Lameness of dairy cattle - early identification and consequences for behaviour and production

The purpose is to develop and optimize a novel tool for early identification of dairy cattle with lameness in order to increase animal welfare, product quality and producer profit. Moreover, the consequences of lameness for animal welfare and production will be illuminated.

Development of the Virtual Slaughter

The purpose of the project is to develop 3-D models of the body of slaughter pigs based on CT images for

 

1. Product optimization: characterization of slaughter quality is related to marked demands.
2. Product development: new dissections of the body performed via the virtual model can be analyzed with respect to slaughter quality and economical consequences.
3. Predictor finding: Identification of measurable characteristics of the slaughter body related to slaughter quality that can be used for online measurements and consultation for farmers under production.

Our group is responsible for the identification of measurable predictors (part 3). An experiment is conducted by Pia Nissen (Department of Food Science, DJF) to gain information about the development of the pig body and to test the robustness of predictors developed on already scanned slaughter pigs.

The project is lead by Eli Vibeke Olsen(Danish Meat Association) in collaboration with DTU and DJF.

 

Project repsonsible (part 3): Ulrich Halekoh

ulrich.halekoh@agrsci.dk

Project period: 2006-2008 (months 8)

AUREGAB - Automated registration of animal behaviour

The AUREGAB project aims at developing new tools for monitoring and for early identification of dairy cows with reduced appetite, with lameness problems and cows in heat. In the project we use Bluetooth technology for determining the positions and lying behaviour of the animals.

Project period: 2006-2008

Project participants from our group include Frede Aakman Tøgersen and Søren Højsgaard (project leader)

ILSORM - Integrated risk management

The ILSORM project is about integrated risk management in dairy production using information technology and other modern technologies. Some keywords for our activities in the project are: sensor measurements, dynamic models, decision making, optimal decisions.

Project period: 2007-2009.

Project participants from our group include Lars Relund Nielsen, Asger Roer Pedersen and Søren Højsgaard.