Journal article
Infrared technology for estrus detection and as a predictor of time of ovulation in dairy cows in a pasture-based system
S Talukder, KL Kerrisk, L Ingenhoff, PC Thomson, SC Garcia, P Celi
Theriogenology | ELSEVIER SCIENCE INC | Published : 2014
Abstract
The development and application of an algorithm to assess the ability of an infrared thermography (IRT) device to predict cows in estrus and about to ovulate was investigated. Twenty cows were synchronized using a controlled internal drug release and PGF2α. Vulval and muzzle temperatures were measured every 12hours from controlled internal drug release insertion to 32hours after PGF2α treatment and then every 4hours until ovulation occurred or until 128hours after PGF2α treatment (whichever occurred first). Thermal images obtained with a FLIR T620 series infrared camera were analyzed using ThermaCAM Researcher Professional 2.9 software. Cows were also monitored for behavioral signs of estrus..
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Funding Acknowledgements
The authors would like to acknowledge the support of the Dairy Research Foundation and the investors of the Future Dairy project; Dairy Australia, NSW Department of Primary Industries, University of Sydney and De Laval. We are grateful to the Poultry Research Foundation for providing the infrared camera, Dr. Jeff Downing for assistance in hormonal assay, and Mr. Kim McKean for assistance in animal husbandry. The primary author has been supported by The University of Sydney International Postgraduate Research Scholarship.