Investigation of infrared thermography for automatic health monitoring in dairy cows Artikel uri icon

Open Access

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Peer Reviewed

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Abstract

  • Infrared thermography as a non-invasive method for automatic health monitoring in dairy herds was investigated at two commercial farms using a total of 552 dairy cows (Holstein-Friesian). Therefore the infrared camera was integrated into the milking parlor and infrared images of the cows were taken at every milking. Investigations showed that surface temperature measured by infrared thermography is mainly influenced by ambient temperature (correlations about 0.6) and daytime (infrared temperatures 0.2 ... 0.4 K higher at evening milking than at morning milking). All other factors (air pressure, relative humidity, wind speed, cleanliness) investigated can be neglected for further studies under similar conditions. There was no relation for infrared temperature measured at lower leg area and rectal temperature. In addition there was also no relation between infrared temperature of rear udder quarters and electrical conductivity of these quarters found. But cows with udder disease show significantly different infrared temperatures of rear udder quarters than cows with healthy udders (p < 0.10; t-Test). Cows with latent infection, unspecific mastitis and mastitis of rear udder quarters can be detected by daily infrared thermography with sensitivities of around 30% and specificities of around 70% if the change of surface temperature is considered individually for the animal. The technology of infrared thermography is useful for the development of automatic health monitoring system for dairy herds.

Veröffentlichungszeitpunkt

  • Januar 3, 2012