DIGITAL ANIMAL HEALTH MONITORING
The use of sensor technologies for health monitoring in dairy farming
Smartbow ear tag
Picture: Michael Iwersen
Overview of study facility
Picture: Michael Iwersen
Video-based animal monitoring
Picture: Michael Iwersen
The use of sensor and digital technologies for monitoring individual animals is summarized as “Precision Livestock Farming” (PLF). In dairy farms, an automated monitoring of feeding, reproduction, animal health and welfare is in the focus of interest of farmers and veterinarians. However, these topics are also of social relevance. The use of modern sensor technologies aims at initiating timely actions and proactive, prophylactic measures to prevent diseases or shorten the duration of the disease and to avoid a decrease in performance. PLF technologies, thus, have the potential to increase animal health and welfare while improving the economic and ecological efficiency of the farm. However, for most commercial PLF systems, reliable studies evaluating these potential benefits are missing so far.
In this project, the benefit of the SMARTBOW (SB) accelerometer system will be tested in a modern commercial dairy farm in Northern Germany. To evaluate the SB system, standardized clinical health parameters and video recordings of animals’ behaviors in specific lactation periods will be captured. Furthermore, production and environmental factors (e.g. feeding ration and climate data) will be considered.
The primary objective is to assess the accuracy of alerts generated by SB for early identification of conspicuous and/or diseased animals. The "conventional FreshCow-Monitoring" procedure, which is based on standard operating procedures (SOPs) and already established on the farm, will serve as comparison. Furthermore, the usability of the SB system in the herd (health) management as well as the economic benefit of the system is to be determined based on individual cow data captured during the entire lactation.
Lead Researcher:
Priv.-Doz. Dr. Michael Iwersen
Herd Health Management in Ruminants,
University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna
Michael.Iwersen@vetmeduni.ac.at
+43 2672 82335-32
www.vetmeduni.ac.at
