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Accelerometers (ACL) can identify behavioral and activity changes in calves. In the present study, we examined the association between bovine respiratory disease (BRD) and behavioral changes detected by an ear-tag based ACL system in weaned dairy calves. Accelerometer data were analyzed from 7 d before to 1 d after clinical diagnosis of BRD. All calves in the study (n = 508) were checked daily by an adapted University of Wisconsin Calf Scoring System. Calves with a score ≥ 4 and fever for at least two consecutive days were categorized as diseased (DIS). The day of clinical diagnosis of BRD was defined as d 0. The data analysis showed a significant difference in high active times between DIS and healthy control calves (CON), with CON showing more high active times on every day, except d −3. Diseased calves showed significantly more inactive times on d −4, −2, and 0, as well as longer lying times on d −5, −2, and +1. These results indicate the potential of the ACL to detect BRD prior to a clinical diagnosis in group-housed calves. Furthermore, in this study, we described the ‘normal’ behavior in 428 clinically healthy weaned dairy calves obtained by the ACL system.

Cow location and time spent in relevant areas of the barn are important parameters that can be indicative of health and welfare status. Real-time location systems (RTLS) have the potential to measure these parameters on an individual level. We evaluated the ability of the Smartbow (Smartbow GmbH) RTLS to locate and measure the time cows spent in relevant areas of the barn. This work demonstrated that RTLS are capable of identifying individual cows in important areas of the barn and consequently are able to measure time budgets of cows. Highlights• The RTLS achieved high accuracy in locating cows in alleys, feed bunk and cubicles.• Location and time spent in important barn areas can be automatically determined and used as indicators of health. • The potential of combining RTLS with other sensors technologies was discussed.

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