#Livestock management

[knight-in-baggy-sweatpants]

it is literal agony to read anything about livestock animals that is from the pov of or written by someone who does not know anything about the industry that surrounds them. i don't think i've ever said it here, but i've lived on a farm since i was just barely a teenager. one thing that the meat industry depends on is CHILDREN "showing" their animals at competitions, YES like dog shows. My brother and two of my sisters started out showing dairy cows(of which there was a competitive team already in place at my school), but two of them no longer show at all and my sister now shows pigs.

And the entire operation is focused on getting your animals the best they can be for either breeding or market(those are the actual official categories for pigs. for cows it is either dairy or beef) and those are two completely different categories with different standards! and there are so many different breeds of any livestock animal, and at least for cows they are specialized for one of the two categories! You would never see a Holstein heifer shown for beef, just like you would never see an Angus steer shown for dairy! they also have very different grooming standards and builds; dairy cows are much thinner, clean-shaven, and you should be able to easily see their prominent hip-bones and first few ribs, while beef cows are much stockier with shorter legs, usually left hairy and only trimmed a little. i'm not as familiar with beef cow standards but i know you aren't expected to be able to see their ribs.

all this is to say, if you describe an animal's breed or even just markings, i can usually identify which breed you're talking about(it is always a Holstein for cows). But then you go on to describe them as large and in charge, and that is NOT how dairy cows should be! if you want a big, tough cow, at LEAST go for a breed that is MEANT to be that way.

and YES, this IS about Batcow fics.

[kikisagroplace]

Pig pregnancy: All you need to know.

As a pig farmer, chances are that you (at some point) will be expecting piglets. If that’s the case, then you will find yourself with a pregnant gilt or sow as well. In this post we are going to dive in to what you can expect with pig pregnancy.It can be a little overwhelming to think about the birthing process and pregnancy of a different species of pigs.Pig pregnancy is no different. Being a…

[farmerstrend]

Agricultural Extension Services: The Missing Link in Kenya’s Economic Transformation

Discover how investing in agricultural extension services can drive sustainable economic growth in Kenya, enhance food security, and empower small-scale farmers to thrive. Learn why strengthening agricultural extension services is crucial for revitalizing Kenya’s farming sector and achieving the goals of the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda. Explore the role of agricultural extension…

[agrinextcon]

RFID Tags on Livestock Management: Improving Efficiency and Traceability

Introduction

The livestock industry plays a critical role in global food production, with millions of animals raised and processed every year. However, traditional methods of livestock management can be time-consuming, labour-intensive, and prone to errors. 

Radio Frequency Identification( RFID) technology offers a solution to these challenges, enabling farmers and ranchers to efficiently track, monitor, and manage their animals. By attaching RFID tags to livestock, producers can access real-time data on animal identity, location, health, and movement, leading to improved decision-making, increased productivity, and enhanced animal welfare. In this blog, we will explore the benefits and applications of RFID tags in livestock management, and how this technology is revolutionizing the industry.

Applications of RFID Tags in Livestock Management:

Tagging an animal with numbered identification has many uses depending on the type of animal, but, generally, it is used for differentiating animals from one another. Both domestic animals and livestock are commonly implanted with a chip, collared, tattooed, or tagged with a plastic or metal plate to identify them visually or electronically.

Enhancing Efficiency

RFID tags streamline various aspects of livestock management, making processes more efficient:

Identification and Tracking: RFID tags enable unique identification of each animal, allowing for accurate tracking of movement, location, and ownership. This helps prevent theft, ensures accurate record-keeping, and enables efficient sorting and grouping of animals.

Health and Wellness Monitoring: RFID tags can be used to track animal health records, vaccination schedules, and medical treatments. This enables farmers to quickly identify and isolate sick animals, reducing the risk of disease transmission and improving overall herd health.

Feeding and Breeding Program Management: RFID tags can be used to monitor feeding schedules, nutrient intake, and breeding programs. This enables farmers to optimize feeding strategies, improve reproductive outcomes, and make data-driven decisions to improve overall livestock productivity.

Enhancing Traceability

RFID technology significantly improves traceability in the livestock industry:

Disease Control: In the event of a disease outbreak, RFID tags enable rapid identification and isolation of affected animals, preventing the spread of diseases and ensuring quick response measures.

When farmers buy, sell, or trade livestock, cohabitating animals from different environments are at risk for developing or transmitting diseases to the new area – even if they currently do not show symptoms. Common diseases on farms include Foot-and-Mouth Disease, BVD (Bovine Viral Diarrhoea), and Bovine tuberculosis, all of which are highly contagious and can spread quickly throughout a herd causing a variety of effects depending on the disease and animal.

Supply Chain Transparency:

 RFID tags provide detailed records of an animal's history, from birth to slaughter. This transparency is crucial for consumers and regulatory bodies concerned about food safety and animal welfare.

Compliance and Reporting:

 RFID tags help farmers comply with regulatory requirements by maintaining accurate records and facilitating easy reporting to authorities.

Latest Developments

Recent advancements in RFID technology are further enhancing its application in livestock management:

Integration with IoT: Combining RFID tags with Internet of Things (IoT) devices enables more sophisticated monitoring and data analytics. For example, sensors can measure environmental conditions, providing insights into how factors like temperature and humidity affect livestock health.

Blockchain for Enhanced Security: Integrating RFID data with blockchain technology ensures tamper-proof records, enhancing the credibility of traceability information. This integration is particularly beneficial in addressing concerns related to food fraud and ensuring the authenticity of organic and premium products.

Miniaturization and Cost Reduction: 

There is a trend towards smaller and more cost-effective RFID components. This miniaturization and cost reduction make RFID technology more accessible and scalable, allowing for wider adoption across different industries and applications.

Advanced Analytics: The use of AI and machine learning algorithms on data collected from RFID tags allows for predictive analytics. Farmers can anticipate health issues, optimize feeding schedules, and improve overall herd performance based on data-driven insights.

Case Study: Cargill's RFID Implementation

Cargill joins the U.S. CattleTrace program with the aim of  developing a national infrastructure for disease traceability. Cargill, a leading food corporation, implemented RFID technology in their cattle feeding operations to improve efficiency and accuracy. By tagging each animal with an RFID ear tag, Cargill can:

Track animal movement and location

 Monitor feeding habits and optimize nutrition

 Identify health issues earlier

Reduce manual data entry errors

         Results:

 Improved accuracy of animal identification and tracking

Enhanced data analysis for better decision-making

Increased efficiency in feeding and health management

 Better animal welfare

"At Cargill, we believe that embracing innovative technologies like RFID not only enhances our operational efficiency but also ensures the highest standards of animal welfare and food safety." 

— David MacLennan, CEO of Cargill

Leading RFID Technology Providers

GAO RFID is a global provider of RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) technology, offering a wide range of RFID hardware, software, and systems. Their products include RFID readers, tags, antennas, and integrated solutions designed for various industries such as healthcare, manufacturing, supply chain, and logistics. GAO RFID focuses on delivering efficient, scalable, and cost-effective RFID solutions to help businesses improve operational efficiency, track assets, manage inventory, and enhance security.

Alien Technology offers RFID tags, readers, and integrated solutions for various applications, including retail, healthcare, transportation, and asset tracking. They are known for their innovative products and contributions to advancing RFID technology.

Conclusion

In today's fast-paced and competitive agricultural industry, adopting RFID technology is no longer a luxury, but a necessity. The use of RFID tags in livestock management is a prime example of how technology can revolutionize traditional practices, leading to improved efficiency, productivity, and profitability. 

By automating data collection, reducing manual errors, and enabling real-time decision-making, RFID technology empowers farmers and ranchers to streamline their operations, enhance animal care, and respond swiftly to changing market demands. As the global demand for food continues to grow, embracing innovative solutions like RFID will be crucial for the livestock industry to meet these challenges head-on, ensuring a sustainable and food-secure future for generations to come.

AgriNext Awards,Conference & Expo 2024

Venue: Festival City, Dubai

AgriNext Awards Conference & Expo is set to be a landmark event in the agriculture sector, bringing together industry leaders, innovators, and experts from around the globe. The event promises to showcase the latest advancements in agriculture technology, sustainable practices, and industry trends.

Why Attend? AgriNext offers an unparalleled opportunity to connect with industry pioneers, gain insights into the latest technologies, and explore innovative solutions that are shaping the future of agriculture. Whether you are a farmer, researcher, investor, or policymaker, AgriNext provides a platform to learn, network, and collaborate.

Join us at AgriNext 2024 to be at the forefront of agricultural innovation!

Register Now: AgriNext 2024 Registration

AgriNext Awards, Conference & Expo 2024 is the place to be for anyone passionate about the future of agriculture. Don't miss out on this opportunity to engage with industry leaders, explore cutting-edge technologies, and drive the next wave of agricultural innovation.

[indoorverticalfarmingnews]

AgriWebb Secures $7.2M in Funding to Enhance Digital Beef Cattle Management

Key Takeaways: Substantial Investment: AgriWebb raises $7.2 million with new and existing investors, enhancing its digital livestock management capabilities. Diverse Investor Support: Swedish firm Munters Group joins as a new investor alongside continued support from Germin8 Ventures, Grosvenor Food & AgTech, and Telus Ventures. Proven Track Record: Previously, AgriWebb raised $40 million in…

[juniperpublishers-jdvs]

Causes of Carcass Condemnation and its Associated Financial Losses in Slaughtered Pigs at the Kumasi Abattoir Company Limited

Abstract

The study was conducted from August 2017 to December 2017 at the Kumasi Abattoir Company Limited to investigate the causes of carcass condemnation in slaughtered pigs and their associated financial losses. Out of the 1221 pigs examined, 212(17.4%) were affected with pathological conditions. The five most frequent pathological conditions were: Lung congestion (7.9%), Ascariasis (2.7%), Cysticercosis (2.4%), Liver congestion (1.1%) and Liver abscess (0. 9%). Pathological conditions were more prevalent (57%) in female pigs than in males (43%). Cross bred pigs were more (81%) affected by pathological conditions than the local Ashanti black pig (19%). The overall carcass condemnation rate was 1.7% with Cysticercosis being the major cause. The average condemnation rate of visceral organs was 1.8 %. Annually, a total of One hundred thousand, six hundred and twenty-eight cedis, seventy-two Pesewas (GHc100, 628.72) was lost due to condemnation of carcasses and organs at the Kumasi Abattoir. Butchers, pig owners and other stakeholders should be educated on pre-slaughter management and handling of animals

Keywords: Pigs; Cysticercosis; Lung congestion; Ascarioisis

Abbrevations: MOFA: Ministry of Food and Agriculture; GHc: Ghana cedis; GDP: Gross Domestic Product

Introduction

Agriculture employs about 60% of the working population and contributes to 21.5% of Ghana’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) [1]. The livestock population in Ghana is estimated to be 682,000 pigs, 1,657,000 cattle, 4,335,000 sheep and 6,044,000 goats [2]. Swine production is an important economic activity in Ghana due to the high prolificacy and high feed conversion rates of pigs. Pigs are reared under intensive conditions on many farms in the Greater Accra, Ashanti, Brong Ahafo and Volta regions of Ghana [3]. Unfortunately, there is poor documentation on swine diseases in the country. The availability of this information will be invaluable for designing disease control mechanisms. The abattoir has been recognized as a reliable source of information on livestock diseases. This study therefore seeks to investigate the causes of carcass condemnation in pigs slaughtered at the Kumasi abattoir and assess the associated financial losses.

Materials and Methods

The study was conducted from August to December 2017 at the hog unit of the Kumasi Abattoir Company Limited (KACL). The study population were pigs brought for daily slaughter at the hog line during the peak hours of 6 am and 10 am. The abattoir was visited thrice in a week during the study period. Ante mortem inspection was conducted on pigs at the lairage. The pigs passed for slaughter were led to the hog line for stunning and slaughtering. Postmortem inspection was conducted on them by trained veterinary personnel [4]. After inspection, the number of carcasses passed for human consumption and number of partial or totally condemned carcasses were recorded. The reason/s for carcass condemnation was noted for each case and the financial losses associated with carcass condemnations were estimated as described by [5] and modified as follows: Annual Financial loss due to total carcass condemnation = average slaughter rate* condemnation rate of carcass* prevailing market price of average carcass.

Annual Financial loss due to viscera’s condemnation = average slaughter rate *condemnation rate of viscera * prevailing market price of viscera. The total financial losses due to condemnation was obtained from the sum of the losses due to whole carcass and viscera condemnation respectively. Data obtained were analyzed using descriptive statistics

Results and Discussion

The proportion and causes of carcass condemnation are presented in Table 1. Out of the 1221 pigs examined, 21 (1.72%) carcasses were totally condemned, while 191(15.64%) were partially condemned. Partial condemnation included the rejection of diseased offal’s as well as trimmings on the carcass itself. In this study, total condemnation of carcasses was due solely to generalized cysticercosis. The low rate of total carcass condemnation was similar to reports by [6] at a commercial slaughterhouse in Brazil. The prevalence of porcine cysticercosis at this abattoir had previously been reported by [7]. Cysticercosis is an emerging agricultural and public health problem in Africa [8,9]. The risk factors for cysticercosis in developing countries have been identified as general poverty, free ranging of pigs, poor sanitary conditions and home slaughter of pigs without inspection [9,10].

The rate of partial carcass condemnation of 15.64% in this study was lower than (25.44%) recorded at the Addis Ababa Municipal Abattoir [10]. This could be due to difference in location, environmental conditions and slaughtering methods used. The top five causes of partial carcass condemnation in descending order were as follows: lung congestion (7.94%), Ascariosis (2.70%), liver congestion (1.06%), liver abscess (0.90%) and localized cysticercosis (0.65%). These findings are similar to reports by [11] that the major causes of partial carcass condemnation in pigs slaughtered at a municipal abattoir in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, were hydatidosis, cysticercosis, fasciolosis, liver cirrhosis, pneumonia and abscesses. On the other hand, these findings contradict a report in Northern Portugal by [12]. They concluded that Osteomyelitis (38.5%), Granulomatous lymphadenitis (22.7%), pleurisy/ pneumonia (21.2%), abscesses (8.4 %) and peritonitis (2.6%) were the main causes of carcass and organ condemnation

The financial losses associated with carcass condemnation were calculated as: described by [5] For this study, partial carcass condemnation included carcass trimming and rejected offal’s. At this abattoir, the offal’s were considered as a lot and as priced as such. The annual slaughter of pigs as taken from the abattoir records was 9805. Annually, a total of One hundred and six thousand, five hundred and fifty-four cedis, eighty-six pesewas (GHc 106,554.86) was lost due to carcass condemnation at this abattoir (Table 2). At an exchange rate of GHc4.90= 1 US dollar, this was equivalent to 21, 745.89 United States dollars

Conclusion and Recommendations

Porcine cysticercosis was the main cause of total carcass condemnation. The annual financial loss associated with carcass condemnation amounted to One hundred and six thousand, five hundred and fifty-four cedis, eighty-six pesewas (GHc 106,554.86) or 21, 745.89 United States Dollars. It is recommended that Farmers should be educated on intensive pig rearing. The butchers, pre-slaughter animal handlers should be educated on pre-slaughter management and handling of animals.

To Know More About  Journal of Dairy & Veterinary sciences

Please click on: https://juniperpublishers.com/jdvs/index.php

For more Open Access Journals in Juniper Publishers

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[puppyeared]

id fumble him so bad

[serpentface]

FAMILY TITLES AMONG THE HILL TRIBES

(ft. various linguistic notes and tangents)

In-universe Brakul’s self-given title of ‘Red-Dog’ is Brakul 'ne-Dainh' in his native language (Bict-Urbinnas dialect of the Highland language group) and Brakul 'Chin-Reyla' in Wardi. Ne-Dainh/Chin-Reyla is not something he treats as or considers an actual surname or identity, just a self-styled nickname. He already has a title.

Family names/surnames are not a native practice among the Hill Tribes (though some clans or individual families have adopted this practice), and all traditionally use titles that designate immediate ancestry, clan and tribe. These full titles are officially given when one comes of age and are spoken aloud in ceremony (with the entire direct male and female lines listed by name, with most traditions expecting 12 generations of each being named).

The function is to cement one’s sense of place in the world, and their place in a direct ancestral line, which puts the person under the full watch and guidance of their ancestors. It's also a critical method of recording lineage- the long held practice of each person memorizing at least 24 total direct ancestors allows for very long, largely accurate records of family history to be kept, with some people able to trace their ancestry all the way back to initial settlement of the Highlands (or even beyond).

Brakul’s full title is:

“Brakul virsum Kuligan et Borunil an Briyonis ne-Taig an Bict-Urbinnas”

Which dead literally translates to “Brakul son of Kuligan and Borunil of the Foothills (of) Red-Cattle, of the North (Urbin/Erubin) River Valley” but has a much richer meaning in the original language.

"BRAKUL VIRSUM KULIGAN ET BORUNIL"

The actual meaning here is closer to ‘Brakul, son of Kuligan and his father’s fathers, and Borunil and her mother’s mothers’.

“Virsum” means ‘child (son/daughter) of’ (the gender is contextual), but implies the person’s status as a descendant of a full male and female line of ancestors. A different word is used if you’re just saying ‘I’m so and so’s son”. The title describes him as a son of his father Kuligan and of Kuligan’s male line, and of his mother Borunil and Borunil's female line.

All ancestors (within this particular system of kinship, divided into one direct male line from the father and one direct female line from the mother, and not including husbands from the female line or wives from the male line) are invoked and credited with the word ‘virsum’. Speaking it as part of the personal title is part of the routine and necessary honoring of one’s ancestors, who watch over their descendants from the afterlife and can temporarily return to the land to guide and protect (and sometimes punish, or teach sharp lessons to) the living.

"AN BRIYONIS NE-TAIG"

The actual meaning here would be understood as ‘clan/people of the foothills where cattle are lit red by the setting sun'.

‘Briyonis’ is the word for ‘foothill’, citing his clan’s specific location being the foothills that form the slopes of the north Urbin river valley. He is of a lesser clan within the powerful North Urbin River tribe. His clan benefits from close affiliation to their more powerful ruling clans located directly in the river valley, which grants them access to a greater variety of cultivated foods, but their actual position in the foothills still renders them predominantly reliant on cattle for subsistence. Clan names referencing cattle or horses are very common, given their frequent centrality to life.

The ‘ne-Taig’ literally means ‘red cattle’, but the ‘ne’ color word for red specifically invokes shades of red seen in and cast by a rising/setting sun. This red cast is culturally regarded as a unique beauty and evocative (and part of the name) of the solar god Hraighne. The foothills his clan is physically located on are a vantage point from which the western horizon is not fully obscured by mountains, and they experience very striking sunsets and are directly touched by the light. This is fairly unique to this location, and is invoked in the clan name and identity. ‘Ne-Taig’ here suggests a visual of grazing cattle illuminated red by the sun as it crosses the horizon.

‘Ne-Dainh’ carries the same implication, a dog illuminated red by setting sunlight. The Wardi language does not have a comparable word for a sunlit red and ‘Chin-Reyla’ really does just mean ‘(orangeish) red dog’ (‘reyla’ is specific to orangey-red colors, which is the closest match he could get. There’s no way to impart the meaning of ‘sunlit-red dog’ in Wardi that is non-clunky enough to be appropriate for a name).

"AN BICT-URBINNAS"

‘an Bict-Urbinnas’ is fairly simple, Bict means ‘north’, and 'Urbin' is the name of the specific river that stems from a northern and eastern tributary. This river has a very ancient name (or a derivative of one) that predates settlement by the Hill Tribes, and its exact meaning is lost.

The root -(n)nas designates a river valley, but has strong implications of being an esteemed and bountiful place, rather than solely a literal geographical descriptor (as the river valleys are centers of power and trade in the highlands). It may be a loanword from the Wardi language family, as its usage is VERY similar in form and function to the Wardi -(n)nos, which also suggests a place of esteem and bounty (more specifically having connotations of a kingdom).

’An’ literally means ‘of’, but in the specific sense of describing the place and identity of a collection of people. ‘an Bict Urbinnas’ would be understood in speech as ‘of the north Urbin River Valley (people)’. The clans historically settled in and around the valley of the North Urbin River form the totality of the Bict-Urbinnas tribe.

The ‘Urbin’ word predates the contemporary Wardi name ‘Erubin’ for the river, the latter of which invokes the semi-mythological founding figure Erub, who himself was of a Wardi tribe located downriver to the south of the Highlands. The real historically extant ‘Erub’ was most likely named Urub after the river, with his cited name shifting over the centuries in folklore, and the Wardi name for the river shifting with it.

‘Erubin’ as a corruption of ‘Urbin’ functions very well in Wardi language due to ‘-bi/bin’ denoting something as a ‘gift’, usually in a more metaphorical sense. ‘Erubin’ is understood as meaning ‘(The river that is) Erub’s gift’, and the Erubin/Urbin river is a key tributary to the much larger Black river, one of the key rivers that feeds the region's wetter and more fertile west. This 'gift' meaning also occurs in the name of the southeastern Imperial Wardi city-state Erubinnos, which is understood as meaning ’((The kingdom that is) Erub’s gift’. He is considered to have conquered and taken the land (from the core city's actual founders, the Wogan people) and established a kingdom there in the early days of warring Wardi tribal monarchies.

[art-of-wackylurker]

Well hello there, who's up for some fucked up horse?

Hogsteed, ladies and gentlemen. Or Hellspawns, as some might call them...

So yea it's one of the species I'm making up for fanfic purposes as none of the existing creatures in the SW universe (both canon and legends) fit my needs. Also because I'm making up a whole planet as none of the existing ones was just about right for me...

Here's the design, more detailed info will appear later. Somewhere. When I finally get myself to continue writing that fanfic. Yea...

[savageboar]

city ppl will describe games that are entirely about rural manual labor as "cozy" but i know damn well they wouldn't last 30 seconds on an actual farm

[creaturefeaster]

Where’s oynx at? Haven’t heard about them in a while :(

This guy? He died a couple years ago due to kidney complications. He was prone to a lot of kidney stones and infections, and he was on the older side (9) when he passed.

[kikisagroplace]

For fish farmers: Find out if you have been feeding your fish correctly.

There are wrong methods of feeding fish that result in inadequate, improper, or poorly timed nutrition. Below are common mistakes: 1. Spot and Broadcast Feeding:       Spot Feeding: Feeding from one location.     Advantages of spot feeding:        – Helps monitor fish hunger, health, and growth.        – Reduces feed waste as fish gather in one spot.        – Less effort as feed is…

[farmerstrend]

From Wall Street to Farmstead: How James Kahiga Found Meaning in Dorper Sheep Farming

“Discover how James Kahiga transitioned from Wall Street to Dorper Sheep Farming in Kenya, establishing Capri Dorper Farm with innovative, sustainable practices.” “Explore the success story of Dorper Sheep Farming at Capri Dorper Farm, where James Kahiga combines financial expertise with sustainable agriculture.” “Learn about Dorper Sheep Farming and the innovative zero-grazing model at Capri…

[raffaellopalandri]

Book of the Day - Holistic Management

Today’s Book of the Day is Holistic Management: A Commonsense Revolution to Restore Our Environment, written by Allan Savory in 2016 and published by Island Press. Allan Savory is a Zimbabwean livestock farmer, co-founder and president of the Savory Institute. He is the creator of holistic management, a systems thinking approach to better management of resources. Holistic Management, by Allan…

[juniperpublishers-jdvs]

Implications for Dairy Cattle of Modern Technological Advances (II) Physiological and Behaviour Monitoring Technology

Introduction

In an industry as highly competitive as agriculture, the perpetually increasing pressure to produce cheaper sources of protein is further suffocating already meagre profit margins. In the past decade, in particular, a surge in the number of commercially available precision-farming products, utilising technologies common to the research sector are helping some farmers transform their business operations. Wearable technologies have become commonplace on farms looking to gain a competitive edge. Cow collars, anklets, smart ear-tags and indwelling rumen-boluses take advantage of low-cost, mass-produced sensor components to offer multi-faceted health-monitoring solutions. Accelerometers monitor animal movement, gyroscope sensors record ruminal contractions, ion-sensitive glass electrodes track fluctuations in rumen pH, thermistors and thermocouples register temperature and Bluetooth or radiotelemetric elements transmit data to receiver stations which push data up to the cloud for analysis, interpretation and translation into useable information for clients. In addition, with continued research into the use of infrared-thermography, along with computer-vision and artificially intelligent machine-learning technologies for use in animal health monitoring and biometric analysis, it is likely that we will continue to see an increase in monitoring technologies of an even less-invasive nature.

Proposed benefits

Electronic identification (EID) technologies are commonly incorporated into livestock monitoring devices and provide an easily accessible method of monitoring multiple performance parameters for individual animals. Data gathered from smart- devices or machinery can be analysed to highlight areas where the farm is excelling or where practices need adjustment. The value of single animals can also be analysed and poor performing members can be removed from the herd.

The benefits of precision-farming technologies appear obvious; earlier disease detection is particularly beneficial in large herds where animals are not examined regularly on an individual basis or where there is a high risk of contagion. Rumination, recumbency and pH monitoring are being used to the benefit of the farmer to detect metabolic disorders such as subacute ruminal acidosis and infrared thermography has the ability to detect subtle changes in body temperature, indicating a departure from good health. This can be particularly useful in the detection of diseases such as mastitis, which costs the US dairy industry an estimated $2 billion annually, or about 11% of total U.S. milk production quite apart from the great concern in terms of animal welfare. A study of infrared thermography on dairy farms [1] (Figure 1) showed a significant relationship between udder surface skin temperature and somatic cell count in collected milk samples. Sensitivity and specificity in the classification of udder health were: 78.6% and 77.9%, respectively [2]. These may seem relatively low but given the ease of imaging udders versus obtaining somatic cell counts, they are an excellent start in evaluating udder health.

Where else might we see an increase in temperature in inflamed tissue? Ompahilitis in newborn calves is a significant health issue One recent study showed the maximum temperature of the lateral umbilical region in calves aged less than 30 days to be 35.7 ±1.8°C in a control group of calves and 37.0±1.1°C in the omphalitis group this being significantly different at p = 0.002 [3]. Given the low cost of handheld non-contact thermal imagers this would be a very valuable tool for diagnosis by the farmer of umbilical infection in young calves.

Lameness is a common affliction in dairy herds and is responsible for 10.4% of all dairy cows culled in the UK [4]. The cost of replacements is high and therefore early detection of the condition is critical so that swift treatment and resolution can occur. This not only has positive welfare benefits for the animal but saves the farmer direct costs associated with culling and the indirect costs associated with rearing a replacement heifer. Thermography to detect hoof lesions associated with lameness by measuring the changes in coronary band and hoof skin surface temperature can be really valuable (Figure 2) [5]. Perhaps more helpful is digital technology detecting changes in locomotion. Accelerometers (Figure 3) can readily detect changes in locomotion significantly earlier than simple human observation shows a lameness to be developing [6] and software packages such as Cow-Gait have been developed to monitor locomotion [7]. But as Alsaaod and colleagues have noted [8] technology to detect lameness and develop algorithms in evaluating locomotor data is widely discussed but we have very few papers documenting decisions over when to act in individual animals with subclinical lameness.

Accurate estrus detection too is critical to a dairy enterprise. Visual assessment is not always reliable, bulling cows are easily missed when not being directly observed and each unnoticed estrus period results in a 21-day extension to an animal’s calving interval. The advent of modern technology allows signs of oestrus to be recorded and alerts sent to the farmer or technician performing artificial insemination (AI), along with a time that is best to serve the cow, resulting in increased conception rates. Similarly, detection of calving is equally important should the animal need assistance as the loss of a calf due to avoidable circumstances is particularly disappointing. Accelerometers attached to head collars (Figure 4) determine movements of the head rather than the whole animal and these systems such as SMARTBOW have been shown to detect behaviours associated with estrus [9]. Thermography can be a useful tool also – in one study nine anatomical locations (vulva area, tail head, muzzle, front feet, rump, cheek, neck, and withers) but not eye or flank exhibited an increase in radiated temperature during the last 48 h before estrus [10].

Dealing with Data

The amount of information obtained from a set of monitoring devices from thermal imaging, movement detection, ruminal boluses and so on can be large to the extent of being completely unmanagemeable. Here the employment of artificial intelligence is crucial [11,12]. Machine learning can allow appropriate weighting of data regarding milk composition and electrical conductivity to detect subclinical mastitis, a huge problem in the dairy industry. Lactoferrin concentration, sodium levels and protein concentration were found mlore predictive in one study than data such as concentration and milk yield [13].

Potential Drawbacks

Drawbacks to precision farming technologies are limited but noteworthy. Devices incorporate a host of technologies as discussed above, but as of yet, there is no unified solutions capable of recording all of the measurable parameters already discussed, only a combination. Each company producing such wearable devices is fighting for a market share and is in control of data gathered through their devices. Analysis and interpretation of said data will vary. There are currently no standards governing analysis techniques concerned with livestock monitoring data, which involves the use of multiple algorithms [1] and evidence suggests that the interpretation of this data can be quite varied [2].

Mobile monitoring devices are susceptible to physical damage, environmental exposure and failure of transmitter or sensor components. Battery life varies greatly between devices and is a key consideration when selecting a compatible solution as device initial purchase outlays are often considerable and even costprohibitive for many farmers.

A last potential deleterious effect is that too great a reliance on technology may lead to farmers paying much less attention to their animals with a reduction in welfare. Having said that the 24:7 ability to monitor the cattle and the use of AI (artificial intelligence not insemination in this case!) to correlate the data arising from the digital technology noted above can only be of benefit to the animals. A herdsman’s ‘gut feeling’ about the state of his or her animals has always been seen as a key part of dairy farming but detailed information about locomotion, behavioural changes, body temperature or changes occurring in disease cannot be anything but beneficial.

To Know More About  Journal of Dairy & Veterinary sciences

Please click on: https://juniperpublishers.com/jdvs/index.php

For more Open Access Journals in Juniper Publishers

please click on: https://juniperpublishers.com/index.php