The presented investigations were realized to obtain a preliminary result on automatic monitoring of body temperature of cattle, using a prototype temperature sensor in the reticulo rumen.
After presenting the state of knowledge in the literature, regarding body temperature of cattle, thermal regulation of the homoiothermals and influencing factors on their body temperature, previous measuring methods were described. It was shown, that the commonly used rectal temperature measurement, done by hand, is often referred to as a base value since this represents a near body core value.
It is obvious, that manual work for the control of body temperature is time consuming and not suitable for continous supervision. Further developments of the measurement procedures which allow an ongoing, long-term Supervision of the body core temperature during the whole chain of production is necessary, since no exact statements can be made on the basis of less selective temperature measurements about divergent temperature variations.
It is expected, that functional reliability, easily manageable data measuring and transmission systems can be provided to the animal-owner, using sensors, which are integrated either in injectable transponders or in bolus-transponders for ruminal use.
In order to check the accuracy and functional reliability of the thermal sensors a Iaboratory test was carried out under conditions of an adjustable water bath at different temperatures. The investigations were carried out on three fistulated cows of the Holstein Friesians race in the experimental station of the TU Munich/Weihenstephan during a period of approximately 48 hours. The telemetric sensor device itself was combined with a data Iogger providing a data transmission on 433 MHz towards a Iogger modern, which had an interface to a standard PC. In each of the cows two sensors were used to obtain both, a reference value of the animals vagina and the temperature of the reticulo-rumen.
During the laboratory test all temperature sensors delivered plausible values. In vivo the temperature of the reticulo rumen showed much higher fluctuation of values than those of the vagina. It is expected, that feed intake and water intake influenced the measured temperature in all three cows.
The correlation coefficients of the temperatures of the two investigated measuring spots over the complete test period were at 0,2 and 0,4. The highest temperature reading in the reticulum was at 41 ,4°C, the lowest at 37,4°C. The diurnal vaginal temperatures reach their highs in the early morning and afternoon hours.
Starting out from these results the measuring place reticulum for the automatic recording of the body temperature can be considered as not yet suitable. One of the main reasons might be an incorrect position of the bolus on top of the feed and not (as expected) on the bottom of the reticulum. To validate this judgment further examinations are necessary. Readings of the Ioggers in vivo requires a further special technical development. By raising the reading distance from currently 30-50 cm the data transmission could be optimized.
Summarizing it can be said, that in particular telemetric measuring of the body temperature will gain acceptance under consideration of the mentioned comparison parameters of different measuring methods. Although the technology and the specific density of the bolus need to be improved the total procedure of automatic long-term storage of individual temperature values seems to be a very prosperous way for an improved animal monitoring.
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The presented investigations were realized to obtain a preliminary result on automatic monitoring of body temperature of cattle, using a prototype temperature sensor in the reticulo rumen.
After presenting the state of knowledge in the literature, regarding body temperature of cattle, thermal regulation of the homoiothermals and influencing factors on their body temperature, previous measuring methods were described. It was shown, that the commonly used rectal temperature measurement, done by h...
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