Use of rumination and activity data as health status and performance indicators in beef cattle during the early fattening period
Open accessAbstract
The aim of this study was to measure the level of activity and rumination in young bulls and to assess whether these data can be used as indicators of health status and average daily weight gain (ADG). Two groups of animals (period 1: n=108 animals; period 2: n=106 animals) were fitted with sensors to measure daily activity and rumination, were weighed on arrival and at the end of the trial (70 days) and were checked twice daily to verify their health condition. Any clinical signs and therapies were recorded. The dishomogeneity index of rumination (DR), and the daily dishomogeneity indices of activity (DDA) and rumination (DDR), were calculated. Bulls had an ADG of 1.42±0.38kg/day and showed an average duration of daily rumination of 404±63min and an average activity of 474±46 bits, respectively. Animals characterised by low ADG had lower values of minimum daily rumination (P=0.01) and DDA (P<0.001), and a greater rumination range (P=0.007) and DR (P=0.003). Bovine respiratory disease and lameness were detected 31 and five times, respectively; among affected animals, the average daily activity, rumination and DDA were lower (P<0.05) at 3-6days before the onset of visible clinical signs, whereas DDR increased compared to the values when individuals were apparently healthy. The use of individual sensors appears promising for the early diagnosis of disease in beef cattle and for improving herd management.
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Marchesini et al. found that this model's sensitivity and specificity reached 81% and 95%, respectively, three days prior to the clinical diagnosis of BRD and lameness in cattle.
“Marchesini et al. found that this model’s sensitivity and specificity reached 81% and 95%, respectively, three days prior to the clinical diagnosis of BRD and lameness in cattle [248].”
From Strategies for Bovine Respiratory Disease (BRD) Diagnosis and Prognosis: A Comprehensive Overview (2024) · cites this paper as [248]
The Results report 81% sensitivity and 95% specificity for a 9% decrease in rumination used to detect both BRD and lameness. They describe detection at least 1–3 days before clinical signs, however, not a performance estimate specifically three days before diagnosis. The Discussion also gives different figures for lameness, so the cited figures should not be presented as an unqualified result for that condition. (LLM, conf=0.85)
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Cites
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Cited by
Sorted by citations
Strategies for Bovine Respiratory Disease (BRD) Diagnosis and Prognosis: A Comprehensive Overview
Kamel, M. S., Davidson, J. L., & Verma, M. S. (2024) · Animals · doi:10.3390/ani14040627 · Cited by 76 · see citing works
“Marchesini et al. found that this model’s sensitivity and specificity reached 81% and 95%, respectively, three days prior to the clinical diagnosis of BRD and lameness in cattle [248].”
BackgroundEarly Detection of Respiratory Diseases in Calves by Use of an Ear-Attached Accelerometer
Ramezani Gardaloud, N., Guse, C., Lidauer, L., Steininger, A., Kickinger, F., Öhlschuster, M., Auer, W., Iwersen, M., Drillich, M., & Klein-Jöbstl, D. (2022) · Animals · doi:10.3390/ani12091093 · Cited by 24 · see citing works
Predictive Modeling of Bovine Respiratory Disease Outcomes in Feedlot Cattle: A Narrative Review
Wisnieski, L., Amrine, D. E., & Renter, D. G. (2021) · Livestock Science · doi:10.1016/j.livsci.2021.104666 · Cited by 23 · see citing works
- Authors
- Marchesini, G., Mottaran, D., Contiero, B., Schiavon, E., Segato, S., Garbin, E., Tenti, S., & Andrighetto, I.
- Affiliations
- University of Padua (IT)
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie (IT)
- Corresponding author
- Marchesini, Giorgio
- ORCID
- Venue
- The Veterinary Journal
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2018-01
- Volume
- 231
- Pages
- 41-47
- ISSN
- 1090-0233 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2768855073
- Cited by
- 64
- References
- 1
- Citations by year
- 2026: 5 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 9 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 17 · 2021: 8 · 2020: 11 · 2019: 7 · 2018: 1
- FWCI
- 8.22
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- hybrid
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- The Veterinary Journal (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Padua Research Archive (University of Padova) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
- INFM-OAR (INFN Catania) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
- Funders
- University of Padova (60A08-7341)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Veterinary › Small Animals › Animal Behavior and Welfare Studies
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Plant Science › Smart Agriculture and AI
- Health Sciences › Veterinary › Small Animals › Animal health and immunology
- Keywords
- rumination, animal activity, beef cattle, bulls, average daily gain, health indicators, bovine respiratory disease, lameness, early disease detection, wearable sensors, herd management
- MeSH terms
- Animals, Animal Husbandry, Cattle, Health Status, Italy, Male, Mastication, Motor Activity, Weight Gain, Remote Sensing Technology
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