Use of animal-mounted accelerometers to identify positive welfare in dairy cattle.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Methods for assessing dairy cattle welfare, such as the gold standard Qualitative Behaviour Assessment (QBA), require training and are time consuming in a sector facing labour constraints and staffing shortages. This research explores whether automated measurements from existing animal-mounted sensors can be used as a basis for objective welfare assessment in dairy cattle, supporting consumer, processor and farmer needs by demonstrating positive welfare on farm. Data (mean standing and lying duration, mean standing and lying bout frequency, mean standing and lying bout duration, mean maximum standing and lying bout duration, mean lying and standing bout frequency, mean step count) were acquired from commercially available ankle-mounted accelerometers intended for oestrus

SUBMITTER: Ferguson HJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12637375 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature