Interrelationship between thermal imaging data and dairy traits in red-and-white cows

Abstract

The aim of the research was the thermal imaging comparative analysis of milk production traits such as: CFU (number of micro-organism forming colonies ?1 cm-3 of milk), somatic cells count - SCC, content (%) of fat, protein, lactose, DM, no fat dry matter - NFDM and urea (mg?100 cm-3) and the skin temperature at the selected sites on a cow?s body. The research was conducted on 32 cows of Red-and-White breed, with an average milk yield 6797 kg per cow. On two sides of the body (left and right) two fixed temperature measurement sites on the joints (ankle joint, carpal joint) and 3 sites on the mammary glands (fore quarter teat cistern, hind quarter teat cistern and central ligament) were chosen as well as isotherm was drawn for the temperature distribution along the oblique body axis to record the minimal and maximal skin temperatures. Two sessions of thermal imaging photography 4 to 5 hours after morning milking were completed. An analysis demonstrated that the minimum temperatures along oblique body axis of clinically healthy cows measured on left body side relate with SCC (r = - .788; P? 0.05) and milk fat and DM contents (r = +.428 and r = +.450; P? 0.05). Temperature of the skin covering udder central ligament was related negatively with % content of milk fat and protein (r = -.438 and r = -.442; P?0.05 - for the left body side).