B.GBP.0052 - Improved calf output utilising real time monitoring of cow reproductive behaviours

Summary

Perinatal calf mortality costs the Australian beef industry an estimated $96 million annually.

Before interventions can be proposed and implemented by producers, research is required to determine exactly where, how and why calves are being lost. Gathering this data remains a significant challenge in extensive grazing landscapes. This project seeks to develop and evaluate tools and systems that will provide this critical missing information.

The project will be undertaken as two concurrent research activities: The first, Calf 48hr (C48hr), will further develop and evaluate the existing Calf Alert system; The second, Precise Cow Positioning (PCP), will develop and evaluate on animal sensor systems to provide highly accurate animal location and behaviour data at parturition. The Calf Alert system and the Precise Cow Positioning failed when deployed. The project was terminated after the calving season was completed in the NT.

Objectives

Calf 48 hour (C48hr): the development and evaluation of the Calf Alert system at scale to provide a system that enables detection of parturition events and diagnosis of causes of calf loss in extensive grazing systems. The system will enable collection of detailed information on calving events and enable autopsy in the event of calf mortality; 2. Precise Cow Positioning (PCP): The development and/or evaluation of animal location systems that provide real-time data to enable location of parturition sites (after matching with the Calf Alert System). The system will also provide cow behavioural data (e.g. use of shade, water and other resources) to inform causal effects of calf mortalities.

Key findings

The technology failed in the first breeding season. Continuous data was unable to be collected. In addition, the temperature and humidity in the NT during the calving season was extreme and may have contributed to the technology failure. It is recommended before deploying future technology in research the technology should be validated to operate in the intended environment of the research or adoption activity.

Benefits to industry

The main objective of this project is to match the on-animal sensor data with the Calf Alert system. The information generated from this case study will be crucial to determine the efficacy of these systems combined for use in a more extensive environment. It is anticipated that the most efficient system to detect parturition will likely result from sensor technologies such as GNSS and accelerometers combined. These will also provide animal behavioural data to inform causal effects of calf mortalities.

MLA action

A public report is available to be published.

Future research

Further investment may be recommended if the technology has been validated on the proposed property or state such as the NT.