A field trial of infrared thermography as a non-invasive diagnostic tool for early detection of digital dermatitis in dairy cows

The daily and within-day variation in udder temperature was monitored in dairy cows (n = 10) using infrared thermography (IRT). The initial assessment and prediction of udder surface temperature variation would hopefully form the basis for future development of an early detection method for mastitis. Our initial objective was to determine the magnitude and pattern of udder temperature variation. To accomplish this, we measured daily fluctuations in udder temperature and the influence of environmental factors upon these values in non-mastitic cows. Udder temperature rose significantly after an exercise period (P < 0.05). Within-day monitoring of udder temperature demonstrated there was a distinct circadian rhythm. Lag regression analysis showed that previous daily udder temperatures together with environmental temperature parameters could successfully predict current udder temperature with a high degree of accuracy. The variation between predicted and actual udder temperature was within the detectable range for an inflammatory response. Infrared thermography shows promise in its application if coupled with environmental temperature monitoring as an early detection method for mastitis. Key words: Thermography, dairy cattle, environment, temperature

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Short Communication: Early Detection of Mastitis Using Infrared Thermography in Dairy Cows

Journal of Dairy Science ◽

10.3168/jds.2008-1258 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 91 (11) ◽

pp. 4244-4248 ◽

Cited By ~ 57

Author(s):

A. Colak ◽

B. Polat ◽

Z. Okumus ◽

M. Kaya ◽

L.E. Yanmaz ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Early Detection ◽

Dairy Cows ◽

Infrared Thermography ◽

Short Communication

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Non-invasive measurement of stress in dairy cows using infrared thermography

Physiology & Behavior ◽

10.1016/j.physbeh.2007.04.034 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 92 (3) ◽

pp. 520-525 ◽

Cited By ~ 117

Author(s):

M. Stewart ◽

J.R. Webster ◽

G.A. Verkerk ◽

A.L. Schaefer ◽

J.J. Colyn ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Dairy Cows ◽

Infrared Thermography ◽

Non Invasive ◽

Invasive Measurement

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Early detection and prediction of infection using infrared thermography

Canadian Journal of Animal Science ◽

10.4141/a02-104 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 84 (1) ◽

pp. 73-80 ◽

Cited By ~ 88

Author(s):

A. L. Schaefer ◽

N. Cook ◽

S. V. Tessaro ◽

D. Deregt ◽

G. Desroches ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Early Detection ◽

Infrared Thermography ◽

Immunoglobulin A ◽

Systemic Infection ◽

Bovine Viral Diarrhoea Virus ◽

Infection Model ◽

Non Invasive ◽

Clinical Scores ◽

Diarrhoea Virus ◽

And Control

Early detection and/or prediction of disease in an animal is the first step towards its successful treatment. The objective of this study was to investigate the capability of infrared thermography as a non-invasive, early detection method for identifying animals with a systemic infection. A viral infection model was adopted using 15 seronegative calves whose body weight averaged 172 kg. Ten of these calves were inoculated with Type 2 bovine viral diarrhoea virus (strain 24515) and five were separately housed and served as uninfected controls. A simultaneous comparison of infrared characteristics in both infected and control animals was conducted over approximately 15 d. In addition, measures of blood and saliva cortisol, immunoglobulin A, blood haptoglobin and clinical scores were obtained. Infrared temperatures, especially for facial scans, increased by 1.5°C to over 4°C (P < 0.01) several days to 1 wk before clinical scores or serum concentrations of acute phase protein indicated illness in the infected calves. The data suggest that infrared thermal measurements can be used in developing an early prediction index for infection in calves. Key words: Infection, early detection, infrared thermography, cattle

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