| Popis: |
Physiological parameters, such as body temperature, are key indicators of heat stress and disease indairy cows. Heat stress is a major complication in dairy production and is known to predisposecows to significant health problems such as mastitis, poor reproductive performance, andlameness. It is therefore important to develop improved means of monitoring deep bodytemperature. The purpose of this project is to show a comparison between two methods ofmeasuring deep body temperature of dairy cows. Cow body temperatures measured by ingestedand implanted CorTemp sensors and rectal thermometers were compared in an effort to developan accurate and relatively non-invasive means of monitoring body temperature. The CorTemp sensor, patented by HTI Technologies, Inc., is a wireless transmitter in the shapeof a pill. It consists of a quartz crystal temperature sensor, a telemetry system, and a battery. Thesize of the pill varies based on the application. The smallest pills intended for human use orpoultry are 27 mm long and 10 mm in diameter. The size differs based primarily on the size of thebattery; the larger the battery the longer the life of the sensor. The transmitter pill can be ingestedby the cow or implanted. The sensor provides a continuous and accurate means of monitoringtemperature of dairy cows when implanted or as it travels through the digestive tract. Two tests ofthe sensor were conducted at the Dairy Research Unit (DRU) at the University of Florida. Thefirst trial was conducted on a rumen fistulated Holstein cow. A CorTemp sensor was manuallyplaced into the lower rumen of the cow through its cannula. Temperatures recorded by theexternal receiver were compared to rectal temperatures measured using a mercury thermometer. Asecond trial was conducted using three Holstein cows at the DRU. A sensor was surgicallyimplanted into the abdomen between the greater omentum and right abdominal wall. Again,temperatures were recorded by the receiver, as well as rectally by a mercury thermometer.The trials were conducted to compare temperatures measured by the CorTemp sensor totemperatures measured by a rectal thermometer. Both the rectal thermometer and CorTempsensor gave deep body temperatures within the normal range for dairy cows (38.3-39.4oC).Analysis of the temperatures indicated that the temperatures measured by the CorTemp sensorwere statistically the same at the 98% level for Cow 1, 97% level for Cow 2 and 95% level forCow 3. Further studies are planned to develop the CorTemp system as a tool to measure cowdeep body temperature. |
