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novel approaches to expression and detection of oestrus in dairy cows

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observed matched with <strong>in</strong>creases <strong>in</strong> height coord<strong>in</strong>ates present <strong>in</strong> the UWB<br />

data, or not identified mounts if the visual observations did not match with<br />

<strong>in</strong>creases <strong>in</strong> height coord<strong>in</strong>ates <strong>in</strong> the UWB data. The UWB observations<br />

were expressed as a percentage <strong>of</strong> the <strong>to</strong>tal number <strong>of</strong> mounts visually<br />

observed <strong>and</strong> recorded (m<strong>in</strong>us UWB error; where data was miss<strong>in</strong>g<br />

because coord<strong>in</strong>ates were not recorded by UWB, signal quality was poor<br />

therefore accuracy had deteriorated or when the unit had turned <strong>of</strong>f) <strong>to</strong><br />

determ<strong>in</strong>e the percentage accuracy <strong>of</strong> UWB.<br />

5.2.6.4.2 Script Analysis<br />

It was clear from analysis <strong>of</strong> UWB data that cow positions <strong>and</strong> elevations <strong>in</strong><br />

height dur<strong>in</strong>g <strong>oestrus</strong> were recorded which prompted development <strong>of</strong> a<br />

script <strong>to</strong> au<strong>to</strong>matically analyse UWB data <strong>and</strong> declare mount<strong>in</strong>g <strong>and</strong><br />

st<strong>and</strong><strong>in</strong>g events occurr<strong>in</strong>g by <strong>in</strong>dividual <strong>cows</strong>. Script 1 was developed <strong>to</strong><br />

take <strong>in</strong><strong>to</strong> account the average dimensions <strong>of</strong> a Holste<strong>in</strong> Friesian <strong>dairy</strong> cow<br />

<strong>and</strong> thus the relative position between 2 <strong>cows</strong> whilst one s<strong>to</strong>od <strong>to</strong> be<br />

mounted by another. Firstly data were filtered <strong>to</strong> remove any outly<strong>in</strong>g<br />

values above <strong>and</strong> below the set height limits for a mount (m<strong>in</strong>imum; 1.3m<br />

<strong>and</strong> maximum; 2.6m) <strong>and</strong> <strong>to</strong> remove data <strong>of</strong> poor quality (

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