Automatic temperature monitoring:
What are the potential benefits?
Jeffery Bewley, Graduate Research Assistant, Purdue University, for Progressive Dairyman
In recent years, a number of
products have been developed to
automate the process of recording
temperature in cattle. The majority
of these systems are designed
to record milk temperatures or
reticular temperatures. Milk
temperatures are recorded in-line
while the animal is milking, while
reticular temperatures are recorded
using a bolus equipped with a
temperature monitoring device.
As an example, the MaGiiX™
Cattle Temperature Monitoring
System (CTMS, MaGiiX Inc., Post
Falls, ID) utilizes radio frequency
identification (RFID) technology
within a rumen bolus, a panel reader
placed at a parlor entrance or exit,
and a software package to collect,
analyze, and view data. Other
examples of temperature recording
systems include the TekVet™ System
(COLT Technologies LLC, Salt Lake
City, UT), the CowTemp™ telemetric
system (Innotek, Inc., Garrett, IN),
the CorTemp™ (HQ Inc., Palmetto,
FL) temperature/heart rate
monitoring system, the ETD Bolus™
system (CowTek Inc., Brule, NE),
and the Bio-Thermo™ (Digital Angel
Corp., South St. Paul, MN). These
and other similar technologies have
been described in the literature and
are commercially available, or may
be soon.Automatic temperature
recording has tremendous potential
for incorporation into a dairy’s
information management systems.
Body temperature has been
described as the “single most
useful measurable parameter
and a sensitive indicator of the
PROGRESSIVE
DAIRYMAN
reactions of the animal to physicoenvironmental factors, disease
processes, and physiologic functions
such as nutrition, lactation, and
reproduction” (Nakamura et
al., 1983). Although the value of
changes in temperature to animal
monitoring is clear, inherent
difficulties exist in monitoring
temperatures.
Body temperatures vary
between cows, within a day, and
with varying environmental
conditions. Consequently,
monitoring temperatures using
strict cut-offs (i.e., examine all
cows with temperatures greater
than 103°F) is not a very effective
way of monitoring temperature.
Alternatively, monitoring
temperatures by establishing an
individual animal’s temperature
baseline, factoring in diurnal
(within day) and environment
variations would likely prove
advantageous.
Many factors influence body
temperature, including overall
health, environment, ambient
temperature, activity level, estrus,
pregnancy status, eating and
drinking behavior, and excitement
(Hewitt, 1921, Lefcourt et al.,
1999). Perhaps the largest potential
benefit of employing an automatic
temperature monitoring system on
a dairy would be in early detection
of cases of diseases, illnesses, or
disorders that plague the dairy
industry (Maatje et al., 1987). For
many diseases, an increase in
temperature is an early physiological
response (Bitman et al., 1984,
Hicks et al., 2001, Piccione and
Refinetti, 2003, Schlunsen et al.,
1987). Theoretically, the economic
impact of decreasing death loss or
minimizing the effect of disease on
productivity through early detection
is quite large.
Of particular interest is the
potential during the cow’s transition
period, defined as the three weeks
before to the three weeks after
calving. Metabolic disorders, such
as ketosis, retained placenta, and
milk fever; and digestive disorders,
such as displaced abomasums,
indigestion, traumatic gastritis,
acidosis, and bloat, represent
tremendous losses to the dairy
industry. In recent years, intensive
fresh cow management programs
have been established based upon
using electronic thermometers to
detect fever (Aalseth, 2005).
Attempts have been made to
use milk temperature as a predictor
of mastitis. A large temperature
rise (>1.0°C) is typically associated
with clinical mastitis, and may
even be observed before clinical
symptoms are evident (Fordham
et al., 1988). Detecting increases
in temperature at estrus has been
suggested as a strategy for estrus
detection. Temperatures generally
increase corresponding with estrus.
Limitations with regard to the
magnitude and duration of this
temperature increase may present
challenges in using temperature
increases to identify estrus.
Temperature monitoring
systems have been proposed as
a tool to use in management of
the negative effects of heat stress.
Generally, body temperatures are
highly correlated with ambient
conditions (Fordham et al., 1988,
Spiers et al., 2001). A better
understanding of the patterns of
body temperature under varying
scenarios may be useful in
determining management strategies
during heat stress (Al-Haidary et
al., 2001). Data from telemetric
temperature monitors could be fed
into an immediate feedback loop
designed to keep an animal in its
thermoneutral zone (Lacey et al.,
2000). Continuous measurements
of temperature could prove useful
in evaluation of cooling and heat
abatement strategies by providing
a more accurate indication of cow
response to these efforts. Automatic
temperature monitoring systems
may also be used in identifying the
onset of calving (Aoki et al., 2005,
Nielsen et al., 2001, Wrenn et al.,
1958).Body temperature has been
demonstrated to drop between
eight to 48 hours before calving.
The ability to predict calving time
would be useful in assisting difficult
births. Consequently, calf mortality
rates may decrease and reproductive
function of the dam could improve.
We have a great deal to learn
about how to best incorporate
automatic temperature recording
systems into daily management
schemes. Research needs to be
conducted to determine the
variation in temperature with
large numbers of high-producing
dairy cows. Utilizing the large
volumes of data available from these
systems will allow us to examine
how changes in temperature affect
physiological changes we are
interested in identifying (i.e. health,
mastitis, estrus, heat stress). How
changes in temperature correlate
with these events is essential to
understanding how to utilize
automatic temperature recording
systems. Computer algorithms
need to be developed to improve
the detection of true outliers. In
turn, the dairy manager will be
able to focus efforts on examining
animals that have experienced a real
physiological change that is causing
a change in temperature. Lastly,
research needs to be conducted
to determine the profitability of
investing in these systems. PD
PROGRESSIVE
DAIRYMAN
Reprinted from February 2006
PO Box 585 • Jerome, ID 83338-0585 • 208.324.7513 or 800.320.1424 • Fax 208.324.1133