Assessment of the temperature cut-off point by a commercial intravaginal device to predict parturition in Piedmontese beef cows

Abstract

Dystocic parturitions have an adverse impact on animal productivity and therefore the profitability of the farm. In this regard, accurate prediction of calving is essential since it allows for efficient and prompt assistance of the dam and the calf. Numerous approaches to predict parturition have been studied, among these, measurement of intravaginal temperature (IVT) is the most effective method at the field level. Thus, objectives of this experiment were, 1) to find an IVT cut-off to predict calving within 24 h, and 2) to clarify the use of IVT as an automated method of calving detection in housed beef cows. A commercial intravaginal electronic device (Medria Vel'Phone) with a sensor that measures the IVT every 12 h was used. Piedmontese cows (n = 211; 27 primiparous and 184 multiparous) were included in this study. One-way analysis of variance was used to assess the temperature differences at 0, 12, 24, 36, 48 and 60 h before parturition. Receiving operator characteristic curves were built to determine the temperature cut-off which predicts calving within 24 h with the highest summation of sensitivity (Se) and specificity (Sp). Binomial logistic regression models were computed to identify factors that may affect the IVT before calving. Mean gestation length was 291.5 ± 13.7 d (primiparous, 292 ± 14.1 d; multiparous, 289 ± 9.2 d). A decrease (P < 0.001) in the average IVT was found from 60 h before calving until the expulsion of the IVT device. A significant (P < 0.05) reduction in the IVT was noticeable from 24 h before until parturition. The IVT drop to predict parturition 24 h before calving was 0.21 °C (area under the curve [AUC] = 0.72; Se = 66%, Sp = 76%). Furthermore, the IVT cut-off value to predict parturition within 24 h was 38.2 °C (AUC = 0.89; Se = 86%, Sp = 91%). None of the evaluated fixed effects (parity, dystocia, season or length of gestation) affected (P ˃ 0.05) the IVT variation from 60 h before and up to calving. To conclude, the IVT average seems to be a better parameter than the drop in temperature to predict parturition within 24 h. In this regard, a cut-off of 38.2 °C showed a high Se and Sp for predicting calving. This study demonstrates the usefulness of a commercially available device to predict calving to improve management in stabled beef farms.

Evaluation of a commercial intravaginal thermometer to predict calving in a Hungarian Holstein‐Friesian dairy farm

“…According to Lammoglia et al (1997), vaginal temperatures were not affected by the gender of the calf, and there was no diurnal variation in body temperature from 48 to 8 hr before calving in beef cows. Ricci et al (2018) (Burfeind et al, 2011;Ouellet et al, 2016); hence, others did not confirm this precalving diurnal variation (Lammoglia et al, 1997;Ricci et al, 2018).…”

“…Ricci et al. (2018) reported that parity, dystocia, season and length of gestation did not affect the vaginal temperature from 60 hr before and up to calving. According to our results, the vaginal temperature of dairy cows was significantly affected by parity, season (summer vs. autumn), time of day (8 a.m. vs. 8 p.m.) and the 6‐hr time intervals, whereas gender, birthweight of the calf, twinning, gestation length, foetal presentation, dystocia and presence of RFM did not affect it significantly.…”

“…Several remote devices are available for dairy farmers to record decreases in body or vaginal temperatures for the prediction of the onset of calving. However, only a few authors reported on changes in vaginal temperature around calving in beef cattle based on Medria thermometers (Ricci et al., 2018) and dairy cows (Chanvallon et al., 2012).…”

“…To increase the accuracy of measuring the vaginal temperature, Ricci et al. (2018) have suggested to use the intravaginal temperature 38.2°C as a cut‐off value to predict calving within 24 hr because it can be more accurate (sensitivity: 86% vs. 66%) than a 0.21°C decrease during the last 24 hr before calving. Authors found similar changes to our findings as in their study the mean vaginal temperature decreased from 38.65 to 38.12°C between 48 and 60 hr and 0 to 12 hr before calving, respectively (data not given in Table 2).…”

“…There is paucity of information (Chanvallon, Leblay, Girardot, Daviere, & Lamy, 2012; Ricci et al., 2018) regarding the actual performance of those marketed devices used under field conditions; therefore, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the utility of an intravaginal thermometer as an automated method for prediction of calving in a Holstein–Friesian Hungarian dairy farm. The accuracy of predicting calving within 48 hr by sending a SMS was also evaluated.…”