Abstract
Due to environmental concerns around N leaching and NO2 emissions from intensive pastoral dairying systems, there has been an increase in research focused on mitigation strategies and on-animal technologies to evaluate urination behavior of grazing dairy cows. Nitrogen leaching and NO2 emissions are associated with urine nitrogen loading onto pasture, which is a function of urine nitrogen concentration and urine volume per urination event. The PEETER V1.0 urine sensor (Lincoln University, Christchurch, New Zealand) is a promising on-animal measurement technology; however, it has yet to be validated in vivo. The objective of this work was to validate the PEETER V1.0 urine sensor's estimations of individual urination events (i.e., urine volume). We fitted 15 Holstein-Friesian × Jersey lactating dairy cows (506 ± 35 kg of live weight, body condition score of 3.75 ± 0.25, and 150.4 ± 20.7 d in milk) with individual PEETER V1.0 sensors and placed them in metabolism crates for 72 h. Every urination event (n = 480) was collected manually and compared with the urine volume estimated by the PEETER V1.0 sensor to determine precision and accuracy using Lin's concordance correlation coefficient (CCC). The CCC is calculated as a function of the Pearson's correlation (precision) and bias correction factor (Cb; Cb = 1 is perfect), and it demonstrates how far the values of the 2 methods are from perfect agreement (accuracy; i.e., a 45° line). The mean urination event volume (mean ± standard deviation) was 2.7 ± 0.94 and 2.6 ± 0.92 L for the actual and PEETER V1.0 sensor, respectively. The PEETER V1.0 sensor showed excellent precision (r = 0.90) with near-perfect accuracy (Cb = 1.00), and the CCC value was high (CCC = 0.90), indicating excellent agreement. Based on these results, the PEETER V1.0 urine sensor provides estimates that are precise and accurate. We conclude that the PEETER V1.0 sensor can be used to evaluate urination behavior of grazing dairy cows.
Highlights
Every urination event (n = 480) was collected manually and compared with the urine volume estimated by the PEETER V1.0 sensor to determine precision and accuracy using Lin’s concordance correlation coefficient (CCC)
We hypothesized that the PEETER V1.0 urine sensor will provide an accurate and precise method to measure urine behavioral characteristics in vivo
It is unlikely that any additional variability would be detected in results as a result of actual urination events being larger than calibration events (5 L) because the PEETER V1.0 sensor measures volume based on pressure as flowrate and time
Summary
Every urination event (n = 480) was collected manually and compared with the urine volume estimated by the PEETER V1.0 sensor to determine precision and accuracy using Lin’s concordance correlation coefficient (CCC). The PEETER V1.0 urine sensor provides estimates that are precise and accurate. The objective of this study was to compare the accuracy and precision of the PEETER V1.0 sensor against manual measurements of urination events for volume per urination.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
