Rumination, Activity, Estrus, and/or Temperature Monitors
alternative practice names:
Automated Health Monitoring Systems
Automated health monitoring systems use different types of sensors to detect information about rumination, activity, panting, eating time, lying time, and temperature.
Neck collars: These sensors utilize a microphone attached to a neck collar to record sounds of regurgitation and rumination.
Ear tags: Ear tags use a three-dimensional accelerometer in an ear tag to measure rumination based on ear movement.
Leg-mounted sensors: Accelerometers and pedometers are attached to a cow's leg to monitor movement, step count, and lying/standing time.
Computer vision (video): Emerging systems use cameras and advanced image processing to monitor cow behaviors and detect changes in health status.
Bolus sensors: Ingestible boluses can measure core body temperature and sometimes pH levels, transmitting data to external receivers.
A central server typically processes the collected data from rumination and activity monitors, analyzing it to detect patterns and deviations in behaviors such as rumination, estrus, feeding, and activity. The server then summarizes the results, generates animal activity reports, and provides alerts to notify farm managers of any potential health issues or significant changes in behavior that may require attention. In some cases, indicators of disease can be detected more rapidly, which aids in the allocation of labor and may improve the outcomes of therapeutic interventions.
When used, in what regions in the U.S. is the practice found:
Northwest, West, Upper Midwest, Southwest, Northeast, Southeast
FARM SIZE
When used, typically found on farms of the following sizes:
All Sizes
Practice Benefits
Increased labor efficiency: Automated health monitoring systems enhance labor efficiency by streamlining animal management and shifting the focus to herd health data review and management. These systems save time by quickly identifying animals of concern, enabling faster response and better health outcomes. By freeing up personnel from routine monitoring, these technologies allow staff to engage in more complex tasks, potentially improving job satisfaction and retention.
Early detection of disease: These systems enable early detection of health issues by monitoring changes in rumination and activity patterns, allowing for timely intervention and treatment. Early detection helps reduce the severity and duration of illnesses, ultimately improving animal welfare and productivity (Stangaffero, 2016). It can also reduce the use of antibiotics and the costs associated with treatment.
Fresh cow monitoring: These monitors allow for continuous, real-time tracking of cow behavior, enabling early detection of deviations from normal patterns, such as reduced rumination or altered activity levels. This early detection is crucial because it allows for prompt intervention, reducing the severity and duration of health problems like metabolic disorders or mastitis that are common in early lactation (Steensels et al., 2017; Paudyal et al., 2018).
Improved estrus detection: Sensors and monitors significantly enhance estrus detection, allowing dairy managers to optimize insemination timing and improve insemination rates. Accurate detection of estrus is crucial for the success of artificial insemination; without it, the likelihood of failed pregnancies increases, leading to economic losses. By fully utilizing these systems, farms can improve reproductive performance, reduce the occurrence of delayed or failed pregnancies, and mitigate the substantial negative economic impacts associated with poor reproductive outcomes.
Increased health and fertility: Monitors and sensors improve fertility in dairy cows by accurately tracking behaviors like activity and temperature, which indicate when a cow is in heat, allowing for precise breeding at the optimal time. This reduces the need for hormones and drug therapies to manage reproduction. Additionally, by maintaining better cow health through continuous monitoring, these systems support higher fertility rates naturally, further decreasing reliance on external treatments (Neves & LeBlanc, 2015).
Remote management: Systems can be tied to smartphones so that the owner can continue to monitor animals when away from the farm and receive alerts when cows need attention.
Biosecurity monitoring: Herds with rumination, activity, and/or temperature monitors can enhance infectious disease detection.
Implementation Insights
Site-specific or Farm-specific requirements
Internet service: A stable, on-farm internet connection is required to facilitate system updates and tech support.
Required Capital Expenditures (CapEx)
Sensors: Farmers monitor cows using wearable sensors. To maximize benefits, most farms either purchase or lease one sensor per adult cow. However, some producers may choose to remove sensors from late-lactation or dry cows to reduce costs, although this can limit the system's effectiveness. These systems can also be used in heifers, where their primary value lies in detecting estrus in breeding-age heifers.
Computer infrastructure: To implement this practice effectively, it may be necessary to purchase a computer or central server with an internet connection.
Antennas: Installing antennas and access points can improve the functionality of this system.
Required Operational Expenditures (OpEx)
Software subscription: A software subscription is required to interpret data provided by the monitors and provide cow health feedback.
Management: To utilize this system effectively, it may be necessary to train personnel and/or allocate staff time to interpret and utilize reports.
Ongoing maintenance and upgrades: Sensors typically require replacement every four to seven years. Vendors typically offer outright purchase of the system and sensors or subscription-based programs that have a predetermined cost per cow-month.
Implementation Considerations
Technology integration: These systems are user-friendly, with support personnel able to customize reports and automate their printing or uploading to devices. The physical examination and treatment of sick cows remain the same as they would without these tools, ensuring that the integration of technology doesn't complicate traditional care practices.
Monitor displacement: Cows may occasionally dislodge their monitors, such as when ear tags fall off, collars wear down, or leg bands become detached. Collars, in particular, can cause damage to downstream manure pumps and equipment if they end up in the manure system.
Financial Considerations and Revenue Streams
There are no federal cost-share programs or conservation funding for this practice.
FINANCIAL RESOURCES, TOOLS, AND CASE STUDIES
How Dairy Cow Monitoring Systems Benefit the Bottom Line (Successful Farming)
Additional Resources
Article: Cow Monitors Help Dairy Boost Production, Herd Health (Farm Progress)
Article: Understanding Rumination and Technologies to Monitor Cow Behavior (Dairy Herd Management)
Environmental Impacts
MAY REDUCE FARM GREENHOUSE GAS FOOTPRINT
There is currently little to no scientific research evaluating the impact of the practice on a farm's environmental footprint. However, if they increase the efficiency of production, then there should be a decrease in emission intensity associated with their use.
Monitors enhance production and production efficiency by enabling early detection of health issues, optimizing breeding timing, and improving overall herd management. These systems allow for timely interventions that reduce illness duration and increase reproductive success, leading to higher milk yields and more efficient resource use in dairy operations (Stangaferro et al., 2016). This results in decreased greenhouse gas emissions per unit of milk produced and a reduced overall environmental impact per unit of dairy output.
Improved reproduction can increase lifetime milk and result in fewer non-lactating days, which decreases lifetime enteric methane relative to lifetime fluid and protein-corrected milk (Džermeikaitė et al., 2024).
REFerences
Gusterer, E., Kanz, P., Krieger, S., Schweinzer, V., Süss, D., Lidauer, L., Kickinger, F., Öhlschuster, M., Auer, W., Drillich, M., & Iwersen, M. (2020). Sensor technology to support herd health monitoring: Using rumination duration and activity measures as unspecific variables for the early detection of dairy cows with health deviations. Theriogenology, 157, 61-69.
Alignment with FARM Program
FARM Environmental Stewardship (ES) V2-V3 Alignment
Optional inputs in FARM ES Version 3 ask about reproductive protocols in use, including Estrus Detection and Timed AI, which can influence herd demographics and replacement rates, and thus the greenhouse gas emissions intensity.
Contents
We're always eager to update the website with the latest research, implementation insights, financial case studies, and emerging practices. Use the link above to share your insights.
We're always eager to update the website with the latest research, implementation insights, financial case studies, and emerging practices. Use the link above to share your insights.
Automated health monitoring systems use different types of sensors to detect information about rumination, activity, panting, eating time, lying time, and temperature.
Neck collars: These sensors utilize a microphone attached to a neck collar to record sounds of regurgitation and rumination.
Ear tags: Ear tags use a three-dimensional accelerometer in an ear tag to measure rumination based on ear movement.
Leg-mounted sensors: Accelerometers and pedometers are attached to a cow's leg to monitor movement, step count, and lying/standing time.
Computer vision (video): Emerging systems use cameras and advanced image processing to monitor cow behaviors and detect changes in health status.
Bolus sensors: Ingestible boluses can measure core body temperature and sometimes pH levels, transmitting data to external receivers.
A central server typically processes the collected data from rumination and activity monitors, analyzing it to detect patterns and deviations in behaviors such as rumination, estrus, feeding, and activity. The server then summarizes the results, generates animal activity reports, and provides alerts to notify farm managers of any potential health issues or significant changes in behavior that may require attention. In some cases, indicators of disease can be detected more rapidly, which aids in the allocation of labor and may improve the outcomes of therapeutic interventions.
Practices and technologies
Rumination, Activity, Estrus, and/or Temperature Monitors
alternative practice name:
Automated Health Monitoring Systems