The importance of automatic systems in the diagnostics of diseases in cattle

Question 1

The importance of autonomic systems in the diagnostics of diseases in cattle

Monitoring of physiological parameters

Answer 1

1. Rumination time
   o Sounds of the ruminal content travelling up
   o Detection of chewing motions
   o Detection of ruminal contractions
2. Reticuloruminal bolus
   o Reticuloruminal temperature and pH
3. Accelerometery (activity)
   o Part of aforementioned equipment
   o Singulardevice–pedometer 4. HRV (heart rate variability)
   o Equipment adapted from human or equine medicine
   o Experimental application, not yet practical for daily use

Question 2

Monitoring of physiological parameters

I - Rumination as a physiological parameter

Answer 2

• Daily rumination time (RT): 7.5 to 9 hours – longest at peak lactation
• Importance – RT is one of the first factors to be affected during disease
• Influencing factors
o Feed intake
o Feed composition
o Daily routine – resting
o Physiological changes
o Diseases (metritis, ketosis, lameness, LDA)
o Group hierarchy

Question 3

Monitoring of physiological parameters

I - Rumination as a physiological parameter

Measuring rumination time

Answer 3

• Before the 2000s:
o Complicated
o Retrospective analysis of video footages
o Actual visual observation
o Not economical – time, extra work. Today only used for validation of new systems
• Today:
o “Big data” – complex systems

Question 4

Monitoring of physiological parameters

I - Rumination as a physiological parameter

Devices for the detection of rumination time

Answer 4

• Collar sensor
o Singularly
o Part of an Automatic Milking System – AMS • Ear-tag sensor (accelerometer)
• Reticuloruminal bolus (accelerometer)

Question 5

I - Rumination as a physiological parameter

Devices for the detection of rumination time

Collar sensor

Answer 5

• Rumination detection by microphone
• Individual calibration: 2 to 3 weeks
• Placement
o The sensor should be situated on the left side of the neck at the border of the top and middle third

Question 6

I - Rumination as a physiological parameter

Devices for the detection of rumination time

Ear-tag sensor, reticuloruminal bolus

Answer 6

• Measurement of rumination time by accelerometery:
o Ear tag
▪ Detection of mastication
▪ Total rumination time
▪ Number of chewing motions
▪ Chewing bouts
o Reticuloruminal bolus
▪ Part of active monitoring
▪ Special algorithm
▪ Reticuloruminal motion energy + number of reticuloruminal contractions
▪ 86.1% accuracy compared to collar sensor (Hamilton et al, 2019)

Question 7

I - Rumination as a physiological parameter

Monitoring of rumination time

Answer 7

• PC software/smartphone app
• Real-time monitoring
• Automatic alerts – customizable
• Additional values
o Detection of feeding/drinking – extra algorithm
o Collar sensor – panting – heat stress
• Practical application
o Placement at around 3 weeks before expected calving (regrouping from dry to close-up)
o Peripartal period is critical – majority of diseases

Question 8

I - Rumination as a physiological parameter

Early diagnosis of diseases

Answer 8

• Literature
o 3 to 6 days post partum: RT below herd average – 90% clinically ill >< 48%
o Soriani et al., 2012: low RT before calving – more diseases

• King et al., 2017

• Coli mastitis
o Fogsgaard et al., 2012: RT significantly decreases after infection with E.coli

• Metritis
o Liboreiro et al., 2012: Daily RT decreases by 25 min in cows affected

• Subclinical ketosis

Question 9

I - Rumination as a physiological parameter

What is required for the system to alert us?

Answer 9

• Disease to affect the general condition of the animal
o Acute mastitis, metritis, clinical ketosis, LDA… - easily visible clinical signs
o Subclinical ketosis – ketone bodies affect the whole animal
• Local process usually do not cause general clinical signs
o Clinical endometritis
• Chronic problems often do not produce obvious clinical signs
o Chronic mastitis

Question 10

II - Measurement of reticuloruminal temperature and pH

Reticuloruminal temperature

Answer 10

• Can be higher than rectal temperature
• Influencing factors
o Heat stress
o Disease (milk fever - ↓, fever - ↑)
o Feeding/drinking (drench)
o Circadian rhythm – feeding, resting, day/night

Question 11

II - Measurement of reticuloruminal temperature and pH

Reticuloruminal pH

Answer 11

• Classic threshold: 6.3-7.1, but!
• Influencing factors
    o Feed intake and composition – SARA 
    o Rumination time – saliva – buffer
    o Disease ↓
    o Circadian rhythm

Question 12

III - Accelerometry

variables

Answer 12

o Step count
o Standing time
o Lying time
o Lying bouts
o Special movement of heat (collar – neck extension)

Question 13

III - Accelerometry

Influencing factors

Answer 13

o Technology, farm conditions
o Hierarchy
o Diseases – systemic signs, lameness
o Heat

Question 14

III - Accelerometry

Wide range of products

Answer 14

o Collar
o Halter
o Ear-tag
o Reticuloruminal bolus
o Chest/abdominal harness
o Leg band
o Tail sensor (calving – later)