Literature Review on Technological Applications to Monitor and Evaluate Calves’ Health and Welfare

Abstract

Precision livestock farming (PLF) research is rapidly increasing and has improved farmers’ quality of life, animal welfare, and production efficiency. PLF research in dairy calves is still relatively recent but has grown in the last few years. Automatic milk feeding systems (AMFS) and 3D accelerometers have been the most extensively used technologies in dairy calves. However, other technologies have been emerging in dairy calves’ research, such as infrared thermography (IRT), 3D cameras, ruminal bolus, and sound analysis systems, which have not been properly validated and reviewed in the scientific literature. Thus, with this review, we aimed to analyse the state-of-the-art of technological applications in calves, focusing on dairy calves. Most of the research is focused on technology to detect and predict calves’ health problems and monitor pain indicators. Feeding and lying behaviours have sometimes been associated with health and welfare levels. However, a consensus opinion is still unclear since other factors, such as milk allowance, can affect these behaviours differently. Research that employed a multi-technology approach showed better results than research focusing on only a single technique. Integrating and automating different technologies with machine learning algorithms can offer more scientific knowledge and potentially help the farmers improve calves’ health, performance, and welfare, if commercial applications are available, which, from the authors’ knowledge, are not at the moment.

The Effects of Milk Replacer Supplemented with Ascophyllum nodosum as a Novel Ingredient to Prevent Neonatal Diarrhea in Dairy Calves and Improve Their Health Status

“…Zootechnical performances of calves are related to several factors, and can be implemented through correct management, that can involve, for example, new technological systems correlated to the innovative approach of precision livestock that aims to look at physiological, behavioral, and production indicators to improve management and performance [35], or nutritional aspects directly correlated with animal growth and future milk production [36]. Our results, related to zootechnical performance, showed no differences between the experimental groups.…”

Three-Way k-Means Model: Dynamic Optimal Sensor Placement for Efficient Environment Monitoring in Pig House

“…Traditionally, the internal environment of livestock structures has been monitored through one or more sensors. However, pinpointing the most suitable sensor positions to holistically represent the internal environment remains a challenge [3,4]. Furthermore, the heat generated by the animals themselves, coupled with variations in ventilation locations and the insulation efficacy within livestock structures, introduces considerable disparities in the internal environment.…”

Modernization of calf rearing technology elements in cattle breeding

“…The welfare of dairy calves has long attracting the well-deserved attention of science and the dairy farming community. Nevertheless, the increased morbidity and mortality rates mentioned in the literature indicate that, despite the successes already achieved in animal husbandry, there are still serious problems [6].…”