Validation of a new health monitoring system (RumiWatch) for combined automatic measurement of rumination, feed intake, water intake and locomotion in dairy cows.

Abstract

Ruminating activity and feed intake are important non-invasive measurable parameters of ruminant health. In present dairy farming, health problems are causing more than 50% of early cullings of lactating cows. Still a reliable method for automatic measurement of rumination activity and feed intake is not yet available. For this reason a newly developed health monitoring system for dairy cows (RumiWatch) at research station Agroscope Reckenholz-Tanikon ART, Switzerland, aims at the early identification of metabolic problems in ruminants. The sensor-based system enables automatic measurement of rumination, feed intake, water intake and locomotion. It incorporates a noseband sensor, data logger with online data analysis, pedometer and evaluation software. The data are transmitted wireless or using a SD Memory Card to a computer operating the evaluation software. The low-energy system has a focus on long-term (months to several years) operating time at minimized energy consumption. Automatic measurement of parameters is based on a generic algorithm without animal specific learning data. Detailed on-line analysis enables quantification of total rumination time, number of boli and chews per bolus while ruminating. Equivalent analysis is conducted for additional parameters (feed intake, locomotion). For validation of automatic measurement, the evaluation data were analyzed in comparison with direct observation and video observation. Results show that the concordance in quantification of jaw movements by automatic and by visual evaluation was R = 0.7908 for ruminating jaw movements and R = 0.7691 for eating jaw movements. The current RumiWatch health monitoring system is suitable for research and advisory purposes. Going through further stages of development it can contribute to an improved management of animal health to secure animal welfare and profitability of dairy farming.