Rumination Collars in Cows as a Technology in Tokanui Farm - Case Study Example

Rumination Collars in Cows as a Technology in Tokanui Farm Teacher               Rumination Collars in Cows as a Technology in Tokanui Farm Rumination collars are a new technology employed in Tokanui Farm in the Waikato region in New Zealand. Aside from the fact that they have been reportedly efficient, data from the United States concerning the use of this technology reported several problems. Thus, there is a need to perfect the rumination collar. Structural Features of Rumination Collars Despite the name, the rumination collar has a purpose that goes beyond the mere idea of rumination. According to information from the SCR Dairy Farm, the structure and function of a cow rumination collar is based on the principle that a drop in rumination time of a cow means that there is something negative that impacts the function of its rumen. Since cows ruminate around 450 to 500 minutes every day, the drop in rumination is indicative of an illness or a negative health condition. This drop in rumination activity is accurately measured by a rumination collar (Hoard’s Dairyman, 2012). The rumination collar in cows monitors the rumination activity in the cow using high-tech sensors and software that gather data and analyze these data. Each rumination collar is remotely monitored using a software system. After which, the software produces graphical information for the prediction of certain potential health issues that the cow may be suffering from. Moreover, the graphical information from the software may also determine the presence of certain metabolic disorders or other physiological problems in the cow (FABDEC, 2012). The rumination collars in cows usually process information using three simple steps. First, the rumination collar is attached to the cow and records its activity for every two hours of input, since two hours is enough to obtain detailed data regarding cow activity levels. Next, data is collected by the software unit or the control box using infra-red communication by letting the cow with the ruminant collar on pass under the software unit. Lastly, the system analyzes the information using algorithms and will provide numerical information or a percentage number whether or not the cows have a normal or slightly below normal rumination activity. Slightly below normal ruminant activity may actually indicate the presence of a disease (FABDEC, 2012). Monitoring using the data from the rumination collar may actually be done daily especially in the morning while the data is rescanned at nighttime in order to make sure there have been no drastic drops in the rumination activity. It would take a short time to be able to read data and interpret it because most rumination monitoring software systems are user-friendly. Generally, deciphering rumination data using the software is usually very easy, with a general 4 rating on a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 being the easiest (Martinez, 2012). Benefits of Rumination Collars Currently, the Tokanui Farm in Waikato region in New Zealand is under the AgResearch, which is the largest Crown Research Institute in New Zealand. In 2009, Tokanui Farm became the newest dairy research farm of AgResearch. The key supplier of the herd and milking management solutions to the dairy project is Milfos, and it is also the company in charge of the HR rumination collars of the cows at the dairy farm. The collar system of the cows handles the heat detection system, cows electronic ID and the monitoring of the rumination patterns of the cows. The rumination time of the cow is recorded by the collar in 2 hour time blocks. The data is then downloaded to the PC as soon as the cow enters the parlor for the usual milking activity (Milfos, 2010). Tokanui is only one of the 13 farms leased or owned by AgResearch. Moreover, the project is led and supported by familiar companies such as Innovation Waikato Limited, Dairy New Zealand, Wintec and other Agri-technology businesses of New Zealand (Milfos, 2012). Rumination collars generally assist in the diagnosis of many internal problems that the cow may be suffering from and that may have gone unnoticed before. A rumination collar may actually be able to diagnose metabolic diseases such as displaced abomasums, ketosis, hardware disease, rumen acidosis, fat cow syndrome, which are conditions that cannot be detected by a dairyman. Moreover, rumination can also help discover mastitis at an early age because the big disadvantage of detecting mastitis late means that it cannot be treated anymore. Thus, with rumination collars, mastitis can be discovered right away, and this has a huge positive economic impact on the cow industry (Borges, 2012). Another very important benefit of rumination collars is that it can also predict events that can occur and negatively affect the health of the cows. These diseases may actually include milk fever, retained placenta, udder edema, laminitis, and many other diseases that can actually not only affect the health of the cow but also the general outcome of the milk and meat production. The fact that rumination collars can detect indicators of cows’ health is actually the best way to save money on treatments, thus through this, the business will certainly profit. This is also the best way to ensure that the cows are healthy. The rumination collars can also indicate when the cow will calve and so this can facilitate birth of the calf and so it can financially prepare the owner for whatever expenses are to be incurred (Borges, 2012). There are many other small, indirect benefits of rumination collars. Another major benefit is that, as previously mentioned, it can save both time and money. Moreover, the augmentation of the financial aspect of the cow industry can lead to a corresponding increase in both cow and staff welfare. In addition, the software and monitor systems employed in the use of rumination collars actually automatically collect the data needed and present the information not in a difficult way but in a format that is easy and practical to use. Furthermore, the data obtained through the rumination collars are actually used to further assess milk conductivity, insemination, milk metering, treatment, calving, and many other secondary functions. Data and findings are usually detected and presented through graphs, alerts and computer-generated reports that are appropriate to individual farmer preferences as well as individual farm requirements (FABDEC, 2012). Lastly, it is interesting to note that “there is still a potential to find other uses for the rumination collars” (Borges, 2012). Disadvantages of Rumination Collars Among the disadvantages of rumination collars, one is the lack of conclusive evidence to exactly establish a diagnosis. For example, according to an expert named Stewart, at first they would not find anything wrong with the data produced by the rumination collar. However, after a while or one day later, it becomes apparent what the problem is (Martinez, 2012). Another thing is that the rumination collars have to be repositioned at times with around 10 to 15% of the cows because “the cows’ necks are designed a little different” (Martinez, 2012). Occasionally, according to Stewart, there have also been times when there is a sick cow but there is lack of monitoring for the pen. Moreover, in several incidences, there have been cows found with mastitis but with the rumination collar not having detected it (Martinez, 2012). There are also times when the rumination collar would not coincide with milk production. In fact, according to Reuter, “We assumed that since they dropped in milk production, then the rumination would drop too, but it was very high” (Martinez, 2012). Still, it is possible that one more disadvantage of rumination collars is that there are times when the data shows that rumination has dropped and the cow has low activity although it is perfectly healthy. It happened that a healthy-looking cow was rounded up and treated because the data from the rumination collar has indicated low activity. Even after the cow was treated, there seems to be no problem with actual diagnosis, but the rumination collar registered the same low count (Martinez, 2012). Another disadvantage of rumination-monitoring systems, which definitely include the rumination collar, is that although it does provide accurate data for heifers older than 9 months, it does not have the same level of accuracy for younger animals. The possible explanation for this inefficiency is that the rumination process in calves may actually differ from that in cows in terms of amplitude and frequency. Another factor may be that calves drink milk, which may actually interfere with the rumination process (Burfeind, Schirmann, von Keyserlingk, Veira, Weary & Heuwieser, 2011). Another possible problem is that rumination collars will not be able to exactly determine the cause of the low rumination activity of the cow. Flagged cows may actually be sick, coming into heat because of mating, lame or sick with acidosis, thus there is a possibility that the wrong treatment is given and immediate diagnosis is not available (NWF Agriculture, 2014). Lastly, one more disadvantage is that certain cows under “enormous stress” may not actually demonstrate sickness but a temporary moment of tiredness that will cause low rumination activity, thus the rumination collar may detect a problem (SCR Dairy, n.d.). Conclusion and Future Challenges Tokanui Farm in the Waikato region in New Zealand boasts of its high-tech rumination collars. These rumination collars are especially designed to detect rumination activity. Low rumination activity means the presence of a disease or a heating period that needs utmost and immediate attention. Otherwise, it will affect milk and meat production and consequently reduce profit. The benefits of rumination collars, particularly the ones used in Tokanui Farm, include its certification from AgResearch. Another benefit is the claim that the rumination collars are rather efficient determiners of internal problems of cows as well as predictors of events of the health of cows. There are other benefits such as the ease in handling the technology as well as the potential for improvement. However, there are many disadvantages at the same time. One of these is the lack of conclusive evidence for a diagnosis. Others include having to readjust it in some cows, unexplained inconsistency of data, lack of coincidence between rumination activity and milk production, lack of evidence of a defect in the cow itself, the inefficiency of rumination-monitoring systems with very young calves, and other defects like the oversensitivity of the rumination collars to stress and other heating factors. Although most of these advantages are information from the United States, and that there is no report of such problems from Tokanui Farm itself, there is therefore a need to perfect this new technology in order to ensure efficiency. References AgResearch. (2012). Retrieved from Milfos: http://www.milfos.com/catalogue/2012/AgResearch.pdf Borecki, M., Szmidt, J., Beblowska, M. & Kalenik, J. (n.d.). Sensors for Fertility Monitoring of Cows. Retrieved from Instytut Technologii Elektronowej: http://www.ite.waw.pl/smartframe/files/S2/1.2.3.%20Sensors%20for%20Fertility%20Monitoring.pdf Borges, J. (2012). The Relationship between Rumination and Milk Yield in Early Lactating Holsteins and Jerseys. Retrieved from California Polytechnic State University: http://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1076&context=dscisp Burfeind, O., Schirmann, K., von Keyserlingk, M. A. G., Veira, D. M., Weary, D. M. & Heuwieser, W. (2011). Technical note: Evaluation of a system for monitoring rumination in heifers and calves. Journal of Dairy Science, 94(1), 426-430. Cow Management Systems. (2012). Retrieved from FABDEC: http://fabdec.com/sites/default/files/fabdec/library/CMS_Brochure_2012.pdf Martinez, D. (2012). Producer roundtable: How do you use rumination monitoring? Retrieved from Progressive Dairyman: http://www.progressivedairy.com/dairy-basics/management/9448-producer-roundtable-how-do-you-use-rumination-monitoring NWF co-funded trial on Cow rumination collars. (2014). Retrieved from NWF Agriculture: http://www.nwfagriculture.co.uk/uploads/newsletter/1406025871.pdf Rumination Monitoring White Paper. (n.d.). SCR Cow Monitoring Systems. Retrieved from SCR Dairy: http://www.selectsires.com/products/docs/rumination%20white%20paper%20from%20SCR.pdf Tokanui AgResearch Farm uses Sophisticated Milfos System. (2010). Retrieved from Milfos: http://www.milfos.com/page.cfm?menu_id=7&nid=47 Turning Rumination into Individual Cow Monitoring at Allendale Holsteins. (2012). Industry Buzz. Retrieved from Hoard’s Dairyman: http://www.hoards.com/IB_SCR-rumination-data Read More