Matti Pastell

A Hidden Markov Model to Estimate the Feeding Time of Dairy Cows Based on Indoor Positioning Data

The feeding time of dairy cows is linked with the health status of the animal and can be used to estimate daily feed intake together with other measurements. The aim of this study was to develop a model to measure the time a dairy cow spends at a feed bunk using an Ultra wide-band indoor positioning system. We measured the feeding behavior of 50 dairy cows during 7 days using Ubisense indoor positioning system and Insentec roughage feeders. We calculated the feeding (presence at the feeder) probability of the cow using logistic regression model with the distance to feed barrier as input and used the Viterbi algorithm to calculate the most likely state (feeding or not feeding) given state transition probabilities. The model was able to predict whether the cow was at the feeding trough or not with the accuracy of 97.6%, sensitivity 95.3% and specificity 97.9%. The model was also able to estimate the mean bout duration and the number of feeding bouts.

Inter-observer reliability of animal based measures in the Welfare Quality protocol for dairy cows

Antibiotic (AB) resistance is a major concern worldwide. Knowledge about potential drivers of AB use and prescribing practices in the pig industry is required to address problems of mis and over use. We hypothesised that pig farmers attitudes towards the treatment and care of injured or sick pigs may influence their use of AB. Semi-structured face-to-face interviews were conducted with 30 producers who managed integrated pig units in Ireland and which supplied records to the Teagasc PigSys database. Ethical approval was obtained and pig producers were invited for interview by their Teagasc pig advisor. Consent was obtained at the time of the interview. Interviews with participants were recorded and transcribed using random numbers from 1 to 30, one per participant to ensure anonymity. Themes were then identified from the data. The importance of comfort and care in the rehabilitation of animals following injury was only expressed in relation to sows. Here the importance of straw bedding and a solid floor in ensuring recuperation from lameness/injury was mentioned by several producers (n=7). The relevance of analgesics to recovery from illness or injury was only mentioned by 2 producers who used pain relief for sows that were ‘sick after farrowing’. Injectable ABs were the most common method of treating illness or injury (n=12), followed by euthanasia (n=7). The practice of euthanising pigs was driven by economic (n=6) or humane grounds (n=9). The latter also expressed the belief that it was more humane to euthanise than to hospitalise sick or injured pigs. However, there was a general dislike for the practice of euthanasia. Many producers mentioned that it is too expensive to call a vet to treat or to euthanise sick or injured pigs. Only one producer used a vet to euthanise pigs. Several producers did not agree with the use of hospital pens (n=7) either because they believed that pigs are usually abandoned/forgotten in such pens (n=2) or because hospital pens are places where diseases are harbored and recirculated through the herd. Almost half of the producers expressed the view that medications (in-feed and/or injections) were the only solution to deal with pig health problems and to ensure good welfare. A 3rd of producers believed that the only solution to serious diseases challenges was to de-stock the herd. Low profit margins and lack of awareness of the role which husbandry and the environment have to play in the prevention of diseases as well as the role which comfort and care of pigs play in the recovery process are major barriers to reducing the reliance on medication in the pig industry