HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Hurnik, J. F. Articles by DeBoer, S. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Hurnik, J. F. Articles by DeBoer, S.

An Investigation of Skin Temperature Differentials in Relation to Estrus in Dairy Cattle Using a Thermal Infrared Scanning Technique^1,2,

University of Guelph³, Ontario, Canada N1G 2W1

Abstract

To evaluate the effectiveness of thermal infrared scanning as a technique to detect estrus, 27 Holstein-Friesian cows were observed for a 90-d period beginning in the second week postpartum. The area enclosed by the 37-C isotherm on the gluteal region of a cow's body tended to increase in association with the occurrence of estrus. This increase became statistically significant at the third postpartum estrus. During the first 50-postpartum d, infrared scanning enhanced detection of estrus when compared with standard dairyman-detection accuracy. However, detection of estrus using infrared scanning was hampered by false positives (33% around the third postpartum estrus) and inability to detect estrus for some cows (7%). It appears at present that the usefulness of infrared scanning for routine detection of estrus in dairy cows is limited, but the technique may have potential as a research tool for the study of skin temperature patterns.

¹ Presented in part at the 8th World Anim. Prod. Congress in Tokyo, Japan, 1983.

² The authors express sincere appreciation to Roger Brown and Sandi King for technical assistance during the execution of this study, to Dr. S. Zelin, School of Engineering, Univ. of Guelph, for use of laboratory facilities and equipment, and to Dr. A. Hackett from the Anim. Res. Institute in Ottawa for helpful advice. The authors also express thanks to the Ontario Ministry of Agr. and Food for the use of research facilities, and to the management and staff of the Elora Dairy Res. Centre for assistance and cooperation during the experimental part of this study.

³ Dept. of Anim. and Poul. Sci.