The Milk Producer - August 2009 - (Page 30)

´ RESEARCH By Joey Sabljic Early detection Researchers evaluate detection system that lets producers treat early lameness symptoms L ameness in dairy cows they hope to use this data to dramatically reduces find a definite correlation milk production while between movement and causing drug, veterinary lameness. They plan to and labour costs to skyexamine each cow individurocket. In light of this costally for signs of lameness, ly problem, University of such as increased lying or Guelph researchers are lookresting times, and compare ing into using acceleromethis information to data ters—electronic devices that accumulated when the cow measure forward motion— was healthy. to let producers detect and Dairy farmers currently treat lameness during its use accelerometers, such as earliest stages. the Pedometer Plus, to PhD student Janet Higdetect cows in heat based ginson and department of on increased movement. population medicine researHigginson hopes her researchers are evaluating Afich will lead to farmers kim’s Pedometer Plus acceusing accelerometers more lerometer. It measures steps often to detect lameness. taken by cows, plus time There is also potential to spent lying and standing. detect other diseases. Higginson’s research focus“We’re hoping we can es on using the device to find out whether cows do find a correlation between adjust their behaviour in changes in lying and stand- New device that detects cows in heat may also help certain ways,” says Higgining times as well as move- detect other diseases, in addition to lameness. son. “Then we can flag simment, and the early stages ilar behaviour so that farmof lameness. ers can take a closer look at “Lameness is one of the biggest welattached to both hind legs to minimize these cows.” fare concerns in the dairy industry,” any inaccurate movement measuresays Higginson. “We’re using this sysments. The cows were also videotaped tem to see if we can predict or detect in stalls so comparisons could be Joey Sabljic´ is a student writer with the lameness before a cow becomes clinimade between their actual movements University of Guelph’s office of research. Higginson’s research is supervised by cally lame.” and the pedometers’ readings. To validate the new Pedometer Plus Higginson and her fellow resear- professors David Kelton and Suzanne Millman of the department of populasystem, the researchers observed a chers have been collecting data on tion medicine. Her research is funded in group of cows with the device and cows using pedometers at the Elora part by Dairy Farmers of Ontario and also observed activity monitors on Dairy Research Centre for the past their legs. three months. At this point, they are Pedometer Plus manufacturer Afikim, which provided the Pedometer Plus As cows prefer lying on one side not sure whether increased lying and over another, accelerometers were standing point to lameness. However, equipment for this study. 30 | August 2009 | MilkPRODUCER

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of The Milk Producer - August 2009

The Milk Producer - August 2009
Contents
Editor's Notes
DFO Chair's Message
Dairy Update
Industry Roundup
DFC Promotion
Our Readers Have Spoken
Issues Update
Research
Applied Science
Ruminations
Markets
New 'n' Noted
Back Forty

The Milk Producer - August 2009