Improved Fuzzy Logic System to Evaluate Milk Electrical Conductivity Signals from On-Line Sensors to Monitor Dairy Goat Mastitis

Abstract

The aim of this study was to develop and test a new fuzzy logic model for monitoring the udder health status (HS) of goats. The model evaluated, as input variables, the milk electrical conductivity (EC) signal, acquired on-line for each gland by a dedicated sensor, the bandwidth length and the frequency and amplitude of the first main peak of the Fourier frequency spectrum of the recorded milk EC signal. Two foremilk gland samples were collected from eight Saanen goats for six months at morning milking (lactation stages (LS): 0–60 Days In Milking (DIM); 61–120 DIM; 121–180 DIM), for a total of 5592 samples. Bacteriological analyses and somatic cell counts (SCC) were used to define the HS of the glands. With negative bacteriological analyses and SCC < 1,000,000 cells/mL, glands were classified as healthy. When bacteriological analyses were positive or showed a SCC > 1,000,000 cells/mL, glands were classified as not healthy (NH). For each EC signal, an estimated EC value was calculated and a relative deviation was obtained. Furthermore, the Fourier frequency spectrum was evaluated and bandwidth length, frequency and amplitude of the first main peak were identified. Before using these indexes as input variables of the fuzzy logic model a linear mixed-effects model was developed to evaluate the acquired data considering the HS, LS and LS × HS as explanatory variables. Results showed that performance of a fuzzy logic model, in the monitoring of mammary gland HS, could be improved by the use of EC indexes derived from the Fourier frequency spectra of gland milk EC signals recorded by on-line EC sensors.

The Impact of Mastitis on the Biochemical Parameters, Oxidative and Nitrosative Stress Markers in Goat’s Milk: A Review

“…This parameter is determined by the concentration of cations and anions. As general knowledge, mastitis increases the concentration of Na + and Cl − in the milk, which then causes the electrical conductivity to rise [66]. Similar to the results obtained by studies conducted on cow milk, research on different goat breeds has shown that this indicator increases in the case of mastitis, especially when both halves of the mammary gland are affected.…”

First Evaluation of Infrared Thermography as a Tool for the Monitoring of Udder Health Status in Farms of Dairy Cows

“…Some of these, such the somatic cell count ( SCC ), the bacteriological examination of milk samples (BAC), the DeLaval Cell Counter (DCC) or the California Mastitis Test (CMT) are laboratory analysis, or portable devices, not routinely applicable in the monitoring of animals’ health on-farm due to the costs and time requirements [ 3 ]. Others are indicators that can be evaluated at farm level, like the electrical conductivity [ 4 , 5 , 6 ] or the aspect of milk [ 7 ]. Nevertheless, these are indirect measurements of the infection and their abilities and sensitivities to detect all cases, in particular when subclinical, are not always sufficient [ 2 ].…”

Effect of automatic cluster remover settings on milkability, milk quality and milking irregularities of crossbred cows

“…The EC values in the current study were similar to those of Zaninelli et al . (2016) who reported a mean EC value of 7.64 ± 0.07 ms/cm for healthy udders/glands. The results showed higher EC values in milk of healthy udders which is due to higher temperature of milk measured for on-line electrical conductivity, as reported by Henningsson et al .…”