Technologies for the automated collection of heat stress data in sheep

Abstract

The automated collection of phenotypic measurements in livestock is becoming increasingly important to both researchers and farmers. The capacity to non-invasively collect real-time data, provides the opportunity to better understand livestock behaviour and physiology and improve animal management decisions. Current climate models project that temperatures will increase across the world, influencing both local and global agriculture. Sheep that are exposed to high ambient temperatures experience heat stress and their physiology, reproductive function and performance are compromised. Body temperature is a reliable measure of heat stress and hence a good indicator of an animals’ health and well-being. Non-invasive temperature-sensing technologies have made substantial progress over the past decade. Here, we review the different technologies available and assess their suitability for inferring ovine heat stress. Specifically, the use of indwelling probes, intra-ruminal bolus insertion, thermal imaging and implantable devices are investigated. We further evaluate the capacity of behavioural tracking technology, such as global positioning systems, to identify heat stressed individuals based on the exhibition of specific behaviours. Although there are challenges associated with using real-time thermosensing data to make informed management decisions, these technologies provide new opportunities to manage heat stress in sheep. In order to obtain accurate real-time information of individual animals and facilitate prompt intervention, data collection should be entirely automated. Additionally, for accurate interpretation on-farm, the development of software which can effectively collect, manage and integrate data for sheep producer’s needs to be prioritised. Lastly, understanding known physiological thresholds will allow farmers to determine individual heat stress risk and facilitate early intervention to reduce the effects in both current and subsequent generations.

Influence of Heat Stress on Body Temperatures Measured by Infrared Thermography, Blood Metabolic Parameters and Its Correlation in Sheep

“…Temperature and humidity index (THI) is the simplest approach, which combines ambient temperature and relative humidity to assess the response of livestock productivity as a function of climate [ 7 ]. As temperature and humidity are often readily collected, the minimal inputs make THI an easy tool for retrospective studies in most regions [ 8 ].…”

Influence of climatic conditions on tympanic temperature and milk production in grazing cows

“…The tympanic temperature is susceptible to minor variations in AT due to being close to the hypothalamus. Animals under farm 1 management, with TT close or higher than 38.9 °C, could reduce their productivity, possibly by heat stress cases in its early stages (Baida et al 2021).…”

Cortisol metabolites vary with environmental conditions, predation risk, and human shields in a wild primate, Cercopithecus albogularis

“…It is also possible that juveniles or adult males might respond differently to this stressor, although previous studies with similarly sized primates have not found substantial differences based on sex alone (Henzi et al, 2017. However, larger studies with a greater number of known individuals across a longer period might better address this question. Future research using arboreal camera traps or GPS collars with temperature probes might also be better able to address individualized questions (Lewis Baida et al, 2021).…”