NB2: 'uSuckled': Detection of maternal behaviours associated with suckling in beef cattle
| Project start date: | 01 July 2021 |
| Project end date: | 14 September 2023 |
| Publication date: | 08 June 2022 |
| Project status: | In progress |
| Livestock species: | Grass-fed Cattle |
| Relevant regions: | Northern Australia |
Summary
This project aims to explore the concept that suckling can be detected using remote monitoring devices (such as accelerometers, sound monitors and GPS trackers) attached to free-grazing cows. In doing so, documenting a non-invasive remotely-detectable dam-based method to approximate when a calf has been born, indicate whether the calf was born alive, if it suckled normally or not and if the occurrence of suckling prematurely stops indicating a self-weaning or mortality event.
