novel approaches to expression and detection of oestrus in dairy cows

LIST OF FIGURES
Figure 1.1 Hormonal control of the bovine oestrous cycle 5
Figure 1.2 Window of opportunity for artificial insemination post oestrus 12
Figure 1.3 Standing to be mounted 18
Figure 1.4 Secondary signs of oestrous behaviour 20
Figure 2.1 Cow wearing Lely-HR Activity Tag 51
Figure 2.2
Graph of activity of a lactating cow from calving through to
pregnancy 52
Figure 4.1 UWB infrastructure of BU, MU and CU 84
Figure 4.2 UWB unit that can be configured as either BU, MU or CU 85
Figure 4.3 UWB MU set up, connected to a battery pack 86
Figure 4.4 MU and battery set up in backpack monitoring cow movement 86
Figure 4.5 Static test to compare UWB precision in horizontal axes 87
Figure 4.6 Kinematic tests to compare UWB precision in horizontal axes 87
Figure 4.7 Kinematic monitoring of cow behaviour 88
Figure 4.8 Optimal BU constellation set up 90
Figure 4.9 HVDOP diagram of UWB network signal coverage 91
Figure 4.10 Graph of MU orientation tests 92
Figure 4.11 Kinematic test in optimal BU network testing horizontal accuracy
93
Figure 4.12 Static tests in optimal BU network testing vertical accuracy in
areas of good and poor position as determined by the HVDOP 94
Figure 4.13 Kinematic tests in optimal BU network testing vertical accuracy in
areas of good and poor position as determined by the HVDOP 95
Figure 4.14 Monitoring cow positioning and behaviour with UWB for a
sustained period of time 97
xi