57. The importance of automatic systems in the prediction of calving in cattle Flashcards
Calving(Numerous changing before calving)?
Calving
Numerous changes before calving
• Anatomy
o Udder development
o Relaxation of the pelvic ligaments
o Vulva oedema
• Physiological
o Hormonal
o Behavioural
o Body temp.
• Classical prediction method
o Date of AI – expected date
o Visual observation
o Not able to predict the precise day and time of calving
• Modern calving monitoring
o Camera systems
o Sensors
Importance?
Importance
• Dystocia
o Complications affecting the cow or calf
o Economical factor
• Organizing labour – available workers
o Obstetrical examination – assistance
o Care of the dam and calf
Equipment suitable for the detection of calving?
Equipment suitable for the detection of calving
• Measurement of general physiological parameters
o RT
o Reticuloruminal temp and pH
o Activity
• Specific equipment for the detection of calving
o Special inclinometers/accelerometers (tail)
o Vaginal thermometers – temp. decrease
o Vaginal/vulvar sensors – appearance of the calf in the birth canal
o Abdominal harnesses – staining, uterine contractions
Rumination time?
Rumination time
• RT decrease noticeable on Day 1 before calving:
o 15% (schirmann)
o 26% (Bushel)
• Significant drop in RT 4-8 hours before calving
• Resumption of rumination after calving
o 4-6 hours
o 355 min on average
Other Parameters?
Other parameters
• Reticuloruminal temperature:
o Core temperature decreases in the days before calving (day 4 -7)
o Significant drop on day 1 or 2 before calving
o Different health status – different degree of changes – prediction difficulty
• Reticuloruminal pH:
o Decreases in the days before calving
o Influence of SARA
• Activity:
o Increases on the day of calving (up to 10 hours before)
Special devices- accelerometery?
Special devices – accelerometery
• Accelerometer attached to the tail:
o Attach a few days before expected calving
o Signals increased activity (text message, app alert) – raising of the tail
o Large farm- numerous false positive alerts
§ Social interactions
§ Feeding
§ Farm work, regrouping
o Positive predictive value:12.6%
Vaginal thermometer?
Vaginal thermometer
- Place it in the vagina a few (5-7) days before calving
- Detects temperature decrease before calving
- Different sizes (cow, heifer)
- Hygiene of device and procedure
- Occasionally mild vaginitis
- Text message – calving within 48 hours
- Accuracy around 50%
- Appearance of the calf in the birth canal
Vaginal thermometer- direct detection of calving?
Vaginal thermometer – direct detection of calving
- Emergence of the allantois/amnion or the hooves of the calf in the birth canal – expulsion of the device
- Sharp temperature drop at expulsion (even in summer)
- Text message – expulsion of thermometer
- Calving usually completed 2-4 hours after expulsion – almost 100% accuracy
Sensor sutured to the vulva?
Sensor sutured to the vulva
- Primarily in mares but experimentally in cows
- 2 parts (magnet + transmitter) attached to each other
- Two parts sutured to the 2 sides of the labia
- Amnion/allantois/calf in birth canal – labia part, magnet slips from the transmitter – signal- start of calving
- Numerous false positives in cows – structure of the labia
Abdominal harness?
Abdominal harness
- Placement a few days before calving
- Detects pressure changes:
o Uterine contractions
o Straining
- Text message – start of calving
- Not widespread
Conclusion for autonomic systems in general?
Conclusion – for automatic systems in general
- Automatic systems can provide useful fata of our cow’s health
- Main areas
o Prevention of dystocia
o Early diagnosis of diseases
o Estimation of the risk of metabolic problems
o Improving production parameters
Limitations?
Limitations
• Cost:
o Establishing the system, maintenance, incorporation into existing infrastructure
o Extra work, time, manpower
• Learning process
o Operating the system
o Analysing data
• Biggest problem - Vets need to be able to interpret the automatic result and figure out the solution of the
problem and the treat appropriately
- RT, reticuloruminal pH, temperature, etc. are important data, but they are only data.
- What else do we need to make a good decision?
o Further data (DIM/Day of pregnancy, lactation number, previous examinations and treatments, daily
milk yield, …)
o Our own expertise (selection and control of animals of higher risk, animal welfare and economy)
• The system only works well when we know its scope and limitations.
