Modelling and Correction of Influences on Surface Temperature Measurements using infrared thermography for animal health and welfare assessments

Abstract

For specific applications of infrared thermography (IRT) in the field of human medicine diagnosis, well defined standard operating procedures are used (e.g. controlled ambient conditions). In contrast, when IRT is used in the veterinary and animal science field, examinations are not always performed under controlled ambient conditions. This leads to unavoidable influences to the surface temperatures measured with IRT. This paper quantifies this effect and proposes a novel modelling and correction approach. This approach results in a significant increase in the quality of the data and provides a more accurate measurement of IRT for assessing animal health and welfare.1 Other IRT applications do not require absolute measurements e.g. symmetry analysis of temperature patterns. Fig. 1. Canadian Muskox at extreme ambient temperature http://dx.

Evaluating Alternatives to Locomotion Scoring for Lameness Detection in Pasture-Based Dairy Cows in New Zealand: Infra-Red Thermography

“…However, almost all the published studies of lameness and IRT have been undertaken in housed cows rather than in cows kept permanently at pasture, the production system that predominates in New Zealand. Furthermore, as the environment influences foot temperature [ 39 , 40 ], animal activity [ 33 ], and the type of lesion that is likely to be causing lameness [ 41 , 42 ], the relationship between IRT and lameness may be different in pasture-based systems.…”

Assessing Consistency in Radiated Thermal Output of Beef Steers by Infrared Thermography

“…The radiated surface temperature of the udders of dairy cattle [24], and the coronary band of the hooves of beef cattle [25] and dairy cattle [26], have been shown to exhibit a linear relationship to ambient air temperature. The effects of ambient air temperature, humidity, humidity-temperature index (HTI), atmospheric pressure, and air speed were examined for their relationships to radiated temperature measurements of the hoof and udders of dairy cows and the eyes of sheep [27]. In all cases, the observed temperature was linearly related to the ambient air temperature and, to a lesser degree, with the HTI, but was relatively unrelated to the other environmental factors.…”

The Role of Infrared Thermography as a Non-Invasive Tool for the Detection of Lameness in Cattle

“…Factors which have been shown to affect the variability of infrared data include motion, environmental conditions such as ambient temperature, air flow, sunlight and humidity [ 41 ]. In addition, hair length and the distance between lens and claw may have an impact on the reliability of thermal images.…”

“…When evaluating a detection model using thermography, it is very important to consider the environmental conditions and animal individuality. Environmental factors, such as air temperature, dirt and debris and humidity can affect the thermographic scanning [ 41 ]. Moreover, it is often very important to consider the within-animal temperature difference rather than absolute values.…”