Marchesini Giorgio, Mottaran Davide, Contiero Barbara, Schiavon Eliana, Segato Severino, Garbin Elisabetta, Tenti Sandro, Andrighetto Igino
Department of Animal Medicine, Production and Health, University of Padova, Legnaro, PD 35020, Italy.
Department of Animal Medicine, Production and Health, University of Padova, Legnaro, PD 35020, Italy.
Vet J. 2018 Jan;231:41-47. doi: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2017.11.013. Epub 2017 Nov 28.
The aim of this study was to measure the level of activity and rumination in young bulls and to assess whether these data can be used as indicators of health status and average daily weight gain (ADG). Two groups of animals (period 1: n=108 animals; period 2: n=106 animals) were fitted with sensors to measure daily activity and rumination, were weighed on arrival and at the end of the trial (70 days) and were checked twice daily to verify their health condition. Any clinical signs and therapies were recorded. The dishomogeneity index of rumination (DR), and the daily dishomogeneity indices of activity (DDA) and rumination (DDR), were calculated. Bulls had an ADG of 1.42±0.38kg/day and showed an average duration of daily rumination of 404±63min and an average activity of 474±46 bits, respectively. Animals characterised by low ADG had lower values of minimum daily rumination (P=0.01) and DDA (P<0.001), and a greater rumination range (P=0.007) and DR (P=0.003). Bovine respiratory disease and lameness were detected 31 and five times, respectively; among affected animals, the average daily activity, rumination and DDA were lower (P<0.05) at 3-6days before the onset of visible clinical signs, whereas DDR increased compared to the values when individuals were apparently healthy. The use of individual sensors appears promising for the early diagnosis of disease in beef cattle and for improving herd management.
本研究的目的是测量青年公牛的活动水平和反刍情况，并评估这些数据是否可用作健康状况和平均日增重（ADG）的指标。两组动物（第1阶段：n = 108头；第2阶段：n = 106头）佩戴传感器以测量每日活动和反刍情况，在入栏时和试验结束时（70天）称重，并每天检查两次以核实其健康状况。记录任何临床症状和治疗情况。计算了反刍的不均一性指数（DR）以及活动（DDA）和反刍（DDR）的每日不均一性指数。公牛的平均日增重为1.42±0.38kg/天，每日反刍平均时长分别为404±63分钟，平均活动量为474±46比特。平均日增重低的动物，其每日最低反刍值（P = 0.01）和DDA（P < 0.001）较低，反刍范围（P = 0.007）和DR（P = 0.003）较大。分别检测到31例和5例牛呼吸道疾病和跛行；在受影响的动物中，在明显临床症状出现前3 - 6天，其平均每日活动、反刍和DDA较低（P < 0.05），而DDR与个体明显健康时的值相比有所增加。使用个体传感器对于肉牛疾病的早期诊断和改善畜群管理似乎很有前景。
