novel approaches to expression and detection of oestrus in dairy cows

The results are presented in Figure 4.7: a) stationary cow, b) general cow
movement without any changes in height and c) cow displaying changes in
height; stepping into the cubicle, lying down and then standing up again
before walking off. Results from this series of tests show positive results
that cow position can be monitored using UWB. Slight changes in height
such as stepping into cubicles (an increase of approximately 20cm) can be
detected by UWB as well as major changes in height such as lying down
(approximately 50cm height change) which can also be identified by UWB.
a
Error spikes
b
Error
spikes
Cow remains
stationary
Mobile cow
c
Standing
in cubicle
Standing
Error
spikes
in this
last
section
Figure 4.7 a) Showing one cow remaining
stationary throughout recording, b)
Showing a mobile cow without prominent
height changes, although fluctuations in
height occur due to general movement
Lying down
Out of
cubicle and
walking
and c) Cow displaying changes in height;
standing in cubicles, lying down
(accompanied by a decrease in height)
and then standing and walking (shown by
height increasing)
In conclusion, centimetre accuracy can be demonstrated in the horizontal
axes, and better than decimetre accuracy can be achieved in the vertical
axis. Loss of line of sight has been shown to cause spikes and deterioration
in signal quality, although these can be removed when analysing the UWB
data. Obstructions; steel structural beams, machinery and robotic milkers
are no problem for the signal, when BUs are set up in optimal geometry
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