renilda de Rooij
- Department of Animal Husbandry, HAS Green Academy, University of Applied Sciences, P.O. Box 90108, 5200 MA ‘s-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands (J.v.P.)
| | - Nian I. T. Welters
- Department of Applied Biology, HAS Green Academy, University of Applied Sciences, P.O. Box 90108, 5200 MA ‘s-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands
| | - Jeroen van Poppel
- Department of Animal Husbandry, HAS Green Academy, University of Applied Sciences, P.O. Box 90108, 5200 MA ‘s-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands (J.v.P.)
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Nel CL, van der Werf JHJ, Rauw WM, Cloete SWP. Challenges and strategies for genetic selection of sheep better adapted to harsh environments. Anim Front 2023; 13:43-52. [PMID: 37841765 PMCID: PMC10575306 DOI: 10.1093/af/vfad055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/17/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Cornelius L Nel
- Directorate: Animal Sciences, Western Cape Department of Agriculture, Elsenburg 7607South Africa
| | | | - Wendy M Rauw
- Departamento de Mejora Genética Animal, INIA-CSIC, Madrid, Spain
| | - Schalk W P Cloete
- Department of Animal Science, University of Stellenbosch, Stellenbosch, South Africa
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9
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Adcock SJJ, Downey BC, Owens C, Tucker CB. Behavioral changes in the first 3 weeks after disbudding in dairy calves. J Dairy Sci 2023; 106:6365-6374. [PMID: 37500438 DOI: 10.3168/jds.2023-23237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2023] [Accepted: 03/27/2023] [Indexed: 07/29/2023]
Abstract
Hot-iron disbudding, the practice of cauterizing horn bud tissue to prevent horn growth in dairy calves, results in behavioral changes indicative of pain in the first few days after the procedure. However, few studies have quantified behavioral changes in the following weeks, while the burn wounds are still healing. Female Holstein calves were disbudded with a heated iron and pain relief (5.5 mL lidocaine cornual nerve block and 1 mg/kg oral meloxicam) at 4 to 10 d of age (n = 19) or not disbudded (n = 19). Calves wore ear tag accelerometers that reported the dominant behavior being performed at 1-min intervals from 3 to 21 d after disbudding. Compared with age-matched controls, disbudded calves tended to spend more time inactive throughout the observation period, ruminated less in the first 3 to 11 d after disbudding, and sucked more from a milk bottle beginning 5 d after disbudding until the end of the 21-d observation period. In addition to the accelerometer data, live observations of sleeping (using a behavioral proxy), lying, and ruminating were collected using instantaneous sampling at 5-min intervals for 24-h periods 3, 10, and 17 d after disbudding. Disbudded calves slept with their head down more on all live observation days and spent more time lying on the 17th d after disbudding, but ruminating did not differ compared with controls, in contrast to the accelerometer results. More time spent inactive, sleeping, and lying, and less time spent ruminating (as indicated by the accelerometer) can be interpreted as attempts to reduce painful stimulation of the disbudding wounds and allocate energy to healing. It is unclear whether the greater amount of sucking in the disbudded calves is nutritive (milk present) or non-nutritive (milk absent), as the algorithm did not distinguish the type of sucking, and further research is needed to explore the factors underlying this effect. We conclude that disbudding alters daily behavior patterns for at least 3 wk, far beyond the duration of recommended pain medication, raising additional welfare concerns about the procedure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah J J Adcock
- Department of Animal and Dairy Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706; Center for Animal Welfare, Department of Animal Science, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA 95616
| | - Blair C Downey
- Center for Animal Welfare, Department of Animal Science, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA 95616
| | - Chela Owens
- Center for Animal Welfare, Department of Animal Science, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA 95616
| | - Cassandra B Tucker
- Center for Animal Welfare, Department of Animal Science, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA 95616.
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Morelle K, Barasona JA, Bosch J, Heine G, Daim A, Arnold J, Bauch T, Kosowska A, Cadenas-Fernández E, Aviles MM, Zuñiga D, Wikelski M, Vizcaino-Sanchez JM, Safi K. Accelerometer-based detection of African swine fever infection in wild boar. Proc Biol Sci 2023; 290:20231396. [PMID: 37644835 PMCID: PMC10465979 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2023.1396] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2023] [Accepted: 07/31/2023] [Indexed: 08/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Infectious wildlife diseases that circulate at the interface with domestic animals pose significant threats worldwide and require early detection and warning. Although animal tracking technologies are used to discern behavioural changes, they are rarely used to monitor wildlife diseases. Common disease-induced behavioural changes include reduced activity and lethargy ('sickness behaviour'). Here, we investigated whether accelerometer sensors could detect the onset of African swine fever (ASF), a viral infection that induces high mortality in suids for which no vaccine is currently available. Taking advantage of an experiment designed to test an oral ASF vaccine, we equipped 12 wild boars with an accelerometer tag and quantified how ASF affects their activity pattern and behavioural fingerprint, using overall dynamic body acceleration. Wild boars showed a daily reduction in activity of 10-20% from the healthy to the viremia phase. Using change point statistics and comparing healthy individuals living in semi-free and free-ranging conditions, we show how the onset of disease-induced sickness can be detected and how such early detection could work in natural settings. Timely detection of infection in animals is crucial for disease surveillance and control, and accelerometer technology on sentinel animals provides a viable complementary tool to existing disease management approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin Morelle
- Department of Migration, Max Planck Institute of Animal Behaviour, Radolfzell, Germany
- Department of Game Management and Wildlife Biology, Czech University of Life Science, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Jose Angel Barasona
- VISAVET Health Surveillance Center, Department of Animal Health, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Jaime Bosch
- VISAVET Health Surveillance Center, Department of Animal Health, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Georg Heine
- Department of Migration, Max Planck Institute of Animal Behaviour, Radolfzell, Germany
| | - Andreas Daim
- Department of Integrative Biology and Biodiversity Research, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Institute of Wildlife Biology and Game Management (BOKU), Vienna, Austria
| | - Janosch Arnold
- Agricultural Centre Baden-Württemberg, Wildlife Research Unit, Aulendorf, Germany
| | - Toralf Bauch
- Agricultural Centre Baden-Württemberg, Wildlife Research Unit, Aulendorf, Germany
| | - Aleksandra Kosowska
- VISAVET Health Surveillance Center, Department of Animal Health, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Estefanía Cadenas-Fernández
- VISAVET Health Surveillance Center, Department of Animal Health, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Daniel Zuñiga
- Department of Migration, Max Planck Institute of Animal Behaviour, Radolfzell, Germany
| | - Martin Wikelski
- Department of Migration, Max Planck Institute of Animal Behaviour, Radolfzell, Germany
- Centre for the Advanced Study of Collective Behaviour, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany
| | - Jose Manuel Vizcaino-Sanchez
- VISAVET Health Surveillance Center, Department of Animal Health, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Kamran Safi
- Department of Migration, Max Planck Institute of Animal Behaviour, Radolfzell, Germany
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11
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Weary DM, von Keyserlingk MAG. Review: Using animal welfare to frame discussion on dairy farm technology. Animal 2023; 17 Suppl 4:100836. [PMID: 37793707 DOI: 10.1016/j.animal.2023.100836] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2022] [Revised: 12/21/2022] [Accepted: 12/30/2022] [Indexed: 10/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The use of technology on dairy farms has increased dramatically over the last half-century. The ways that scientists describe the potential benefits and risk of technology are likely to affect if it is accepted for use on farms. The aim of our study was to identify papers that describe a linkage between technologies used on dairy farms and the welfare of dairy cattle. Our systematic review identified 380 papers, of which 28 met our inclusion criteria and were used to describe the technologies examined, the welfare-relevant measures used, and the ways in which authors framed welfare benefits and risks associated with the technologies. The large majority (27 of 28 papers) used positive frames, considering how the technology could improve welfare. Some authors carefully articulated the logic linking the specific measures to specific welfare-related outcomes (such as the use of accelerometer data to draw inferences about changes in lying times), but others made more general inferences (about health and welfare) that were not (and perhaps could not) be assessed. We conclude that much of the framing focused on animal welfare is biased toward welfare benefits and that future work should strive to address both potential benefits and harms; more balanced coverage may better inform solutions to the problems encountered by the people and animals affected by the technology. Welfare is a complex and multifaced concept, and it is unlikely that any one technology (or perhaps even a combination of technologies) can adequately capture this complexity. Thus, we encourage authors to restrict their claims to specific, welfare-relevant measures that can be assessed independently and thus validated. More general claims about welfare should be treated with skepticism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel M Weary
- Animal Welfare Program, Faculty of Land and Food Systems, The University of British Columbia, 2357 Main Mall, Vancouver, B.C V6T 1Z4, Canada.
| | - Marina A G von Keyserlingk
- Animal Welfare Program, Faculty of Land and Food Systems, The University of British Columbia, 2357 Main Mall, Vancouver, B.C V6T 1Z4, Canada
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12
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Lovarelli D, Leso L, Bonfanti M, Porto SMC, Barbari M, Guarino M. Climate change and socio-economic assessment of PLF in dairy farms: Three case studies. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 882:163639. [PMID: 37098394 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.163639] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2023] [Revised: 04/17/2023] [Accepted: 04/17/2023] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Precision Livestock Farming (PLF) techniques include sensors and tools to install on livestock farms and/or animals to monitor them and support the decision making process of farmers, finally early detecting alerting conditions and improving the livestock efficiency. Direct consequences of this monitoring include enhanced animal welfare, health and productivity, improved farmer lifestyle, knowledge, and traceability of livestock products. The indirect consequences, instead, include improved Carbon Footprint and socio-economic indicators of livestock products. In this context, the aim of this paper is to develop an indicator applicable to dairy cattle farming that takes into account concurrently these indirect consequences. The indicator was developed combining the three sustainability pillars (with specific criteria): environmental (carbon footprint), social (5 freedoms of animal welfare and antimicrobial use) and economic (cost of technology and manpower use). The indicator was then tested on 3 dairy cattle farms located in Italy, where a baseline traditional scenario (BS) was compared with an alternative scenario (AS) where PLF techniques and improved management solutions were adopted. The results highlighted that the carbon footprint reduced in all AS by 6-9 %, and the socio-economic indicators entailed improvements in animals and workers welfare with some differences based on the tested technique. Investing in PLF techniques determines positive effects on all/almost all the criteria adopted for the sustainability indicator, with case-specific aspects to consider. Being a user-friendly tool that supports the testing of different scenarios, this indicator could be used by stakeholders (policy makers and farmers in particular) to identify the best direction towards investments and incentive policies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Lovarelli
- Department of Environmental Science and Policy, via Celoria 2, 20133, Università degli Studi di Milano, Italy.
| | - Lorenzo Leso
- Department of Agricultural, Food, Environmental and Forestry Sciences and Technologies, Via San Bonaventura 13, 50145, Università degli Studi di Firenze, Italy
| | - Marco Bonfanti
- Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment, via Santa Sofia 100, 95123, Università degli Studi di Catania, Italy
| | - Simona Maria Carmela Porto
- Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment, via Santa Sofia 100, 95123, Università degli Studi di Catania, Italy
| | - Matteo Barbari
- Department of Agricultural, Food, Environmental and Forestry Sciences and Technologies, Via San Bonaventura 13, 50145, Università degli Studi di Firenze, Italy
| | - Marcella Guarino
- Department of Environmental Science and Policy, via Celoria 2, 20133, Università degli Studi di Milano, Italy
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13
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Schork IG, Manzo IA, Oliveira MRBD, Costa FV, Young RJ, De Azevedo CS. Testing the Accuracy of Wearable Technology to Assess Sleep Behaviour in Domestic Dogs: A Prospective Tool for Animal Welfare Assessment in Kennels. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:ani13091467. [PMID: 37174504 PMCID: PMC10177158 DOI: 10.3390/ani13091467] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2023] [Revised: 04/07/2023] [Accepted: 04/24/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Sleep is a physiological process that has been shown to impact both physical and psychological heath of individuals when compromised; hence, it has the potential to be used as an indicator of animal welfare. Nonetheless, evaluating sleep in non-human species normally involves manipulation of the subjects (i.e., placement of electrodes on the cranium), and most studies are conducted in a laboratory setting, which limits the generalisability of information obtained, and the species investigated. In this study, we evaluated an alternative method of assessing sleep behaviour in domestic dogs, using a wearable sensor, and compared the measurements obtained to behavioural observations to evaluate accuracy. Differences between methods ranged from 0.13% to 59.3% for diurnal observations and 0.1% to 95.9% for nocturnal observations for point-by-point observations. Comparisons between methods showed significant differences in certain behaviours, such as inactivity and activity for diurnal recordings. However, total activity and total sleep recorded did not differ statistically between methods. Overall, the wearable technology tested was found to be a useful, and a less-time consuming, tool in comparison to direct behavioural observations for the evaluation of behaviours and their indication of wellbeing in dogs. The agreement between the wearable technology and directly observed data ranged from 75% to 99% for recorded behaviours, and these results are similar to previous findings in the literature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivana Gabriela Schork
- School of Sciences, Engineering & Environment, Peel Building, University of Salford, Manchester M5 4WT, UK
| | - Isabele Aparecida Manzo
- Departamento de Evolução, Biodiversidade e Meio Ambiente, Instituto de Ciências Exatas e Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, Campus Morro do Cruzeiro, s/n, Bauxita, Ouro Preto 35400-000, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Marcos Roberto Beiral de Oliveira
- Departamento de Evolução, Biodiversidade e Meio Ambiente, Instituto de Ciências Exatas e Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, Campus Morro do Cruzeiro, s/n, Bauxita, Ouro Preto 35400-000, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Fernanda Vieira Costa
- Departamento de Ecologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Bloco E, s/n, Universidade de Brasília, Campus Darcy Ribeiro, Asa Norte, Brasília 70910-900, Distrito Federal, Brazil
| | - Robert John Young
- School of Sciences, Engineering & Environment, Peel Building, University of Salford, Manchester M5 4WT, UK
| | - Cristiano Schetini De Azevedo
- Departamento de Evolução, Biodiversidade e Meio Ambiente, Instituto de Ciências Exatas e Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, Campus Morro do Cruzeiro, s/n, Bauxita, Ouro Preto 35400-000, Minas Gerais, Brazil
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14
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Pospischil C, Palluch A, Iwersen M, Drillich M. [Digitalisation in cattle practice - results of an online-survey in Austria]. Tierarztl Prax Ausg G Grosstiere Nutztiere 2023; 51:70-76. [PMID: 37230141 DOI: 10.1055/a-2050-4123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The use of digital technologies is increasing in modern livestock farming and veterinary practice. The aim of this online survey among Austrian cattle practitioners was to increase knowledge concerning the acceptance and use of digital (sensor) technologies. MATERIAL AND METHODS The link to the survey was sent by the Austrian animal health services (TGD) via email to the registered veterinarians. A total of 115 veterinarians participated in the survey. RESULTS Most of the participants were convinced that digitalisation associated with improvements in their profession in terms of economy, time-savings, collaboration with colleagues and working efficiency. The agreement ranged between 60% and 79%. On the other hand, concerns regarding data security (41%) were also raised. When asked whether they would recommend sensor systems to farmers, approximately 45% of the participants answered yes, 36% declined, 19% were undecided. From a list of specified sensors and technologies, monitoring by cameras (68%), automatic concentrate feeding systems (63%) and activity sensors (61%) were considered as beneficial for animal health. Concerning an assessment of the animals' health status the majority of respondents (58%) would trust conventional methods more than sensor systems. Data provided by farmers is mainly used to improve the understanding of patients' disease progression (67%) as well as to comply with documentation requirements (28%). In addition, we asked whether the participants could imagine running a telemedicine practice. On a scale ranging from 1 to 100, initial agreement amounted to a median of 20 which then decreased to a median of 4 in the repeated question at the end of the questionnaire. CONCLUSIONS The veterinarians saw advantages in using digital technologies both in their daily work and to improve animal health management. In some areas, however, clear reservations were evident . A telemedical offer does not seem to be relevant for the majority of the participants in the context of the description provided. CLINICAL RELEVANCE The results are intended to help identify areas in which more information is needed for veterinarians and to capture a picture of opinions that could be relevant for the changing collaboration between farmers and veterinarians.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Pospischil
- Universitätsklinik für Wiederkäuer, Abteilung Bestandsbetreuung, Veterinärmedizinische Universität Wien, Österreich
| | - Andreas Palluch
- Universitätsklinik für Wiederkäuer, Abteilung Bestandsbetreuung, Veterinärmedizinische Universität Wien, Österreich
| | - Michael Iwersen
- Universitätsklinik für Wiederkäuer, Abteilung Bestandsbetreuung, Veterinärmedizinische Universität Wien, Österreich
| | - Marc Drillich
- Universitätsklinik für Wiederkäuer, Abteilung Bestandsbetreuung, Veterinärmedizinische Universität Wien, Österreich
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15
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Silva FG, Conceição C, Pereira AMF, Cerqueira JL, Silva SR. Literature Review on Technological Applications to Monitor and Evaluate Calves' Health and Welfare. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:ani13071148. [PMID: 37048404 PMCID: PMC10093142 DOI: 10.3390/ani13071148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2022] [Revised: 03/08/2023] [Accepted: 03/16/2023] [Indexed: 04/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Precision livestock farming (PLF) research is rapidly increasing and has improved farmers' quality of life, animal welfare, and production efficiency. PLF research in dairy calves is still relatively recent but has grown in the last few years. Automatic milk feeding systems (AMFS) and 3D accelerometers have been the most extensively used technologies in dairy calves. However, other technologies have been emerging in dairy calves' research, such as infrared thermography (IRT), 3D cameras, ruminal bolus, and sound analysis systems, which have not been properly validated and reviewed in the scientific literature. Thus, with this review, we aimed to analyse the state-of-the-art of technological applications in calves, focusing on dairy calves. Most of the research is focused on technology to detect and predict calves' health problems and monitor pain indicators. Feeding and lying behaviours have sometimes been associated with health and welfare levels. However, a consensus opinion is still unclear since other factors, such as milk allowance, can affect these behaviours differently. Research that employed a multi-technology approach showed better results than research focusing on only a single technique. Integrating and automating different technologies with machine learning algorithms can offer more scientific knowledge and potentially help the farmers improve calves' health, performance, and welfare, if commercial applications are available, which, from the authors' knowledge, are not at the moment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Flávio G Silva
- Veterinary and Animal Research Centre (CECAV), Associate Laboratory of Animal and Veterinary Science (AL4AnimalS), University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, Quinta de Prados, 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal
- Mediterranean Institute for Agriculture, Environment and Development (MED), Universidade de Évora Pólo da Mitra, Apartado, 94, 7006-554 Évora, Portugal
| | - Cristina Conceição
- Mediterranean Institute for Agriculture, Environment and Development (MED), Universidade de Évora Pólo da Mitra, Apartado, 94, 7006-554 Évora, Portugal
| | - Alfredo M F Pereira
- Mediterranean Institute for Agriculture, Environment and Development (MED), Universidade de Évora Pólo da Mitra, Apartado, 94, 7006-554 Évora, Portugal
| | - Joaquim L Cerqueira
- Veterinary and Animal Research Centre (CECAV), Associate Laboratory of Animal and Veterinary Science (AL4AnimalS), Escola Superior Agrária do Instituto Politécnico de Viana do Castelo, Rua D. Mendo Afonso, 147, 4990-706 Ponte de Lima, Portugal
| | - Severiano R Silva
- Veterinary and Animal Research Centre (CECAV), Associate Laboratory of Animal and Veterinary Science (AL4AnimalS), University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, Quinta de Prados, 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal
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16
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Gregersen T, Wild TA, Havmøller LW, Møller PR, Lenau TA, Wikelski M, Havmøller RW. A novel kinetic energy harvesting system for lifetime deployments of wildlife trackers. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0285930. [PMID: 37196042 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0285930] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2023] [Accepted: 05/05/2023] [Indexed: 05/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Wildlife tracking devices are key in obtaining detailed insights on movement, animal migration, natal dispersal, home-ranges, resource use and group dynamics of free-roaming animals. Despite a wide use of such devices, tracking for entire lifetimes is still a considerable challenge for most animals, mainly due to technological limitations. Deploying battery powered wildlife tags on smaller animals is limited by the mass of the devices. Micro-sized devices with solar panels sometimes solve this challenge, however, nocturnal species or animals living under low light conditions render solar cells all but useless. For larger animals, where battery weight can be higher, battery longevity becomes the main challenge. Several studies have proposed solutions to these limitations, including harvesting thermal and kinetic energy on animals. However, these concepts are limited by size and weight. In this study, we used a small, lightweight kinetic energy harvesting unit as the power source for a custom wildlife tracking device to investigate its suitability for lifetime animal tracking. We integrated a Kinetron MSG32 microgenerator and a state-of-the-art lithium-ion capacitor (LIC) into a custom GPS-enabled tracking device that is capable of remotely transmitting data via the Sigfox 'Internet of Things' network. Prototypes were tested on domestic dog (n = 4), wild-roaming Exmoor pony (n = 1) and wisent (n = 1). One of the domestic dogs generated up to 10.04 joules of energy in a day, while the Exmoor pony and wisent generated on average 0.69 joules and 2.38 joules per day, respectively. Our results show a significant difference in energy generation between animal species and mounting method, but also highlight the potential for this technology to be a meaningful advancement in ecological research requiring lifetime tracking of animals. The design of the Kinefox is provided open source.
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Affiliation(s)
- Troels Gregersen
- Section for Zoology, Natural History Museum of Denmark, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Migration, Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior, Radolfzell, Germany
- Section for Engineering Design and Product Development, Department of Civil and Mechanical Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Timm A Wild
- Department of Migration, Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior, Radolfzell, Germany
- Product Development Group Zurich (pd|z), ETH Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
- Centre for the Advanced Study of Collective Behaviour, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany
| | - Linnea Worsøe Havmøller
- Section for Zoology, Natural History Museum of Denmark, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Peter Rask Møller
- Section for Zoology, Natural History Museum of Denmark, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Torben Anker Lenau
- Section for Engineering Design and Product Development, Department of Civil and Mechanical Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Martin Wikelski
- Department of Migration, Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior, Radolfzell, Germany
- Centre for the Advanced Study of Collective Behaviour, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany
- Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany
| | - Rasmus Worsøe Havmøller
- Section for Zoology, Natural History Museum of Denmark, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Migration, Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior, Radolfzell, Germany
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17
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Abarnou J, Durand M, Dourmad JY, Gaillard C. Effects of thermal conditions on gestating sows' behaviors and energy requirements. J Anim Sci 2022; 101:6956982. [PMID: 36548114 PMCID: PMC9890445 DOI: 10.1093/jas/skac413] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2022] [Accepted: 12/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Room temperature and individual behavior may influence the energy requirements of gestating sows. These factors are not yet integrated on a daily and individual basis in the calculation of these requirements. The objective of this study was to quantify the effect of temperatures on the sows' behaviors, especially on the level of physical activity, and on the energy requirements of gestating sows. Over four consecutive weeks, the temperature of two gestation rooms was maintained at medium temperatures (16.7 °C and 18.5 °C, respectively, for room 1 and room 2) for the first and third week, at low temperatures (14.4 °C and 15.3 °C) for the second week, and at high temperatures (31.6 °C and 31.9 °C) for the fourth week. Individual behavior was manually recorded based on videos and the data used to estimate the physical activity and social interactions of 37 gestating sows separated into two groups. The videos were analyzed over two periods of 5 h ("Feeding period" from 2300 to 0400 hours, "Resting period" from 1330 to 1830 hours). The energy requirements were calculated by the InraPorc model, modified for gestating sows, on the basis of a thermo-neutral situation and an average activity of 4 h standing per day for all the sows. The sows of one group were less active in high than low temperatures (83 vs. 103 min standing or walking over 5 h, P < 0.001). Isolation for high temperatures or huddling for low temperatures could be observed when sows were lying down. The sows spent more time lying laterally with high temperatures than low temperatures (66% vs. 52% of time spent lying, respectively, P < 0.001). Both groups reacted differently to high temperatures, in one the sows changed their activity (lying more) whereas in the other they drank more water compared to medium temperatures (11 vs. 8.5 L/d, P = 0.01). In one group, with high temperatures the sows were fed above their requirements (they should have received 110 g of feed per day per sow less, P < 0.001) and with low temperatures the same group should have received 50 g/d per sow more to fulfill their requirements. For the second group of sows, the temperatures did not significantly affect the feed requirements. In conclusion, daily ambient temperature and individual physical activity seem to be relevant information to add in nutritional models to improve precision feeding.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Maëva Durand
- Institut Agro, PEGASE, INRAE, Saint Gilles, France
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18
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Weimar KR, Pichlbauer B, Guse C, Schramel JP, Peham C, Drillich M, Iwersen M. Evaluation of an Accelerometer-Based Device for Testing the Softness of Bedding Materials Used for Livestock. SENSORS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 22:8912. [PMID: 36433509 PMCID: PMC9696344 DOI: 10.3390/s22228912] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2022] [Revised: 11/07/2022] [Accepted: 11/15/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Lying is a high priority behavior for dairy cows. As the quality of cubicles can influence their lying time, the interest in finding objective methods to assess the quality of floors has increased substantially over recent decades. This study aimed to evaluate a technical device for measuring elastic properties of floors for the application to bedding materials for cows. Ten different floor types were used: horse manure, recycled manure solids, bark mulch, sand, sawdust, and three different rubber mats. Horse manure and bark mulch were additionally tested with chopped straw as a top layer. Two devices of the same kind and two examiners were available for performing comparative measurements. Regression analyses and an ANOVA were conducted to compare the devices, examiners, and different surfaces. Most of the floors differed significantly from each other. Sawdust was the softest material, followed by sand and recycled manure solids. The agreement between the devices (Lin’s concordance correlation coefficient (CCC) > 0.99, Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient (rS) = 0.99) and examiners (CCC = 0.99, rS = 0.99) was almost perfect. These findings indicate that this device can be used as a new method for assessing the softness of bedding materials for dairy cows objectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karina Regina Weimar
- Clinical Unit for Herd Health Management in Ruminants, University Clinic for Ruminants, Department for Farm Animals and Veterinary Public Health, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, 1210 Vienna, Austria
| | - Barbara Pichlbauer
- Clinical Unit for Herd Health Management in Ruminants, University Clinic for Ruminants, Department for Farm Animals and Veterinary Public Health, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, 1210 Vienna, Austria
| | - Christian Guse
- Clinical Unit for Herd Health Management in Ruminants, University Clinic for Ruminants, Department for Farm Animals and Veterinary Public Health, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, 1210 Vienna, Austria
| | - Johannes Peter Schramel
- Movement Science Group, University Equine Hospital, Department for Small Animals and Horses, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, 1210 Vienna, Austria
| | - Christian Peham
- Movement Science Group, University Equine Hospital, Department for Small Animals and Horses, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, 1210 Vienna, Austria
| | - Marc Drillich
- Clinical Unit for Herd Health Management in Ruminants, University Clinic for Ruminants, Department for Farm Animals and Veterinary Public Health, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, 1210 Vienna, Austria
| | - Michael Iwersen
- Clinical Unit for Herd Health Management in Ruminants, University Clinic for Ruminants, Department for Farm Animals and Veterinary Public Health, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, 1210 Vienna, Austria
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19
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Mapping Welfare: Location Determining Techniques and Their Potential for Managing Cattle Welfare—A Review. DAIRY 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/dairy3040053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Several studies have suggested that precision livestock farming (PLF) is a useful tool for animal welfare management and assessment. Location, posture and movement of an individual are key elements in identifying the animal and recording its behaviour. Currently, multiple technologies are available for automated monitoring of the location of individual animals, ranging from Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) to ultra-wideband (UWB), RFID, wireless sensor networks (WSN) and even computer vision. These techniques and developments all yield potential to manage and assess animal welfare, but also have their constraints, such as range and accuracy. Combining sensors such as accelerometers with any location determining technique into a sensor fusion system can give more detailed information on the individual cow, achieving an even more reliable and accurate indication of animal welfare. We conclude that location systems are a promising approach to determining animal welfare, especially when applied in conjunction with additional sensors, but additional research focused on the use of technology in animal welfare monitoring is needed.
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20
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Behavioral Fingerprinting: Acceleration Sensors for Identifying Changes in Livestock Health. J 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/j5040030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
During disease or toxin challenges, the behavioral activities of grazing animals alter in response to adverse situations, potentially providing an indicator of their welfare status. Behavioral changes such as feeding behavior, rumination and physical behavior as well as expressive behavior, can serve as indicators of animal health and welfare. Sometimes behavioral changes are subtle and occur gradually, often missed by infrequent visual monitoring until the condition becomes acute. There is growing popularity in the use of sensors for monitoring animal health. Acceleration sensors have been designed to attach to ears, jaws, noses, collars and legs to detect the behavioral changes of cattle and sheep. So far, some automated acceleration sensors with high accuracies have been found to have the capacity to remotely monitor the behavioral patterns of cattle and sheep. These acceleration sensors have the potential to identify behavioral patterns of farm animals for monitoring changes in behavior which can indicate a deterioration in health. Here, we review the current automated accelerometer systems and the evidence they can detect behavioral patterns of animals for the application of potential directions and future solutions for automatically monitoring and the early detection of health concerns in grazing animals.
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21
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Ramirez BC, Hayes MD, Condotta ICFS, Leonard SM. Impact of housing environment and management on pre-/post-weaning piglet productivity. J Anim Sci 2022; 100:6609155. [PMID: 35708591 PMCID: PMC9202573 DOI: 10.1093/jas/skac142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2022] [Accepted: 04/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The complex environment surrounding young pigs reared in intensive housing systems directly influences their productivity and livelihood. Much of the seminal literature utilized housing and husbandry practices that have since drastically evolved through advances in genetic potential, nutrition, health, and technology. This review focuses on the environmental interaction and responses of pigs during the first 8 wk of life, separated into pre-weaning (creep areas) and post-weaning (nursery or wean-finish) phases. Further, a perspective on instrumentation and precision technologies for animal-based (physiological and behavioral) and environmental measures documents current approaches and future possibilities. A warm microclimate for piglets during the early days of life, especially the first 12 h, is critical. While caretaker interventions can mitigate the extent of hypothermia, low birth weight remains a dominant risk factor for mortality. Post-weaning, the thermoregulation capabilities have improved, but subsequent transportation, nutritional, and social stressors enhance the requisite need for a warm, low draft environment with the proper flooring. A better understanding of the individual environmental factors that affect young pigs as well as the creation of comprehensive environment indices or improved, non-contact sensing technology is needed to better evaluate and manage piglet environments. Such enhanced understanding and evaluation of pig–environment interaction could lead to innovative environmental control and husbandry interventions to foster healthy and productive pigs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brett C Ramirez
- Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA
| | - Morgan D Hayes
- Department of Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40546, USA
| | - Isabella C F S Condotta
- Department of Animal Sciences, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Suzanne M Leonard
- Department of Animal Science, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA
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22
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Chen G, Li C, Guo Y, Shu H, Cao Z, Xu B. Recognition of Cattle's Feeding Behaviors Using Noseband Pressure Sensor With Machine Learning. Front Vet Sci 2022; 9:822621. [PMID: 35692289 PMCID: PMC9174906 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2022.822621] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2021] [Accepted: 04/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Automatic monitoring of feeding behavior especially rumination and eating in cattle is important to keep track of animal health and growth condition and disease warnings. The noseband pressure sensor is not only able to accurately sense the pressure change of the cattle's jaw movements, which can directly reflect the cattle's chewing behavior, but also has strong resistance to interference. However, it is difficult to keep the same initial pressure while wearing the pressure sensor, and this will pose a challenge to process the feeding behavior data. This article proposed a machine learning approach aiming at eliminating the influence of initial pressure on the identification of rumination and eating behaviors. The method mainly used the local slope to obtain the local data variation and combined Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) to extract the frequency-domain features. Extreme Gradient Boosting Algorithm (XGB) was performed to classify the features of rumination and eating behaviors. Experimental results showed that the local slope in combination with frequency-domain features achieved an F1 score of 0.96, and recognition accuracy of 0.966 in both rumination and eating behaviors. Combined with the commonly used data processing algorithms and time-domain feature extraction method, the proposed approach improved the behavior recognition accuracy. This work will contribute to the standardized application and promotion of the noseband pressure sensors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guipeng Chen
- Agricultural Economics and Information Institute, Jiangxi Academy of Agriculture Sciences, Nanchang, China
- *Correspondence: Guipeng Chen
| | - Cong Li
- Agricultural Economics and Information Institute, Jiangxi Academy of Agriculture Sciences, Nanchang, China
| | - Yang Guo
- Agricultural Economics and Information Institute, Jiangxi Academy of Agriculture Sciences, Nanchang, China
| | - Hang Shu
- AgroBioChem, Precision Livestock and Nutrition Unit, Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech, University of Liège, Gembloux, Belgium
| | - Zhen Cao
- Information Technology Group, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, Netherlands
| | - Beibei Xu
- Agricultural Information Institute, Chinese Academy of Agriculture Sciences, Beijing, China
- Beibei Xu
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23
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GAN-Based Video Denoising with Attention Mechanism for Field-Applicable Pig Detection System. SENSORS 2022; 22:s22103917. [PMID: 35632328 PMCID: PMC9143193 DOI: 10.3390/s22103917] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2022] [Revised: 05/17/2022] [Accepted: 05/20/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Infrared cameras allow non-invasive and 24 h continuous monitoring. Thus, they are widely used in automatic pig monitoring, which is essential to maintain the profitability and sustainability of intensive pig farms. However, in practice, impurities such as insect secretions continuously pollute camera lenses. This causes problems with IR reflections, which can seriously affect pig detection performance. In this study, we propose a noise-robust, real-time pig detection system that can improve accuracy in pig farms where infrared cameras suffer from the IR reflection problem. The system consists of a data collector to collect infrared images, a preprocessor to transform noisy images into clean images, and a detector to detect pigs. The preprocessor embeds a multi-scale spatial attention module in U-net and generative adversarial network (GAN) models, enabling the model to pay more attention to the noisy area. The GAN model was trained on paired sets of clean data and data with simulated noise. It can operate in a real-time and end-to-end manner. Experimental results show that the proposed preprocessor was able to significantly improve the average precision of pig detection from 0.766 to 0.906, with an additional execution time of only 4.8 ms on a PC environment.
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24
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Yang KY, Jang DH, Kwon KS, Ha T, Kim JB, Ha JJ, Lee JY, Kim JK. Behavioral changes of sows with changes in flattening rate. JOURNAL OF ANIMAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY 2022; 64:564-573. [PMID: 35709125 PMCID: PMC9184704 DOI: 10.5187/jast.2022.e26] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2021] [Revised: 03/16/2022] [Accepted: 04/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
In this study, considering the difficulties for all farms to convert farm styles
to animal welfare-based housing, an experiment was performed to observe the
changes in the behavior and welfare of sows when the slat floor was changed to a
collective breeding ground. Twenty-eight sows used in this study were between
the second and fifth parities to minimize the influence of parity. Using a flats
floor cover, the flattening rates were treated as 0%, 20%, 30%, 40%, and 50%.
Data collection was the behavior of sows visually observed using a camera (e.g.,
standing, lying, fighting and excessive biting behaviors, and abnormal
behaviors) and the animal welfare level measured through field visits. Lying
behavior was found to be higher (p < 0.01) as the flattening
rate increased, and sows lying on the slatted cover also increased as the
flattening rate increased (p < 0.01). Fighting behavior
wasincreased when the flattening rate was increased to 20%, and chewing behavior
was increased (p < 0.05) as the flattening rate increased.
The animal welfare level of sows, ‘good feeding’, it was found
that all treatment groups for body condition score and water were good at 100
(p < 0.05). ‘Good housing’ was the maximum
value (100) in each treatment group. As the percentage of floor increased, the
minimum good housing was increased from 78 in 0% flattening rate to 96 in 50%
flattening rate. The maximum (100) ‘good health’ was achieved in
the 0% and 20% flattening rates, and it was 98, 98, and 99 in the 30%, 50%, and
40% flattening rate, respectively. ‘Appropriate behavior’ score
was significantly lower than that of other paremeters, but when the flattening
ratio was 0% and 20%, the maximum and minimum values were 10. At 40% and 50%,
the maximum values were 39 and 49, respectively, and the minimum values were
analyzed as 19 for both 40% and 50%. These results will be used as basic data
about sow welfare for farmers to successfully transition to group housing and
flat floors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ka-Young Yang
- National Institute of Animal Science,
Rural Development Administration, Wanju 55365, Korea
| | - Dong-hwa Jang
- National Institute of Animal Science,
Rural Development Administration, Wanju 55365, Korea
| | - Kyeong-seok Kwon
- National Institute of Animal Science,
Rural Development Administration, Wanju 55365, Korea
| | - Taehwan Ha
- National Institute of Animal Science,
Rural Development Administration, Wanju 55365, Korea
| | - Jong-bok Kim
- National Institute of Animal Science,
Rural Development Administration, Wanju 55365, Korea
| | - Jae Jung Ha
- Gyeongbuk Livestock Research
Institute, Yeongju 36052, Korea
| | - Jun-Yeob Lee
- National Institute of Animal Science,
Rural Development Administration, Wanju 55365, Korea
| | - Jung Kon Kim
- National Institute of Animal Science,
Rural Development Administration, Wanju 55365, Korea
- Corresponding author: Jung Kon Kim, National
Institute of Animal Science, Rural Development Administration, Wanju 55365,
Korea. Tel: +82-63-238-7407, E-mail:
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25
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Yu H, Deng J, Leen T, Li G, Klaassen M. Continuous on‐board behaviour classification using accelerometry – a case study with a new
GPS‐3G‐Bluetooth
system in Pacific Black Ducks. Methods Ecol Evol 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/2041-210x.13878] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Hui Yu
- Centre for Integrative Ecology, School of Life and Environmental Sciences Deakin University Geelong Victoria Australia
- Druid Technology Co., Ltd Chengdu Sichuan China
| | - Jian Deng
- Druid Technology Co., Ltd Chengdu Sichuan China
| | - Trent Leen
- Geelong Field & Game, Balliang East Victoria Australia
- Wetlands Environmental Taskforce, Seymour Victoria Australia
| | - Guozheng Li
- Druid Technology Co., Ltd Chengdu Sichuan China
- Northwest Institute of Eco‐Environment and Resources Chinese Academy of Sciences Lanzhou Gansu China
| | - Marcel Klaassen
- Centre for Integrative Ecology, School of Life and Environmental Sciences Deakin University Geelong Victoria Australia
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26
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Ramezani Gardaloud N, Guse C, Lidauer L, Steininger A, Kickinger F, Öhlschuster M, Auer W, Iwersen M, Drillich M, Klein-Jöbstl D. Early Detection of Respiratory Diseases in Calves by Use of an Ear-Attached Accelerometer. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:ani12091093. [PMID: 35565520 PMCID: PMC9101259 DOI: 10.3390/ani12091093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2022] [Revised: 04/10/2022] [Accepted: 04/21/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Bovine respiratory disease is one of the most important diseases in group-housed calves worldwide, with impacts on calf welfare and farm economics. Early detection of the disease is important for the well-being of the animals and a targeted treatment. Therefore, tools for an automated monitoring of individual calves would be a breakthrough in health management. In this study, we used an ear-attached accelerometer to evaluate its potential for the early detection of behavioral changes related to respiratory disease in calves. Our result showed that accelerometers are able to detect changes in activity and lying times that can be used to predict respiratory disease before clinical diagnosis. Abstract Accelerometers (ACL) can identify behavioral and activity changes in calves. In the present study, we examined the association between bovine respiratory disease (BRD) and behavioral changes detected by an ear-tag based ACL system in weaned dairy calves. Accelerometer data were analyzed from 7 d before to 1 d after clinical diagnosis of BRD. All calves in the study (n = 508) were checked daily by an adapted University of Wisconsin Calf Scoring System. Calves with a score ≥ 4 and fever for at least two consecutive days were categorized as diseased (DIS). The day of clinical diagnosis of BRD was defined as d 0. The data analysis showed a significant difference in high active times between DIS and healthy control calves (CON), with CON showing more high active times on every day, except d −3. Diseased calves showed significantly more inactive times on d −4, −2, and 0, as well as longer lying times on d −5, −2, and +1. These results indicate the potential of the ACL to detect BRD prior to a clinical diagnosis in group-housed calves. Furthermore, in this study, we described the ‘normal’ behavior in 428 clinically healthy weaned dairy calves obtained by the ACL system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nasrin Ramezani Gardaloud
- Clinical Unit for Herd Health Management in Ruminants, University Clinic for Ruminants, University of Veterinary Medicine, 1210 Vienna, Austria; (N.R.G.); (C.G.); (M.I.); (M.D.)
- Smartbow GmbH/Zoetis LLC, Jutogasse 3, 4675 Weibern, Austria; (L.L.); (A.S.); (F.K.); (M.Ö.); (W.A.)
| | - Christian Guse
- Clinical Unit for Herd Health Management in Ruminants, University Clinic for Ruminants, University of Veterinary Medicine, 1210 Vienna, Austria; (N.R.G.); (C.G.); (M.I.); (M.D.)
| | - Laura Lidauer
- Smartbow GmbH/Zoetis LLC, Jutogasse 3, 4675 Weibern, Austria; (L.L.); (A.S.); (F.K.); (M.Ö.); (W.A.)
| | - Alexandra Steininger
- Smartbow GmbH/Zoetis LLC, Jutogasse 3, 4675 Weibern, Austria; (L.L.); (A.S.); (F.K.); (M.Ö.); (W.A.)
| | - Florian Kickinger
- Smartbow GmbH/Zoetis LLC, Jutogasse 3, 4675 Weibern, Austria; (L.L.); (A.S.); (F.K.); (M.Ö.); (W.A.)
| | - Manfred Öhlschuster
- Smartbow GmbH/Zoetis LLC, Jutogasse 3, 4675 Weibern, Austria; (L.L.); (A.S.); (F.K.); (M.Ö.); (W.A.)
| | - Wolfgang Auer
- Smartbow GmbH/Zoetis LLC, Jutogasse 3, 4675 Weibern, Austria; (L.L.); (A.S.); (F.K.); (M.Ö.); (W.A.)
| | - Michael Iwersen
- Clinical Unit for Herd Health Management in Ruminants, University Clinic for Ruminants, University of Veterinary Medicine, 1210 Vienna, Austria; (N.R.G.); (C.G.); (M.I.); (M.D.)
| | - Marc Drillich
- Clinical Unit for Herd Health Management in Ruminants, University Clinic for Ruminants, University of Veterinary Medicine, 1210 Vienna, Austria; (N.R.G.); (C.G.); (M.I.); (M.D.)
| | - Daniela Klein-Jöbstl
- Clinical Unit for Herd Health Management in Ruminants, University Clinic for Ruminants, University of Veterinary Medicine, 1210 Vienna, Austria; (N.R.G.); (C.G.); (M.I.); (M.D.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +43-15-077-5207
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27
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Price E, Langford J, Fawcett TW, Wilson AJ, Croft DP. Classifying the posture and activity of ewes and lambs using accelerometers and machine learning on a commercial flock. Appl Anim Behav Sci 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.applanim.2022.105630] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
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28
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Stravogianni V, Samaras T, Boscos CM, Markakis J, Krystallidou E, Basioura A, Tsakmakidis IA. The Use of Animal's Body, Scrotal Temperature and Motion Monitoring in Evaluating Boar Semen Production Capacity. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:ani12070829. [PMID: 35405819 PMCID: PMC8996908 DOI: 10.3390/ani12070829] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2022] [Revised: 03/18/2022] [Accepted: 03/23/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Biomedical measurements by specialized technological equipment have been used in farm animals to collect information about nutrition, behavior and welfare. This study investigates the relation of semen quality (CASA analysis, viability, morphology, membrane biochemical activity and DNA fragmentation) with boar behavior during ejaculation. Sensors were placed on the boar’s body. Movement features were collected using an inertial measurement unit (IMU), comprising an accelerometer, a gyroscope and a magnetometer. Boar, scrotal and dummy temperatures were measured by an infrared (IR) camera and an IR thermometer, while the face salivation of the boar was recorded by a moisture meter (also based on IR technology). All signals and images were logged on a mobile device (smartphone or tablet) using a Bluetooth connection and then transferred wirelessly to the cloud. The data files were then processed using scripts in MATLAB 2021a (MathWorks, Natick, Massachusetts) to derive the necessary indices. Ninety-four ejaculates from five boars were analyzed in this study. The statistical analysis was performed in the Statistics and Machine Learning Toolbox of MATLAB 2021a using a linear mixed effects model. Significant and strong negative correlations (R2 > 0.5, p ≤ 0.05) were observed between boar, dummy and scrotal temperature with the progressive, rapid and slow movement of spermatozoa, VCL (curvilinear velocity), VSL (straight line velocity) and ALH (amplitude of lateral head displacement) kinematics. The volume of the ejaculate was correlated with the scrotal and dummy temperature. Dummy’s temperature was negatively correlated with BCF (beat/cross-frequency), viability and total time of ejaculation, while it was positively correlated with abnormal morphology. Body temperature was negatively correlated with BCF. Positive correlations were noticed between VAP (average path velocity) and total time of ejaculation with body acceleration features, as well as between the overall dynamic body acceleration (ODBA) and total time of ejaculation. In conclusion, the use of biomedical sensors can support the evaluation of boar sperm production capacity, providing valuable information about semen quality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vasiliki Stravogianni
- School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54627 Thessaloniki, Greece; (V.S.); (C.M.B.)
| | - Theodoros Samaras
- School of Physics, Faculty of Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece; (T.S.); (J.M.)
| | - Constantin M. Boscos
- School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54627 Thessaloniki, Greece; (V.S.); (C.M.B.)
| | - John Markakis
- School of Physics, Faculty of Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece; (T.S.); (J.M.)
| | - Evdokia Krystallidou
- American Farm School, Marinou Antipa 54, P.O. Box 23, 55102 Thessaloniki, Greece;
| | - Athina Basioura
- Department of Agriculture, School of Agricultural Sciences, University of Western Macedonia, 53100 Florina, Greece;
| | - Ioannis A. Tsakmakidis
- School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54627 Thessaloniki, Greece; (V.S.); (C.M.B.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +30-2310-994-467
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29
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Affective State Recognition in Livestock—Artificial Intelligence Approaches. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:ani12060759. [PMID: 35327156 PMCID: PMC8944789 DOI: 10.3390/ani12060759] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2022] [Revised: 03/15/2022] [Accepted: 03/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Emotions or affective states recognition in farm animals is an underexplored research domain. Despite significant advances in animal welfare research, animal affective state computing through the development and application of devices and platforms that can not only recognize but interpret and process the emotions, are in a nascent stage. The analysis and measurement of unique behavioural, physical, and biological characteristics offered by biometric sensor technologies and the affiliated complex and large data sets, opens the pathway for novel and realistic identification of individual animals amongst a herd or a flock. By capitalizing on the immense potential of biometric sensors, artificial intelligence enabled big data methods offer substantial advancement of animal welfare standards and meet the urgent needs of caretakers to respond effectively to maintain the wellbeing of their animals. Abstract Farm animals, numbering over 70 billion worldwide, are increasingly managed in large-scale, intensive farms. With both public awareness and scientific evidence growing that farm animals experience suffering, as well as affective states such as fear, frustration and distress, there is an urgent need to develop efficient and accurate methods for monitoring their welfare. At present, there are not scientifically validated ‘benchmarks’ for quantifying transient emotional (affective) states in farm animals, and no established measures of good welfare, only indicators of poor welfare, such as injury, pain and fear. Conventional approaches to monitoring livestock welfare are time-consuming, interrupt farming processes and involve subjective judgments. Biometric sensor data enabled by artificial intelligence is an emerging smart solution to unobtrusively monitoring livestock, but its potential for quantifying affective states and ground-breaking solutions in their application are yet to be realized. This review provides innovative methods for collecting big data on farm animal emotions, which can be used to train artificial intelligence models to classify, quantify and predict affective states in individual pigs and cows. Extending this to the group level, social network analysis can be applied to model emotional dynamics and contagion among animals. Finally, ‘digital twins’ of animals capable of simulating and predicting their affective states and behaviour in real time are a near-term possibility.
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30
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Applications of Smart Technology as a Sustainable Strategy in Modern Swine Farming. SUSTAINABILITY 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/su14052607] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
The size of the pork market is increasing globally to meet the demand for animal protein, resulting in greater farm size for swine and creating a great challenge to swine farmers and industry owners in monitoring the farm activities and the health and behavior of the herd of swine. In addition, the growth of swine production is resulting in a changing climate pattern along with the environment, animal welfare, and human health issues, such as antimicrobial resistance, zoonosis, etc. The profit of swine farms depends on the optimum growth and good health of swine, while modern farming practices can ensure healthy swine production. To solve these issues, a future strategy should be considered with information and communication technology (ICT)-based smart swine farming, considering auto-identification, remote monitoring, feeding behavior, animal rights/welfare, zoonotic diseases, nutrition and food quality, labor management, farm operations, etc., with a view to improving meat production from the swine industry. Presently, swine farming is not only focused on the development of infrastructure but is also occupied with the application of technological knowledge for designing feeding programs, monitoring health and welfare, and the reproduction of the herd. ICT-based smart technologies, including smart ear tags, smart sensors, the Internet of Things (IoT), deep learning, big data, and robotics systems, can take part directly in the operation of farm activities, and have been proven to be effective tools for collecting, processing, and analyzing data from farms. In this review, which considers the beneficial role of smart technologies in swine farming, we suggest that smart technologies should be applied in the swine industry. Thus, the future swine industry should be automated, considering sustainability and productivity.
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31
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Chang AZ, Fogarty ES, Swain DL, García-Guerra A, Trotter MG. Accelerometer derived rumination monitoring detects changes in behaviour around parturition. Appl Anim Behav Sci 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.applanim.2022.105566] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
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32
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DelCurto-Wyffels HM, Dafoe JM, Parsons CT, Boss DL, DelCurto T, Wyffels SA, Van Emon ML, Bowman JGP. Effect of environmental conditions on feed intake and activity of corn- and barley-fed steers. Transl Anim Sci 2021. [DOI: 10.1093/tas/txab178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
| | - Julia M Dafoe
- Northern Agricultural Research Center, Montana State University, Havre, MT 59501, USA
| | - Cory T Parsons
- Northern Agricultural Research Center, Montana State University, Havre, MT 59501, USA
| | - Darrin L Boss
- Northern Agricultural Research Center, Montana State University, Havre, MT 59501, USA
| | - Timothy DelCurto
- Department of Animal and Range Sciences, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717, USA
| | - Samuel A Wyffels
- Northern Agricultural Research Center, Montana State University, Havre, MT 59501, USA
| | - Megan L Van Emon
- Department of Animal and Range Sciences, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717, USA
| | - Jan G P Bowman
- Department of Animal and Range Sciences, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717, USA
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33
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Lauderdale LK, Shorter KA, Zhang D, Gabaldon J, Mellen JD, Walsh MT, Granger DA, Miller LJ. Bottlenose dolphin habitat and management factors related to activity and distance traveled in zoos and aquariums. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0250687. [PMID: 34460858 PMCID: PMC8405030 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0250687] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2020] [Accepted: 04/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
High-resolution non-invasive cetacean tagging systems can be used to investigate the influence of habitat characteristics and management factors on behavior by quantifying activity levels and distance traveled by bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus and Tursiops aduncus) in accredited zoos and aquariums. Movement Tags (MTags), a bio-logging device, were used to record a suite of kinematic and environmental information outside of formal training sessions as part of a larger study titled "Towards understanding the welfare of cetaceans in zoos and aquariums" (colloquially called the Cetacean Welfare Study). The purpose of the present study was to explore if and how habitat characteristics, environmental enrichment programs, and training programs were related to the distance traveled and energy expenditure of dolphins in accredited zoos and aquariums. Bottlenose dolphins in accredited zoos and aquariums wore MTags one day per week for two five-week data collection periods. Overall dynamic body acceleration (ODBA), a proxy for energy expenditure, and average distance traveled per hour (ADT) of 60 dolphins in 31 habitats were examined in relation to demographic, habitat, and management factors. Participating facilities were accredited by the Alliance for Marine Mammal Parks and/or Aquariums and the Association of Zoos & Aquariums. Two factors were found to be related to ADT while six factors were associated with ODBA. The results showed that enrichment programs were strongly related to both ODBA and ADT. Scheduling predictable training session times was also positively associated with ADT. The findings suggested that habitat characteristics had a relatively weak association with ODBA and were not related to ADT. In combination, the results suggested that management practices were more strongly related to activity levels than habitat characteristics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa K. Lauderdale
- Conservation Science and Animal Welfare Research, Chicago Zoological Society – Brookfield Zoo, Brookfield, Illinois, United States of America
| | - K. Alex Shorter
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States of America
| | - Ding Zhang
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States of America
| | - Joaquin Gabaldon
- Robotics Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States of America
| | - Jill D. Mellen
- Biology Department, Portland State University, Portland, Oregon, United States of America
| | - Michael T. Walsh
- Department of Comparative, Diagnostic & Population Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America
| | - Douglas A. Granger
- Institute for Interdisciplinary Salivary Bioscience Research, University of California, Irvine, California, United States of America
| | - Lance J. Miller
- Conservation Science and Animal Welfare Research, Chicago Zoological Society – Brookfield Zoo, Brookfield, Illinois, United States of America
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34
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Chapa J, Lidauer L, Steininger A, Öhlschuster M, Potrusil T, Sigler M, Auer W, Azizzadeh M, Drillich M, Iwersen M. Use of a real-time location system to detect cows in distinct functional areas within a barn. JDS COMMUNICATIONS 2021; 2:217-222. [PMID: 36338440 PMCID: PMC9623617 DOI: 10.3168/jdsc.2020-0050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2020] [Accepted: 03/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
Abstract
The RTLS achieved high accuracy in locating cows in alleys, feed bunk and cubicles. Location and time spent in important barn areas can be automatically determined and used as indicators of health. The potential of combining RTLS with other sensors technologies was discussed.
Automated sensor-based monitoring of cows has become an important tool in herd management to improve or maintain animal health and welfare. Location systems offer the ability to locate animals within the barn for, for example, artificial insemination. Furthermore, they have the potential to measure the time cows spend in important areas of the barn, which might indicate need for improvement in the management of the herd or individuals. In this study, we tested the sensor-based real-time location system (RTLS) Smartbow (SB, Smartbow GmbH) under field conditions. The objectives of this study were (1) to determine the accuracy of the system to predict the location of the cow and the agreement between visual observations and RTLS observations for the total time spent by cows in relevant areas of the barn and (2) to compare the performance of 2 different algorithms (Alg1 and Alg2) for cow location. The study was conducted on a commercial Austrian dairy farm. In total, 35 lactating cows were video recorded for 3 consecutive days. From these recordings, approximately 1 h was selected randomly each day for every cow (3 d × 35 cows). Simultaneously, location data were collected and classified by the RTLS system as dedicated to the alley, feed bunk, or cubicle on a 1-min resolution. A total of 6,030 paired observations were derived from visual observations (VO) and the RTLS and used for the final data analysis. Substantial agreement of categorical data between VO and SB was obtained by Cohen's kappa for both algorithms (Alg1 = 0.76 and Alg2 = 0.78). Similar results were achieved by both algorithms throughout the study, with a slight improvement for Alg2. The ability of the system to locate the cows in the predefined areas was assessed, and the results from Alg2 showed sensitivity, specificity, and positive predictive value of alley (74.0, 91.2, and 76.9%), feed bunk (93.5, 86.2, and 89.1%), and cubicle (90.5, 83.3, and 95.4%) and an overall accuracy of 87.6%.The correlation coefficient (r) between VO and SB for the total time cows spent (within 1 h) in the predefined areas was good to strong (r = 0.82, 0.98, and 0.92 for alley, feed bunk, and cubicle, respectively). These results show the potential of the system to automatically assess total time spent by cows in important areas of the barn for indoor settings. Future studies should focus on evaluating 24-h periods to assess time budgets and to combine technologies such as accelerometers and location systems to improve the performance of behavior prediction in dairy cows.
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Affiliation(s)
- J.M. Chapa
- FFoQSI GmbH—Austrian Competence Centre for Feed and Food Quality, Safety and Innovation, Technopark 1C, 3430 Tulln, Austria
- Clinical Unit for Herd Health Management in Ruminants, University Clinic for Ruminants, Department for Farm Animals and Veterinary Public Health, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, 1210 Vienna, Austria
| | | | | | | | | | - M. Sigler
- Smartbow GmbH, 4675 Weibern, Austria
| | - W. Auer
- Smartbow GmbH, 4675 Weibern, Austria
| | - M. Azizzadeh
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, 9177948974, Iran
| | - M. Drillich
- Clinical Unit for Herd Health Management in Ruminants, University Clinic for Ruminants, Department for Farm Animals and Veterinary Public Health, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, 1210 Vienna, Austria
| | - M. Iwersen
- Clinical Unit for Herd Health Management in Ruminants, University Clinic for Ruminants, Department for Farm Animals and Veterinary Public Health, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, 1210 Vienna, Austria
- Corresponding author
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The Influence of Environmental Conditions on Intake Behavior and Activity by Feedlot Steers Fed Corn or Barley-Based Diets. Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:ani11051261. [PMID: 33925628 PMCID: PMC8145294 DOI: 10.3390/ani11051261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2021] [Revised: 04/23/2021] [Accepted: 04/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Cattle wintered at northern latitudes are often exposed to periods of severe cold. Cattle likely alter feed intake and behavior to combat environmental challenges. This study evaluated the influence of diet and environmental changes on intake behavior and activity (lying time) of feedlot steers. Short-term temperature changes impacted both beef feedlot cattle intake behavior and activity. The steers’ diet, whether they were fed corn or barley, interacted with short term environmental changes to influence animal feeding behavior, but diet had limited impact on cattle lying behavior. Lying behavior was influenced by short-term temperature changes in which cattle spent more time lying down on relatively cold days. Overall, environmental shifts and cold temperature conditions could result in greater energetic needs and ultimately impact feedlot steer intake behavior and activity. By providing information related to beef cattle feedlot behavior, we can more effectively manage cattle feeding systems at northern latitudes to improve feed efficiency. Abstract This study evaluated the influence of diet and environmental conditions on intake behavior and activity of feedlot steers. Feedlot rations used were comprised of a main concentrate: (1) corn or (2) barley. A GrowSafe system measured individual animal intake and behavior and HOBO accelerometers measured steer standing time. An Onset weather station collected on site weather data. Steer daily intake displayed a diet by temperature class interaction (p ≤ 0.05). Relative temperature change had no effect on variation in intake (p = 0.60); however, diet influenced variation of intake (p < 0.01), where corn-fed steers had a greater coefficient of variation (CV) than barley-fed steers (21.89 ± 1.46 vs. 18.72 ± 1.46%). Time spent eating (min d−1) and eating rate (g min−1) both displayed a diet by temperature class interaction (p ≤ 0.05). Diet did not affect steer lying activity (p ≥ 0.12), however, time spent lying (min d−1) and frequency of lying bouts (bouts d−1) increased on relatively cold days while the duration of lying bouts (min bout−1; p < 0.01) decreased. Short-term environmental temperature changes interacted with diet influencing feedlot beef cattle intake behavior; however, they did not interact with basal diet in respect to steer activity.
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Racewicz P, Ludwiczak A, Skrzypczak E, Składanowska-Baryza J, Biesiada H, Nowak T, Nowaczewski S, Zaborowicz M, Stanisz M, Ślósarz P. Welfare Health and Productivity in Commercial Pig Herds. Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:1176. [PMID: 33924224 PMCID: PMC8074599 DOI: 10.3390/ani11041176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2021] [Revised: 04/16/2021] [Accepted: 04/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
In recent years, there have been very dynamic changes in both pork production and pig breeding technology around the world. The general trend of increasing the efficiency of pig production, with reduced employment, requires optimisation and a comprehensive approach to herd management. One of the most important elements on the way to achieving this goal is to maintain animal welfare and health. The health of the pigs on the farm is also a key aspect in production economics. The need to maintain a high health status of pig herds by eliminating the frequency of different disease units and reducing the need for antimicrobial substances is part of a broadly understood high potential herd management strategy. Thanks to the use of sensors (cameras, microphones, accelerometers, or radio-frequency identification transponders), the images, sounds, movements, and vital signs of animals are combined through algorithms and analysed for non-invasive monitoring of animals, which allows for early detection of diseases, improves their welfare, and increases the productivity of breeding. Automated, innovative early warning systems based on continuous monitoring of specific physiological (e.g., body temperature) and behavioural parameters can provide an alternative to direct diagnosis and visual assessment by the veterinarian or the herd keeper.
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Affiliation(s)
- Przemysław Racewicz
- Laboratory of Veterinary Public Health Protection, Department of Animal Breeding and Product Quality Assessment, Poznan University of Life Sciences, Słoneczna 1, 62-002 Suchy Las, Poland;
| | - Agnieszka Ludwiczak
- Department of Animal Breeding and Product Quality Assessment, Poznan University of Life Sciences, Słoneczna 1, 62-002 Suchy Las, Poland; (A.L.); (E.S.); (J.S.-B.); (S.N.); (M.S.); (P.Ś.)
| | - Ewa Skrzypczak
- Department of Animal Breeding and Product Quality Assessment, Poznan University of Life Sciences, Słoneczna 1, 62-002 Suchy Las, Poland; (A.L.); (E.S.); (J.S.-B.); (S.N.); (M.S.); (P.Ś.)
| | - Joanna Składanowska-Baryza
- Department of Animal Breeding and Product Quality Assessment, Poznan University of Life Sciences, Słoneczna 1, 62-002 Suchy Las, Poland; (A.L.); (E.S.); (J.S.-B.); (S.N.); (M.S.); (P.Ś.)
| | - Hanna Biesiada
- Laboratory of Veterinary Public Health Protection, Department of Animal Breeding and Product Quality Assessment, Poznan University of Life Sciences, Słoneczna 1, 62-002 Suchy Las, Poland;
| | - Tomasz Nowak
- Department of Genetics and Animal Breeding, Animal Reproduction Laboratory, Poznan University of Life Sciences, 60-637 Poznan, Poland;
| | - Sebastian Nowaczewski
- Department of Animal Breeding and Product Quality Assessment, Poznan University of Life Sciences, Słoneczna 1, 62-002 Suchy Las, Poland; (A.L.); (E.S.); (J.S.-B.); (S.N.); (M.S.); (P.Ś.)
| | - Maciej Zaborowicz
- Institute of Biosystems Engineering, Poznan University of Life Sciences, 60-637 Poznan, Poland;
| | - Marek Stanisz
- Department of Animal Breeding and Product Quality Assessment, Poznan University of Life Sciences, Słoneczna 1, 62-002 Suchy Las, Poland; (A.L.); (E.S.); (J.S.-B.); (S.N.); (M.S.); (P.Ś.)
| | - Piotr Ślósarz
- Department of Animal Breeding and Product Quality Assessment, Poznan University of Life Sciences, Słoneczna 1, 62-002 Suchy Las, Poland; (A.L.); (E.S.); (J.S.-B.); (S.N.); (M.S.); (P.Ś.)
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Real-Time Extensive Livestock Monitoring Using LPWAN Smart Wearable and Infrastructure. APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/app11031240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Extensive unsupervised livestock farming is a habitual technique in many places around the globe. Animal release can be done for months, in large areas and with different species packing and behaving very differently. Nevertheless, the farmer’s needs are similar: where livestock is (and where has been) and how healthy they are. The geographical areas involved usually have difficult access with harsh orography and lack of communications infrastructure. This paper presents the design of a solution for extensive livestock monitoring in these areas. Our proposal is based in a wearable equipped with inertial sensors, global positioning system and wireless communications; and a Low-Power Wide Area Network infrastructure that can run with and without internet connection. Using adaptive analysis and data compression, we provide real-time monitoring and logging of cattle’s position and activities. Hardware and firmware design achieve very low energy consumption allowing months of battery life. We have thoroughly tested the devices in different laboratory setups and evaluated the system performance in real scenarios in the mountains and in the forest.
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Alawneh J, Barreto M, Bome K, Soust M. Description of Behavioral Patterns Displayed by a Recently Weaned Cohort of Healthy Dairy Calves. Animals (Basel) 2020; 10:ani10122452. [PMID: 33371394 PMCID: PMC7767454 DOI: 10.3390/ani10122452] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2020] [Revised: 12/12/2020] [Accepted: 12/17/2020] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Modern technology has allowed researchers to track the movement patterns of cattle with increasing accuracy in order to gain a greater understanding of both overt and subtle activity trends. The aim of this study was to describe and analyze movement patterns displayed by recently weaned and healthy dairy calves. Three movement pattern clusters were identified, and calves in this study were more active in the afternoon and at night. There was a correlation between the rate of movement, linearity ratio, and the distance traveled. However, turning angles do not have any influence on the distance traveled and the rate of movement across the three cluster-type movements. The findings reported in this study could be used to further develop the interpretation of movement and behavior patterns of calves in order to establish an early detection system for poor health and welfare on dairy farms. Abstract Animals display movement patterns that can be used as health indicators. The movement of dairy cattle can be characterized into three distinct cluster types. These are cluster type 1 (resting), cluster type 2 (traveling), and cluster type 3 (searching). This study aimed to analyze the movement patterns of healthy calves and assess the relationship between the variables that constitute the three cluster types. Eleven Holstein calves were fitted with GPS data loggers, which recorded their movement over a two week period during spring. The GPS data loggers captured longitude and latitude coordinates, distance, time and speed. It was found that the calves were most active during the afternoon and at night. Slight inconsistencies from previous studies were found in the cluster movements. Cluster type 2 (traveling) reported the fastest rate of movement, whereas cluster type 1 (resting) reported the slowest. These diverse movement patterns could be used to enhance the assessment of dairy animal health and welfare on farms.
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Affiliation(s)
- John Alawneh
- Good Clinical Practice Research Group (GCPRG), School of Veterinary Science, The University of Queensland, Gatton, QLD 4343, Australia; (M.B.); (M.S.)
- School of Veterinary Science, The University of Queensland, Gatton, QLD 4343, Australia;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +64-07-5460-1834
| | - Michelle Barreto
- Good Clinical Practice Research Group (GCPRG), School of Veterinary Science, The University of Queensland, Gatton, QLD 4343, Australia; (M.B.); (M.S.)
- School of Veterinary Science, The University of Queensland, Gatton, QLD 4343, Australia;
| | - Kealeboga Bome
- School of Veterinary Science, The University of Queensland, Gatton, QLD 4343, Australia;
| | - Martin Soust
- Good Clinical Practice Research Group (GCPRG), School of Veterinary Science, The University of Queensland, Gatton, QLD 4343, Australia; (M.B.); (M.S.)
- Terragen Biotech Pty Ltd., Coolum Beach, QLD 4573, Australia
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