RESUMEN
We have worked on automatically measuring the behavior of dairy cows during automatic milking. A milking robot offers a unique possibility for a dynamic measurement of physical data. Four strain gauge scales were installed into a milking robot in order to measure the weight of each leg separately, and a laser distance sensor was placed next to the robot in order to measure the radial movement of the cow's body surface. The data were collected into a PC. Three video cameras were installed to observe the system, and the data were recorded digitally. From the data, the dynamic weight or load of each leg and the respiration rate of a cow could be measured. Different stages of milking were observed, and the changes in behavior during milking were analyzed. The acquired information could be used to judge a cow's restlessness and welfare--for example, leg health and stress.
Asunto(s)
Enfermedades de los Bovinos/diagnóstico , Industria Lechera/instrumentación , Monitoreo Ambulatorio/veterinaria , Movimiento , Robótica/instrumentación , Bienestar del Animal , Animales , Conducta Animal , Bovinos , Recolección de Datos/instrumentación , Recolección de Datos/métodos , Femenino , Miembro Posterior/fisiología , Cojera Animal/diagnóstico , Monitoreo Ambulatorio/instrumentación , Monitoreo Ambulatorio/métodos , Estrés Psicológico/diagnósticoRESUMEN
An important precondition of a well-functioning dairy production is knowledge about the incidence of environmentally evoked non-infectious diseases in a particular herd, in the region and in the country as a whole. The aim of this study was to determine the incidence rate of environmentally evoked multifactorial diseases in Estonian dairy herds, and to compare the disease incidence in small (< or = 100 cows) and large herds (101-300 cows). The disease incidence was recorded by local veterinarians in twelve production units with a total of 33 cowsheds and about 5000 dairy cows. Fourteen disease groups were formed. In order to describe the range of disease incidence, the relative frequency of each group of diseases was determined, as well as the incidence rate. The 95 % confidence interval was applied in order to assess the reliability of the incidence rates. The most common disorders of Estonian dairy cows are udder diseases, followed by uterine infection, metabolic diseases and retained placenta. The disease incidence in Estonian dairy herds is similar to that of other European countries. Most of the diseases occur more often in small herds than in large herds.