Core body temperature monitoring with passive transponder boluses in beef heifers

Core body temperature monitoring with passive transponder boluses in beef heifers

Experiments were conducted over 82 d (Nov. 04 to Jan. 24, 49°N, mean ambient temperature -3.6 to -12.6 ± 1.6°C) to determine the effects of fever, photoperiod and pen setup on the rate (MR) and frequency (MF) with which heifers were monitored and the body (rumen) temperatures (BTr) obtained with a c...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Canadian journal of animal science Vol. 88; no. 2; pp. 225 - 235
Main Authors: Small, J.A, Kennedy, A.D, Kahane, S.H
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: 01-06-2008
Subjects:
air temperature
beef cows
body temperature
cattle housing
fever
heifers
measuring devices
noninvasive methods
oral administration
photoperiod
radio frequency identification
rumen
transponders
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Summary:Experiments were conducted over 82 d (Nov. 04 to Jan. 24, 49°N, mean ambient temperature -3.6 to -12.6 ± 1.6°C) to determine the effects of fever, photoperiod and pen setup on the rate (MR) and frequency (MF) with which heifers were monitored and the body (rumen) temperatures (BTr) obtained with a cattle temperature moniotoring system (MaGiiX). Magnetic, inductively coupled full duplex radio-frequency identification (RFID) transponder boluses containing thermistors were administered per os to 72 heifers (7.9 ± 0.5 mo of age and 283 ± 23 kg body weight) housed in one of four pens, in outdoor shed-lot facilities, each with a panel reader co-located with the waterbowl. A mixed ration (59% dry matter) was provided at 1500 daily. Fencing was arranged within pens for water motivated (WM) acquisitions during exps. 1 (Initial), 2 (Fever) and 3 (Photoperiod), or for either WM or activity motivated (AM) acquisitions during exp. 4 (Pen setup). Overall, most heifers were monitored daily (Mode MR 100%), several times perday (MF 7.8 ± 0.5), mostly during the afternoon and evening rather than night and morning 6-h periods, and BTr (37.8 ± 0.2°C, range 22 to 42°C) were usually lower (P < 0.05) for the afternoon than night. A 2°C increase in mean BTr caused by fever was detected (P < 0.05) when monitoring was scheduled rather than unscheduled. Extended (16h) in contrast to natural (8h) photoperiod increased (P < 0.05) evening MR (96.8 vs.83.5 ± 1.9%) and MF (3.8 vs. 2.5 ± 0.2), and morning-BTr (38.0 vs. 37.4 ± 0.11°C). Pen setup for AM in contrast to WM acquisitions increased (P < 0.05) MR and MF and BTr (by 1°C) in all periods of the day. The technology has excellent potential for non-invasive monitoring of BTr in heifers. Key words: Radio-frequency identification, cattle, transponder bolus, body temperature, rumen
Bibliography:http://pubs.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/aic-journals/cjas.html
ISSN:0008-3984
1918-1825
DOI:10.4141/CJAS07023