Automated dairy cattle lameness detection utilizing the power of artificial intelligence; current status quo and future research opportunities.

Lameness represents a major welfare and health problem for the dairy industry across all farming systems. Visual mobility scoring, although very useful, is labour-intensive and physically demanding, especially in large dairies, often leading to inconsistencies and inadequate uptake of the practice. Technological and computational advancements of artificial intelligence (AI) have led to the development of numerous automated solutions for livestock monitoring.

Initial validation of an intelligent video surveillance system for automatic detection of dairy cattle lameness.

Introduction: Lameness is a major welfare challenge facing the dairy industry worldwide. Monitoring herd lameness prevalence, and early detection and therapeutic intervention are important aspects of lameness control in dairy herds. The objective of this study was to evaluate the performance of a commercially available video surveillance system for automatic detection of dairy cattle lameness (CattleEye Ltd).

Phenotypical Variation of Ruminal Volatile Fatty Acids and pH during the Peri-Weaning Period in Holstein Calves and Factors Affecting Them.

Two hundred and forty-three clinically healthy Holstein calves from eight commercial dairy farms were used to: (a) describe the evolutionary course of ruminal VFA concentration and pH during the peri-weaning period and (b) assess management factors affecting their phenotypical variation of these parameters. Management practices were recorded individually for each calf as these were not fixed within farms. Samples of ruminal fluid were collected at -7 d, 0 d, and 7 d relative to weaning.

Hematology reference intervals during the prepartum period, first week after calving, and peak lactation in clinically healthy Holstein cows.

Dairy cows face precipitous metabolic adaptations during the first postpartum week. Increasing knowledge of their hematologic profiles during this period could benefit both veterinary clinical pathologists and bovine practitioners. The objectives of this study were: (a) to establish period-specific RIs for Holstein dairy cows and (b) to assess the potential simultaneous effect of several factors on hematology parameters.

Association of Body Condition Score with Ultrasound Measurements of Backfat and Longissimus Dorsi Muscle Thickness in Periparturient Holstein Cows.

Most cows experience a period of nutrient deficit during the periparturient period. Body condition scoring (BCS) is widely used on farms to assess body nutrient reserves and mobilization. The aims of this study were to: (i) determine the association of BCS with ultrasound measurements of backfat (BFT) and longissimus dorsi muscle thickness (LDT) during the periparturient period of Holstein cows from different herds, accounting for potential sources of variation, such as herd, parity and period relative to calving and (ii) establish reference intervals (RIs) for BFT and LDT per BCS estimate.

Effect of injectable eprinomectin on milk quality and yield of dairy ewes naturally infected with gastrointestinal nematodes.

The objective was to investigate the effect of injectable eprinomectin on milk yield and quality of dairy ewes naturally infected with gastrointestinal nematodes when grazing in communal pastures. Onehundred and fifty (150) clinically healthy adult lactating ewes, equally selected from 3 farms, were included in the study. On day -7, the ewes on each farm were randomly allocated into 2 equal groups of 25 animals (n=50): Control group (C) and Treated group (T).

Association of bulk tank milk urea nitrogen concentration with elevated individual cow values and investigation of sampling frequency for accurate assessment.

Individual milk urea nitrogen (MUN) levels ≥ 19.63 mg/dL have been recently reported to significantly affect fertility. The objectives of the present study were to (a) predict the percentage of cows with elevated MUN within a herd using bulk tank (BTMUN) levels, in the absence of individual MUN records, and (b) establish a sampling frequency protocol for the assessment of actual BTMUN levels.

Anthelmintic activity of injectable eprinomectin (eprecis 20 mg/mL) in naturally infected dairy sheep.

The anthelmintic activity of an injectable eprinomectin formulation (Eprecis 20 mg/mL) was evaluated in 150 naturally infected dairy sheep raised in 3 semi-intensive flocks. All ewes were at the same stage of lactation and grazed on natural pastures. Ewes did not receive any anthelmintic treatment for at least 4 months prior to the experiment.

Hematology reference intervals for neonatal Holstein calves.

Data regarding hematologic reference intervals (RI) for neonatal calves have not been published yet. The aims of this study were: a) to establish hematology RIs for neonatal Holstein calves, b) to compare them with the RIs for lactating cows, and c) to investigate the relationship of age and gender with the hematologic profile of calves. Two-hundred and fifty-four clinically healthy Holstein calves (1-9days old, from 30 farms) and 82 healthy Holstein cows (between 30 and 150days in milk, from 10 farms) were blood sampled once for a complete blood count evaluation, using the ADVIA 120 hematology analyzer.