The Cutting Edge - Article 30 - Developing Technologies in Calf Management

Symposium Review: Precision Technologies for Dairy Calves and Management Applications

Big 3 Infographic at otovets.com/cuttingedge

Link: https://www.journalofdairyscience.org/article/S0022-0302(20)30554-3/fulltext

Big Take Away #1 The authors concluded that disease affects activity in calves, but the differences in greater or lesser activity are more likely attributed to how the calf responds to illness.

Many studies have mapped increases in lying bouts and/or times with accelerometers in calves, but these signs appear variable between different disease processes such as diarrhea, respiratory or navel diseases.

Big Take Away #2:  The authors noted that milk flow and meal size at an autofeeder can play a large role on feeding behavior for calves.

Altering these parameters can change social-group behaviors in calves, total milk intakes and potentially impact other hunger-based behaviors in calves.

Big Take Away #3: The authors also proposed using “optical flow” patterns to detect changes in social dynamics in calf groups prior to diseases outbreaks.

Similar technologies using real-time localization systems could be used to detect social isolation of a sick herd member OR monitor herd behavior for ventilation, cooling, sunlight or other responses to environmental factors.

Symposium Review: Precision Technologies for Dairy Calves and Management Applications

Published by J. Costa, M Cantor, H Neave

Location: University of Kentucky Dairy Science and AgResearch Ltd Hamilton New Zealand

Objective: The objective of this study was to critically review literature on the use of precision dairy technology devices with a focus on accelerometers, automated feeding systems and systems measuring physiological or physical attributes.