• Veermae, I.
• Ahokas, J.
• Pastell, M.
• Takko, H.
• Hautala, M.
• Poikalainen, Vaeino
• Praks, Jaan

Abstract

<p>A system for automatically measuring the physical health of a dairy cow has been developed. Milking robots offer a unique possibility for the dynamic measurement of physical data. Four strain gauge scales were installed in a milking robot in order to measure the weight of each leg separately The sensors were connected to an amplifier and the data was collected in a PC using a dedicated computer program. From the data it is possible to calculate e.g. the mean weight and the weight variation of each leg, the total weight, the number of kicks and the frequency of kicks. The acquired information can be used to judge restlessness and welfare e.g. hoof diseases. It is also possible to analyze the behaviour of the cow. Long term monitoring was conducted in order to find changes in leg weights and step and kick behaviour.</p>

Topics

• impedance spectroscopy