ISCF WAVE 1 AGRI TECH: Early Detection of Lameness in Dairy Cows through Multi-format Data Synthesis
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Nottingham
Department Name: School of Veterinary Medicine and Sci
Abstract
Lameness in dairy cattle is increasingly recognised as a growing and significant economic and welfare problem in dairy nations around the world. Lameness remains at unacceptably high levels amongst the UK's 1.8 million dairy cattle; recent work suggests that approximately one in three cows are identifiably lame on any given day. Research has indicated that very early detection and treatment of lameness substantially reduces the prevalence of lameness which leads to increased milk production as well as enhanced cow welfare. Very early detection of lameness is difficult and technologies to identify the pre-clinical stages of disease would dramatically advance this area. The aim of this research is to synthesis data from multiple sources, including state-of-the-art thermography, activity/location monitoring and rumination sensors, to accurately predict pre-clinical onset of lameness in dairy cows such that early stage interventions are possible.
Technical Summary
Lameness in dairy cattle is increasingly recognised as a growing and significant economic and welfare problem in dairy nations around the world. Lameness remains at unacceptably high levels amongst the UK's 1.8 million dairy cattle; recent work suggests that approximately one in three cows are identifiably lame on any given day. Research has indicated that very early detection and treatment of lameness substantially reduces the prevalence of lameness which leads to increased milk production as well as enhanced cow welfare. Very early detection of lameness is difficult and technologies to identify the pre-clinical stages of disease would dramatically advance this area. The aim of this research is to synthesis data from multiple sources, including state-of-the-art thermography, activity/location monitoring and rumination sensors, to accurately predict pre-clinical onset of lameness in dairy cows such that early stage interventions are possible.
Planned Impact
Possible results of this research include:
A method to identify lameness at the pre-clinical or very early onset stage that can be used to enhance treatment outcomes, reduce herd prevalence of disease and reduce recurrence of lameness throughout a cow's life.
Main beneficiaries of the research will be:
1. Farmers
2. Veterinary surgeons and farm advisors
3. The dairy industry
4. Consumers
5. UK PLC
How will they benefit?
1. Farmers - through improved lameness control leading to significant financial savings and working conditions
2. Veterinary surgeons and farm advisors - through being able to use an improved approach to lameness control 3.The dairy industry - through improved sustainability, welfare and image by reducing lameness
4. Consumers - through consuming a product associated with improved cow welfare and with improved farming sustainability
5. UK PLC - through improved efficiency of dairy farming and economic returns from selling the technological advancement
A method to identify lameness at the pre-clinical or very early onset stage that can be used to enhance treatment outcomes, reduce herd prevalence of disease and reduce recurrence of lameness throughout a cow's life.
Main beneficiaries of the research will be:
1. Farmers
2. Veterinary surgeons and farm advisors
3. The dairy industry
4. Consumers
5. UK PLC
How will they benefit?
1. Farmers - through improved lameness control leading to significant financial savings and working conditions
2. Veterinary surgeons and farm advisors - through being able to use an improved approach to lameness control 3.The dairy industry - through improved sustainability, welfare and image by reducing lameness
4. Consumers - through consuming a product associated with improved cow welfare and with improved farming sustainability
5. UK PLC - through improved efficiency of dairy farming and economic returns from selling the technological advancement
Organisations
| Description | An automated method to detect lameness in dairy cows has been developed from the use of multiple sensor data. This means that lameness can be detected at an earlier stage and cows treated more quickly and effectively than currenlty possible. The study was conducted in a research setting and additional work is now needed to commercialise the results; this is being conducted by the agritech company involved in the project. |
| Exploitation Route | The study outcomes provide a method for early detection of lamness in dairy cows. The aim is that this is taken forward by a commercial agritech company to be used commercially by UK dairy farmers. |
| Sectors | Agriculture, Food and Drink |
| Description | The research was an early stage proof of concept study but the positive results are currently being taken forward by an agritech company for further development with the aim of producing a commercial tool for the prediction of lameness in dairy cattle. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2019 |
| Sector | Agriculture, Food and Drink |
| Impact Types | Societal,Economic |