The importance of automatic systems in the prediction of calving in cattle

Question 1

Calving

Answer 1

• Numerous changes before calving 
    o Anatomy
        ▪ Udder development
        ▪ Relaxation of the pelvic ligament 
        ▪ Vulva oedema
    o Physiological
        ▪ Hormonal changes
        ▪ Behavioural changes
        ▪ Body temperature changes
• Onset of calving

Question 2

Calving prediction

Classical method

Answer 2

• Date of AI – expected day of calving
• Visual observation
• Not able to predict the precise day and time of calving (difference can be days)

Question 3

Calving prediction

Modern calving monitoring

Answer 3

• Camera systems

* Sensors

Question 4

Calving prediction

Importance

Answer 4

• Dystocia (prevent it)
    o Complications affecting the cow 
    o Complications affecting the calf 
    o Economy
• Organising labour – available workers 
    o Obstetrical examination – assistance 
    o Care for the dam and calf

Question 5

Equipment suitable for the detection of calving

Answer 5

A. Measurement of general physiological parameters
• RT
• Reticuloruminal temperature and pH
• Activity

B. Specific equipment of the detection of calving
• Special inclinometers/accelerometers (tail)
• Vaginal thermometers – temperature decreases
• Vaginal/vulvar sensor – appearance of the calf in the birth canal
• Abdominal harnesses – straining, uterine contractions

Question 6

A. Measurement of general physiological parameters

Ruminal time

Answer 6

• RT decreases noticeable on Day 1 before calving:
o 15% (Schirmann et al. 2013)
o 26% (Büchel et al. 2014)
• Significant drop in RT 4 to 8 hours before calving
• Resumption of rumination after calving
o 4 to 6 hours (Büchel et al. 2014)
o 355 min on average (approx. 6 hours) (Pahl et al. 2014)

Question 7

A. Measurement of general physiological parameters

Reticuloruminal temperature

Answer 7

• Core temperature decreases in the days before calving (Day 4 to 7)
• Significant drop on Day 1 or 2 before calving
• Different health status – different degree of changes – prediction difficulty

Question 8

A. Measurement of general physiological parameters

Reticuloruminal pH

Answer 8

• Decreases in the days before calving

* Influence of SARA

Question 9

A. Measurement of general physiological parameters

Activity

Answer 9

• Increases on the day of calving (up to 10 hours before)

Question 10

B. Specific equipment of the detection of calving

Accelerometry

Answer 10

Accelerometer attached to the tails
• Attach a few days before expected calving
• Signals increased activity (text message, app alert) – detects raising of
the tail
• Large farm – numerous false positive alerts
o Social interactions
o Feeding
o Farm work, regrouping
• Positive prediction value: 12.6%→not very reliable

Question 11

B. Specific equipment of the detection of calving

Measurement of vaginal temperature

Answer 11

Vaginal thermometer:
• Place in the vagina a few (5 to 7) days before calving
• Detects temperature decrease before calving
• Different size (cow, heifer)
• Hygiene of device and procedure
• Occasionally mild vaginitis
• Text message – calving within 48 hours
• Accuracy around 50% - core body temp. is also affected by other things e.g. heat stress

Question 12

B. Specific equipment of the detection of calving

Appearance of the calf in the birth canal

Answer 12

• Vaginal thermometer
o Emergence of the allantois/amnion or of the hooves of the calf in the birth canal –
expulsion of the device
o Sharp temperature drop at expulsion (even in summer)
o Text message – “expulsion of thermometer”
o Calving usually completed 2 to 4 hours after expulsion – almost 100% accuracy
• Sensor sutured to the vulva:
o Primarily in mares, but experimentally in cows
o Two parts (magnet + transmitter) attached to each other
o Two parts sutured to the two sides of the labia
o Amnion/allantois/calf in birth canal – labia part, magnet slips from the transmitter – signal – start of calving
o Numerous false positives in cows – structure of the labia

Question 13

B. Specific equipment of the detection of calving

Abdominal harness

Answer 13

• Placement a few days before calving
• Detects pressure changes:
    o Uterine contractions
    o Straining
• Text message – start of calving
• Not widespread

Question 14

Conclusion

Answer 14

• Automatic systems can provide useful data of our cows’ health
• Main areas
o Prevention of dystocia
o Early diagnosis of diseases
o Estimation of the risk or metabolic problems
o Improving production parameters

Question 15

Limitations

Answer 15

• Cost
    o Establishing the system, maintenance, incorporation into existing infrastructure 
    o Extra work, time, manpower
• Learning process
    o Operating the system 
    o Analysing the data

What do automatic systems tell us? – that there is a problem But what is the problem? – It’s our job to find out
• 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 limitation