One-shot technology for three-dimensional imaging of large animals: perspectives for ruminant management.

In numerous systems of animal production, there is increasing interest in the use of three-dimensional (3D)-imaging technology on farms for its ability to easily and safely measure traits of interest in living animals. With this information, it is possible to evaluate multiple morphological indicators of interest, either directly or indirectly, and follow them through time. Several tools for this purpose were developed, but one of their main weaknesses was their sensitivity to light and animal movement, which limited their potential for large-scale application on farms.

The use of 3-dimensional imaging of Holstein cows to estimate body weight and monitor the composition of body weight change throughout lactation.

Three-dimensional (3D) imaging offers new possibilities in animal phenotyping. Here, we investigated how this technology can be used to study the morphological changes that occur in dairy cows over the course of a single lactation. First, we estimated the individual body weight (BW) of dairy cows using traits measured with 3D images.

Rear shape in 3 dimensions summarized by principal component analysis is a good predictor of body condition score in Holstein dairy cows.

Body condition is an indirect estimation of the level of body reserves, and its variation reflects cumulative variation in energy balance. It interacts with reproductive and health performance, which are important to consider in dairy production but not easy to monitor. The commonly used body condition score (BCS) is time consuming, subjective, and not very sensitive.