An Imaging System for Monitoring the Feeding Behavior of Dairy Cows

( Cheng-yu Kuan ),( Yu-chi Tsai ),( Chen-yu Cheng ),( Jih-tay Hsu ),( Shih-torng Dnig ),( Ta-te Lin ) 한국농업기계학회 2018 한국농업기계학회 학술발표논문집 Vol.23 No.1

In sub-tropical countries, dairy cows tend to experience heat stress problems. This phenomenon may lead to declines in feed intake, milk production, and fertility. Under normal conditions, the dairy cows have a regular feeding and drinking time. For this reason, changes in feeding behavior can be a possible indicator to detect heat stress phenomena that can help farm owners monitor dairy cow health. In order to monitor and record the feeding behavior of dairy cows, an imaging system is proposed herein. The imaging system uses Raspberry Pi 3, as the embedded system, and a camera module to acquire images for dairy cow face detection in front of the feeding area to confirm if the dairy cow is eating. The dairy cow faces are detected through cascade-AdaBoost algorithms which can automatically select weak classifiers to form a strong classifier with fast processing speed in an embedded system. The factors affecting the performance of the dairy cow face detection algorithm have been tested and optimized. The system has been tested in a feeding area in National Taiwan University’s dairy farm, which has 25 dairy cows in total. By converting the frequency of dairy cow face detection into feeding time, the feeding behavior of grouped dairy cows can be analyzed. Furthermore, combining the temperature humidity index (THI) and feeding behavior can provide the farm owners with an index to evaluate the level heat stress of dairy cows.

Risk factors limiting first service conception rate in dairy cows and their economic impact

김일화,정재관 아세아·태평양축산학회 2019 Animal Bioscience Vol.32 No.4

Objective: We determined the risk factors limiting first service conception (FSC) rate in dairy cows and their economic impact. Methods: Data were collected from 790 lactations regarding cow parity, peri- and postpartum disorders, body condition score (BCS), reproductive performance, and expenses associated with reproductive management (treatment, culling, and others). Initially, we identified the risk factors limiting FSC rate in dairy cows. Various biological and environmental factors, such as herd, cow parity, BCS at 1 month postpartum and first artificial insemination (AI), resumption of cyclicity within 1 month of calving, year, AI season, insemination at detected estrus or timed AI, peri- and postpartum disorders, and calving to first AI interval, were evaluated. Next, we evaluated the economic impact of the success or failure of FSC by comparing the expense associated with reproductive management until conception between cows that did or did not conceive at their first service. Results: Cows with BCS <3.0 had a lower probability of conceiving at first insemination (odds ratio [OR] = 0.64, p<0.05) than cows with BCS ≥3.0. Cows inseminated during summer were less likely to conceive (OR = 0.44, p<0.001) than cows inseminated during spring. Cows with peri- or postpartum disorders were less likely to conceive (OR = 0.55, p<0.001) than cows without disorders. Survival curves generated using MedCalc showed an 81 day extension in the mean interval between calving and conception in cows that failed to conceive over those that did conceive at first insemination. Cows failing conceive required additional expenditure on reproductive treatment ($55.40) and other management ($567.00) than cows that conceived at first insemination. Conclusion: Lower BCS, hot weather at first insemination, and peri- and postpartum disorders are risk factors limiting FSC, which result in an economic loss of $622.40 per dairy cow.

Effect of Short-distance Walking Activity on Milk Production and Metabolic Status of Lactating Dairy Cows

Lim, Dong-Hyun,Kim, Tae-Il,Kim, Hyun-Jong,Kim, Sang-Beom,Park, Seong-Min,Park, Ji-Hoo,Ha, Seong-Min,Lee, Ji-Hwan,Lim, Hyun-Joo,Jeong, Ha-Yeon,Mayakrishnan, Vijayakumar The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science 2018 한국초지조사료학회지 Vol.38 No.4

In this study, the effect of daily short-distance walking exercise on milk production and metabolic status of the lactating dairy cows was investigated. The experiment was conducted with 10 lactating dairy cows comprising 2 groups (5 dairy cows/group), which were walking activity and non-walking activity. The walking activity (WA) group lactating dairy cows walked outdoors for 1 km/d, and the non-walking activity (non-WA) lactating dairy cows were maintained within a cowshed from $18^{th}$ April to $30^{th}$ May. The activity volume of the neck was not significantly different between the groups, but the activity volume of the leg was higher in WA group compared with non-WA (p<0.05). The rectal temperature was higher in the WA group ($38.6^{\circ}C$) compared with non-WA ($38.2^{\circ}C$) (p<0.05). No significant differences in dietary NE intake, milk production and milk composition were found between the groups. The plasma cortisol concentration was higher in WA group ($2.14{\mu}g/dl$) compared to non-WA ($0.95{\mu}g/dl$) (p<0.05). However, plasma cortisol level of WA dairy cows was significantly decreased as compared with non-WA cows. On the contrary, the level of plasma melatonin was increased in WA cows than that of non-WA dairy cows. It may be interpreted as a change in physical fitness. From this study, we suggest that walking activity can be improved energy balance. Further investigation is needed to determine whether different combinations of distance, rate or doing in morning or afternoon will stimulate energy balance.

Risk Factors for Ketosis in Dairy Cows and Associations with Some Blood Metabolite Concentrations

정재관,최인수,문성호,이수찬,강현구,김일화,박수봉,김일화 韓國臨床獸醫學會 2017 한국임상수의학회지 Vol.34 No.4

Ketosis has become a very common and important metabolic disorder that causes substantial economic loss in modern dairy herds. We determined the risk factors for ketosis and associations with some blood metabolite concentrations in dairy cows. Blood from 475 Holstein cows on four dairy farms was collected weekly until 4 weeks after calving to measure blood β-hydroxybutyrate (BHBA) concentrations using electronic handheld meters. Cows were grouped based on the BHBA concentration into two groups: a ketosis group (≥ 1.2 mmol/L, n = 150) and a non-ketosis group (< 1.2 mmol/L, n = 325). Peripartum health status (dystocia, retained placenta, and metritis), cow parity, and calving season were recorded to identify the risk factors for ketosis. Serum albumin, total cholesterol (TCH), and haptoglobin concentrations were compared between sub-groups of cows selected from the ketosis (n = 92) and nonketosis (n = 50) groups 1 week postpartum (7.5 ± 0.2 days). The farm influenced the incidence of ketosis (P < 0.05). Cows calved during summer tended to have a higher risk (odds ratio [OR]: 1.61, P < 0.1) of ketosis than cows calved during spring. Cows with parities of two (OR: 1.95, P < 0.05) and three or higher (OR: 2.55, P < 0.01) were at higher risk than primiparous cows. Cows with metritis had a higher risk (OR: 7.02, P < 0.0001) of ketosis than cows without metritis. Serum albumin and TCH concentrations were lower (P < 0.01) in the ketosis group than in the non-ketosis group, whereas haptoglobin concentration was higher (P < 0.05) in the ketosis group than in the non-ketosis group. In conclusion, our results indicate that farm, summer calving, parity greater than one, and postpartum disease (metritis) were risk factors for ketosis. In addition, lower serum albumin and TCH concentrations and higher haptoglobin concentration were also associated with the incidence of ketosis in dairy cows.

Application of Artificial Insemination Technology for Dairy Breeding in Mongolia

진종인,김성수,조현태,최병현,이정규,김윤식,김삼철,조규완,Tumor Baldan,공일근 사단법인 한국동물생명공학회 2011 한국동물생명공학회지 Vol.26 No.4

This study was focused on improvement of milk production in Mongolian dairy industry by artificial insemination (AI)technology, supported by ODA of KOICA in Republic of Korea. This program was started in January 2009 and it is in 3rd years. This manuscript summarized the data especially on estrus synchronization and pregnancy establishment in dairy cows (Holstein) this year. A total of 81 dairy cows from 4 private farms (38 from Undarmal milk and that of 30, 8 and 5 dairy cows from Onjin (Enkhbayer), Jargalant, and BRM School farms respectively) were synchronized with 5 ml Lutalyse (i.m.) in the dump of dairy cows and then estrus was detected 2 to 3 days after PGF2α injection. The synchronized dairy cows were inseminated with 0.5 ml dairy frozen semen by conventional artificial insemination (AI) techniques. Pregnancy was diagnosed about 60 days after AI by palpation method. About 96.3% (78/81) of synchronized cows were responded to single PGF2α injection. Total 75 over 78 dairy cows (90.1%) inseminated were diagnosed as pregnant. The estrus induction and pregnancy rates were very effective using Lutalyse injection and conventional AI techniques in Mongolian dairy cow. The present results indicated that AI after estrus induction in Mongolian dairy cows could be applied to dairy breeding technology for improving breeding efficiency and milk production of the country

초음파검사 및 호르몬검사에 의한 젖소 번식검진과 발정유도 I. 정기적인 번식검진 및 번식장애 치료

오기석,박상국,김방실,고진성,신종봉,백종환,홍기강,문광식,임원호 한국임상수의학회 2003 한국임상수의학회지 Vol.20 No.3

The ultrasonography was performed in 77,924 subestrous dairy cows from 680 dairy farms at 57 districts. The cows were examined for confirmation of resumption of ovaries and uterus after 30 days postpartum, for early pregnancy diagnosis after 30 days post-insemination, confirmation of pregnancy at 8 month post-insemination, and for diagnosis of reproductive dysfunctions, respectively. The results of reproductive examination by ultrasonography in 77,924 dairy cows were ovarian disorders 35,452 (46.8%), uterine disorders 10,721 (13.8%), pregnancy and pregnant failure 24,044 (30.8%), adhesion of reproductive tracts 167 (0.2%), freematins 13 (0.01%) and others 6,527 (8.4%) cows, respectively. The 13,732 (49.6%) cows out of 27,694 cows were treated for silent heat or error of estrus detection, 3,473 (12.5%) cows for follicular cysts, 815 (3.0%) cows for luteal cysts, 606 (2.2%) cows for inactive ovaries, 4 (0.01%) cows for granulosa cell tumors, and 6,455 (23.3%) cows for endometritis, respectively. The indices of reproductive efficiencies before (2001-08-10) and after (2003-07-20) periodical examination of reproductive status were as follows; the mean intercalving interval were shortened from 471 days to 383 days, the mean interval calving to conception were shortened from 187 days to 99 days, the mean interval calving to first service were shortened from 105 days to 67 days, the mean cows showing heat by 60 days postpartum were increased from 33% to 89%, the mean conception rate to first service were increased from 43% to 68%, and the mean service per conception were shortened from 2.6 times to 1.8 times, respectively. These results suggest that periodical examination of reproductive status would be useful for the improvement of the reproductive performance in dairy cows.

Risk Factors for the Probability of Pregnancy Following Synchronization Protocols in Dairy Cows

정재관,강현구,정영훈,허태영,김일화 한국임상수의학회 2014 한국임상수의학회지 Vol.31 No.5

The objective of this study was to determine the risk factors associated with pregnancy following 3synchronization protocols in dairy cows. Data were collected on 1,952 cows from 22 dairy farms, includingsynchronization protocols (PGF2α + estradiol benzoate [PG+EB], Ovsynch, and CIDR-ovsynch), cow parity, bodycondition score (BCS), and dates of previous calving, insemination and conception. The odds ratio (OR) for pregnancywere analyzed by logistic regression using the LOGISTIC procedure in SAS. The analysis revealed that farm (p = 0.005),cow parity (p = 0.0001), BCS (p < 0.005), and AI season (p < 0.05) significantly affected and calving to AI intervaltended to affect (p < 0.1) the probability for pregnancy. Although synchronization protocols did not affect the probabilityfor pregnancy (p > 0.05), cow parity and synchronization protocols showed a significant interaction (p < 0.005); theOR (0.60) was significantly lower (p < 0.0001) for multiparous cows compared to primiparous cows using PG+EB,whereas the OR (1.44) tended to be higher (p < 0.1) for multiparous cows compared to primiparous cows using theOvsynch, and the probability for pregnancy did not differ between multiparous and primiparous cows using the CIDRovsynch(p > 0.05). Cows with BCS ≥ 3.00 were more likely pregnant (OR: 1.41) compared with cows havingBCS ≤ 2.75, whereas cows inseminated during summer had a lower OR (0.73) compared with those inseminated duringspring. Cows with a calving to AI interval > 150 days were more likely to be pregnant (OR: 1.20) compared withcows with a calving to AI interval ≤ 150 days. In conclusion, the OR for pregnancy following synchronization protocolsin dairy cows was affected by farm, parity, BCS, calving to AI interval of the cow, and AI season, and there wasa significant interaction between cow parity and synchronization protocols; the OR for pregnancy was lower formultiparous cows compared with primiparous cows using the PG+EB protocol.

Influence of Mentha×piperita L. (Peppermint) Supplementation on Nutrient Digestibility and Energy Metabolism in Lactating Dairy Cows

Hosoda, K.,Nishida, T.,Park, W.Y.,Eruden, B. Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 2005 Animal Bioscience Vol.18 No.12

The characteristic smell of cow milk was suppressed when herbs were consumed by lactating dairy cows. But it is unclear whether or not peppermint ingestion affects the nutritional and milk production parameters in lactating dairy cows. The objective of this study was to examine the effect of peppermint feeding to lactating dairy cows on nutrient digestibility, energy metabolism, ruminal fermentation and milk production. Eight Holstein cows were given a diet supplemented with or without 5% of dried peppermint per diet on a dry matter basis. The digestion of nutrients from cows fed the diet with peppermint was significantly lower than that of the control group. Energy loss as methane and methane released from cows receiving the peppermint treatment was significantly lower than that in the control cows. Peppermint feeding to cows resulted in the promotion of thermogenesis. However, ruminal fermentation and milk production were not affected by peppermint feeding. In conclusion, peppermint ingestion by lactating dairy cows reduces the nutrient digestibility and methanogenesis, and changes energy metabolism.

Effects of ruminally degradable starch levels on performance, nitrogen balance, and nutrient digestibility in dairy cows fed low corn-based starch diets

Guobin Luo,Wenbin Xu,Jinshan Yang,Yang Li,Liyang Zhang,Yizhen Wang,Cong Lin,Yonggen Zhang 아세아·태평양축산학회 2017 Animal Bioscience Vol.30 No.5

Objective: This trial was performed to examine the effects of ruminally degradable starch (RDS) levels in total mixed ration (TMR) with low corn-based starch on the milk production, whole-tract nutrient digestibility and nitrogen balance in dairy cows. Methods: Eight multiparous Holstein cows (body weight [BW]: 717±63 kg; days in milk [DIM]: 169±29) were assigned to a crossover design with two dietary treatments: a diet containing 62.3% ruminally degradable starch (% of total starch, low RDS) or 72.1% ruminally degradable starch (% of total starch, high RDS). Changes to the ruminally degradable levels were conducted by using either finely ground corn or steam-flaked corn as the starch component. Results: The results showed that dry matter intake, milk yield and composition in dairy cows were not affected by dietary treatments. The concentration of milk urea nitrogen was lower for cows fed high RDS TMR than low RDS TMR. The whole-tract apparent digestibility of neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber and crude protein decreased, and that of starch increased for cows fed high RDS TMR over those fed low RDS TMR, with no dietary effect on the whole-tract apparent digestibility of dry matter and organic matter. The proportion of urinary N excretion in N intake was lower and that of fecal N excretion in N intake was higher for cows fed high RDS TMR than those fed low RDS TMR. The N secretion in milk and the retention of N were not influenced by the dietary treatments. Total purine derivative was similar in cows fed high RDS TMR and low RDS TMR. Consequently, estimated microbial N flow to the duodenum was similar in cows fed high RDS TMR and low RDS TMR. Conclusion: Results of this study show that ruminally degradable starch levels can influence whole-tract nutrient digestibility and nitrogen balance in dairy cows fed low corn-based starch diets, with no influence on performance.

Progesterone 농도측정(濃度測定)에 의한 유우(乳牛)의 번식효율증진(繁殖效率增進)에 관한 연구(硏究) IV. 유즙(乳汁)중 progesterone 농도측정(濃度測定)에 의한 분만후(分娩後) 난소기능(卵巢機能) 회복상태(回復狀態)의 검토(檢討)

강병규,최한선,최상공,손창호,강현구,Kang, Byong-kyu,Choi, Han-sun,Choi, Sang-gong,Son, Chang-ho,Kang, Hyun-ku 대한수의학회 1994 大韓獸醫學會誌 Vol.34 No.4

Skim milk progesterone($P_4$) profiles in 74 dairy cows were determind to monitor postpartum ovarian activity by radioimmunoassay. Milk samples were collected from each cow every 5 days from 10 to 90 days postpartum. Signs of estrus were observed twice daily, and status of the ovaries and uterus were examined every 10 days by rectal palpation. Results are summarized as follows: 1. Cows were categorized into five types by the change of skim milk $P_4$ profiles; Type I(normal) : Cyclic changes of skim milk $P_4$ profiles appeared within 20 days postpartum(12 cows, 16.2%), Type II(cycle delayed) : Cyclic changes of skim milk $P_4$ profiles appeared from 21 to 60 days postpartum(39 cows, 52.7%), Type III(cycle ceased with low $P_4$) : Onset of the estrous cycle within 20 days postpartum but ceased later with low levels of $P_4$ (7cows, 9.5%), Type IV(cycle ceased with high $P_4$) : Onset of the estrous cycle within 20 days postpartum but ceased later with high levels(>3.0 ng/ml) of skim milk $P_4$ (4 cows, 5.4%), Type V(acyclicity) : Skim milk $P_4$ concentration remained low(<1.0 ng/ml) until 80 days postpartum(12 cows, 16.2%). 2. Out of the 17 cows classified as the Type III and Type V by skim milk $P_4$ profiles, 13 cows had inactive ovaries and remaining 6 cows had single or multiple follicular cysts in their ovaries by rectal palpation. All 4 cows of Type IV had a persistent corpus luteum in their ovaries. 3. Approximately eighty percent of the cows had begun ovarian activity by 60 days postpartum and 90.6% by 90 days by skim milk $P_4$ profiles, but only 39.2% by 60 days and 71.7% by 90 days had shown visible estrus signs. The mean days from parturition to the first, second and third ovulations determined by skim milk $P_4$ profiles was $28.0{\pm}11.0$, $46.4{\pm}13.3$ and $66.4{\pm}11.5$ days and the visible estrus signs were 9.3%, 38.1%, and 48.6%, respectively. The mean days from parturition to the first visible estrus was $57.2{\pm}15.9$ days. These results indicated that milk $P_4$ profile of each Types by radioimmunoassay can be utilized for monitoring postpartum ovarian and would be useful for the early detection of ovarian dysfunction in dairy cow.