Predicting Disease in Transition Dairy Cattle Based on Behaviors Measured Before Calving

Abstract

Dairy cattle are particularly susceptible to metritis, hyperketonemia (HYK), and mastitis in the weeks after calving. These high-prevalence transition diseases adversely affect animal welfare, milk production, and profitability. Our aim was to use prepartum behavior to predict which cows have an increased risk of developing these conditions after calving. The behavior of 213 multiparous and 105 primiparous Holsteins was recorded for approximately three weeks before calving by an electronic feeding system. Cows were also monitored for signs of metritis, HYK, and mastitis in the weeks after calving. The data were split using a stratified random method: we used 70% of our data (hereafter referred to as the “training” dataset) to develop the model and the remaining 30% of data (i.e., the “test” dataset) to assess the model’s predictive ability. Separate models were developed for primiparous and multiparous animals. The area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve using the test dataset for multiparous cows was 0.83, sensitivity and specificity were 73% and 80%, positive predictive value (PPV) was 73%, and negative predictive value (NPV) was 80%. The area under the ROC curve using the test dataset for primiparous cows was 0.86, sensitivity and specificity were 71% and 84%, PPV was 77%, and NPV was 80%. We conclude that prepartum behavior can be used to predict cows at risk of metritis, HYK, and mastitis after calving.

Effect of oral calcium administration on metabolic status and uterine health of dairy cows with reduced postpartum rumination and eating time

“…In a study by Schirmann et al [ 23 ], cows with metritis and SCK had lower dry matter intake during the precalving period and continued to eat less until d 20 postpartum, as compared with healthy cows. In agreement, Sahar et al [ 24 ] reported that cows that spend less time eating during the first 90 min after fresh feed delivery in the prepartum period were at increased risk of developing SCK and metritis in the postpartum period. Interestingly, to the authors’ knowledge, the use of daily CRET to test these associations has not been widely explored.…”

Effect of Oral Calcium Administration on Metabolic Status and Uterine Health of Dairy Cows With Reduced Postpartum Rumination and Eating Time

“…In a study by Schirmann et al [22], cows with metritis and SCK had lower dry matter intake during the precalving period and continued to eat less until d 20 postpartum, as compared with healthy cows. In agreement, Sahar et al [23] reported that cows that spend less time eating during the rst 90 min after fresh feed delivery in the prepartum period were at increased risk of developing SCK and metritis in the postpartum period. Interestingly, to the authors' knowledge, the use of daily CRET to test these associations has not been widely explored.…”

Daily behavioral measures recorded by precision technology devices may indicate bovine respiratory disease status in preweaned dairy calves

“…Machine learning has been successful at identifying disease in cattle. For example, machine learning identified dairy herds at risk for high prevalence of zoonotic diseases (e.g., tuberculosis; Stański et al, 2021), outbreak patterns of disease such as mastitis (Hyde et al, 2020) and relative changes in cow behavior at parturition which were indicative of transition cow diseases (Sahar et al, 2020). Thus, we suggest that precision technology devices in concert with machine learning techniques hold the potential for monitoring for multiple behavioral changes that may identify calves at risk for developing a BRD bout.…”