Automated monitoring of dairy cow body condition, mobility and weight using a single 3D video capture device

Hansen, M. F.; Smith, M. L.; Smith, L. N.; Abdul Jabbar, K.; Forbes, D.

Abstract

© 2018 Here we propose a low-cost automated system for the unobtrusive and continuous welfare monitoring of dairy cattle on the farm. We argue that effective and regular monitoring of multiple condition traits is not currently practicable and go on to propose 3D imaging technology able to acquire differing forms of related animal condition data (body condition, lameness and weight), concurrently using a single device. Results obtained under farm conditions in continuous operation are shown to be comparable or better than manual scoring of the herd. We also consider inherent limitations of using scoring and argue that sensitivity to relative change over successive observations offers greater benefit than the use of what may be considered abstract and arbitrary scoring systems.

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Publication Date: Jun 1, 2018
• Journal: Computers in Industry
• Print ISSN: 0166-3615
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 98
• Pages: 14-22
• APA6 Citation: Hansen, M. F., Smith, M. L., Smith, L. N., Abdul Jabbar, K., & Forbes, D. (2018). Automated monitoring of dairy cow body condition, mobility and weight using a single 3D video capture device. Computers in Industry, 98, 14-22. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compind.2018.02.011
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compind.2018.02.011
• Keywords: 3D imaging, body condition score, lameness, weight
• Publisher URL: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compind.2018.02.011