novel approaches to expression and detection of oestrus in dairy cows

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Table 4.1 Problems and solutions concerning equipment set up for monitoring of dairy cows using UWB Testing Problem Solution Setup Wire Short circuiting 1 wire connected from battery connection MU antenna breakages Battery power ‘Dropping out’ Disconnection when using a middle connector between battery and MU Cows attracted to visible wires, therefore disconnecting from battery connection Due to prototype format of MU, connection to wire was quite weak, strengthened by cover and fastened with electric tape Due to prototype format antenna protrudes from unit and is prone to breakage with general cow movement, standing up and lying down etc. and the general environment. In view of the need for long term use battery power was tested to see how long MU would last. 2 batteries to 1 unit lasted double the length of time as 1 battery to 1 unit, which is beneficial for long term testing, although the connection was weaker. Signal becomes weak and occasionally units are no longer communicating for a short period of time. This was occasionally due to battery power and connection trouble, but was also attributed to poor position in the cow location disrupting line of sight, especially when the cows remained stationary for long periods. Connection was resumed upon movement. to MU secured into place on battery and MU connection with support, and hidden from view covered by electric tape. Made protective hard plastic cover that did not interfere with signal quality, confirmed by tests at NGI. 1 battery connected via 1 wire connector, which lasts for 13.5 hours. Therefore long term trials should require changing twice daily. Unit resolved the problem almost instantly by reappearing when reconnection was found. 98
Cows’ behaviour was assessed at 5am and 2 cows in oestrus were selected for use, alongside 3 control cows not in oestrus. All 5 cows were equipped with batteries and one MU in a backpack (see Figures 4.3 and 4.4) to record position by UWB. Their behaviour was recorded both by CCTV (PTZ Dome Camera, Pelco-D 2400) and visual observation. Problems were encountered when the backpacks were first put on and the cows released into their locations, with wiring connections and backpacks slipping for the 2 cows in oestrus as these were so active. However data collection continued for approximately 12 hours monitoring oestrus by UWB between 05:06:50 and 16:32:24 hours. Other problems were then encountered towards the end of the trial as batteries ran out of power, however, this did not impact on the results as oestrous behaviour had ceased. Data were then analysed by comparing time of mount, which cows were mounting and standing to be mounted, and duration of mount from CCTV and visual records with UWB raw data. UWB data was then analysed by running a script (MatLab R2012b, The MathWorks, Inc., US) with set, defined limits to define a mount, in order to detect oestrus automatically. Limits were chosen for height, and relationship in the X and Y dimension, to determine oestrus by the cows’ interactions. Duration per mount of 3 seconds was incorporated as a limit in the script; mounts of short duration (less than 3 seconds) were discounted from the analysis because of their similarity with error spikes. When comparing visually recorded mounts post trial with UWB raw data, all mounts could be identified. Results of automated analysis are reported in Table 4.2, identifying the time when mounting and standing to be mounting occurred, which clearly identified the 2 cows in oestrus. The first initial mounts that occurred were in the management/AI stalls which are outside of the BU network therefore these mounts were discounted from analysis as these could be erroneous. The UWB data collected clearly show that mounting and standing to be mounted can be recorded by UWB and detected by specialist scripts to analyse cow position in relation to oestrus. 31 mounts in total were identified by UWB (see Table 4.2), but 48 mounts were reported from CCTV footage (although this included short mounts of less than 2 seconds), which demonstrates that the majority of mounts, 65%, were detected by UWB. 99
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NOVEL APPROACHES TO EXPRESSION AND
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TABLE OF CONTENTS TABLE OF CONTENTS
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2.2.3 Statistical Analyses ........
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5.3 RESULTS .......................
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Furthermore, automated software was
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LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1.1 Hormonal
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LIST OF TABLES Table 1.1 Trends in
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LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS ˚ ˚C μM 2D
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CHAPTER 1 - Introduction & Literatu
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the past 50 years and duration of o
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Oestrus growing follicle (Staigmill
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ecomes the main inhibitor of FSH an
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calf at 40-50 days post partum; inv
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al., 2006). However, aged sperm hav
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can occur within 2-3 days, but if t
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educes the incidence of problem cow
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oestradiol, the LH surge and ovulat
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The secondary signs of oestrus can
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There are also changes in normal be
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engage in more natural behaviours i
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1983). Exact explanations and mecha
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2006) and disruption of LH secretio
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1.4.3.2 Milk Yield and Nutrition Di
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influence the ability of the ovary
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cyclicity can be delayed if dietary
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indication for the optimal time to
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calving), 3) pre-breeding heat date
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1.5.2 Physiological Changes Physiol
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1.5.2.3 Body and Milk Temperature T
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physical activity and stage of the
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caused by the general environment t
Page 63 and 64: may be gained. This is because data
Page 65 and 66: In summary the objective was to for
Page 67 and 68: diet, with concentrates at milking.
Page 69 and 70: oestrus was defined as 3 consecutiv
Page 71 and 72: The interaction between parity and
Page 73 and 74: individual oestrus was not signific
Page 75 and 76: Table 2.4 The effects of the intera
Page 77 and 78: (361 vs. 578 points, respectively,
Page 79 and 80: oestrous expression with increasing
Page 81 and 82: the blood (Sangsritavong et al., 20
Page 83 and 84: CHAPTER 3 - Single Nucleotide Polym
Page 85 and 86: population owing to previous select
Page 87 and 88: Table 3.1 Cont. Follicle Stimulatin
Page 89 and 90: 3.2.4 Sequencing of DNA in the Labo
Page 91 and 92: was achieved. PCR products were rem
Page 93 and 94: 3.4 DISCUSSION The objectives of th
Page 95 and 96: fertility and oestrous expression.
Page 97 and 98: CHAPTER 4 - Development of a Novel
Page 99 and 100: In summary UWB seems a good option
Page 101 and 102: Initial tests were carried out to i
Page 103 and 104: Therefore this demonstrates that X
Page 105 and 106: which is most important for achievi
Page 107 and 108: Figure 4.9 Horizontal - Vertical Di
Page 109 and 110: that UWB is matching the ‘truth
Page 111 and 112: mounting cow. For example height ch
Page 113: Backpack 1 st put on in AI stalls E
Page 117 and 118: or that the cows were in an area of
Page 119 and 120: plane, but mostly in achieving high
Page 121 and 122: Develop techniques for analysis of
Page 123 and 124: in elastic silicone moulded over a
Page 125 and 126: and time of mount, duration of moun
Page 127 and 128: observed matched with increases in
Page 129 and 130: 5.3 RESULTS Results demonstrate pos
Page 131 and 132: Figure 5.2 Graph showing mounting b
Page 133 and 134: Table 5.1 Results from POC 2 showin
Page 135 and 136: Table 5.3 Efficiency and accuracy o
Page 137 and 138: oestrus and oestrus it is clear to
Page 139 and 140: P4 Concentration, ng/ml P4 Concentr
Page 147 and 148: Activity Activity Activity Activity
Page 153 and 154: 5.4 DISCUSSION The aim of this work
Page 155 and 156: averaged 70% which was lower than t
Page 157 and 158: when the cows lie down, especially
Page 159 and 160: the level of oestrous activity was
Page 161 and 162: technology larger herds must be mon
Page 163 and 164: monitoring could also monitor non-l
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antennae which could affect accurac
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predispose cows to illness e.g. met
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CHAPTER 6 - Overall Discussion & Co
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oestrus, h 2 =0.27 (Lovendahl et al
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The final section of this thesis de
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ate. By using UWB in a commercial s
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provides an insight the potential o
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BLOWEY, R. (2005) Factors associate
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ovine gonadotrophin releasing hormo
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GINTHER, O. J., KOT, K., KULICK, L.
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associated with embryonic survival
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ody condition at parturition on end
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Signs in a 24-h Tie-Stalled Dairy H
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SHERMAN, E. L., NKRUMAH, J. D., MUR
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Influence of negative energy balanc
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novel approaches to expression and detection of oestrus in dairy cows

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