Lameness detection in cows by designing a splitted weight scale for each limb
Subject Areas : Other Related Sciences
Ahmadreza Mohamadnia
1
,
Alireza Abdolhoseynie
2
,
Amirfarhang Houshangi
3
1 - Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Iran
2 - Islamic Azad University, Shabestar, Iran
3 - Islamic Azad University, Shabestar, Iran
Keywords: Weight Gain, Weighing, Locomotion score, Lame, Separate Scale,
Abstract :
Background: lameness is a costly and widespread health and welfare problem in intensive dairy production, and reliable automated methods to detect lameness are needed. Lameness may be detected through the measurement of weight in each limb that requires an understanding of how caws redistribute their weight in response to pain in one or more limbs.
Objectives: This research was conducted with the aim of the Evaluation of weight distribution on each limb in lame and healthy cows by designing a splitted scale for weighing each limb.
Methods: Sixty one sound cows were selected in an industrial farm and the distance between forelimbs, hind limbs and forelimbs and hind limbs were measured for designing a 4 plate scale, base to preliminary results dimension of each plate were d 100 x 50 cm and each plate were capable of weighing from 100 grams up to 450 kilograms and display the results in separate screens. In second step two groups of Lame (25 cows affected by digital injuries in last month) and Nongame (25 sound cows without any history of digital injuries during past three month) were weighed by designed scale for evaluation the possible different weight distribution among the limbs. Data reported descriptively and also numerical measurements were compared by Pair t-test and One way ANOVA, P value less than 0.05 consider as significant.
Results: The weight on the injured limb recorded as 127.35±21.23 kg and healthy limb was against the diseased limb, 127.345±21.225 and the weight on contra-lateral limb recorded as 196.28±12.19, on diagonal limb recorded as 193.24±11.99 kg and on opposite limb recorded as 198.93±15.96. All data shows a significant less weight distribution on injured limb. Also distribution of the weight among high locomotion scored cows revealed a significant difference in weight bearing as the distribution were not significant in cows with less scores.
Conclusion: Different weight distribution on limbs can be considered as a diagnostic tool for lameness. Weight distribution measurements may provide useful in-field techniques for lameness detection.
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