Abstract
Simple SummaryChanges in feeding, rumination, and resting behaviors are directly linked with physiological disturbance and metabolic disorders in animals. Therefore, this study was designed to validate the NEDAP technology for the monitoring of behaviors in buffaloes. The current results showed that feeding, rumination, lying, and standing behaviors were precisely and noninvasively monitored by NEDAP technology than visual observation or video recording in buffaloes. In conclusion, the current finding showed that the NEDAP system can be used for monitoring behavioral variables in buffaloes.The current study aimed to investigate the monitoring behaviors of the NEDAP system in buffaloes, to evaluate the validation, accuracy, and precision over visual observation and video recording. The NEDAP neck and leg tags were attached on the left side of the neck and left front leg of multiparous dairy buffaloes (n = 30). The feeding, rumination, lying, and standing behaviors were monitored by the NEDAP system, visual observation, and video recording. The feeding time monitored by NEDAP was 25.2 ± 2.7 higher (p < 0.05) than visual observation and video recording. However, the rumination, lying, and standing time was lower (p < 0.05) in buffaloes when monitored by the NEDAP technology than by visual observation and video recording. The Pearson correlation between NEDAP technology with visual observation and video recording for feeding, rumination, lying, and standing was 0.91, 0.85, 0.93, and 0.87, respectively. The concordance correlation coefficient between the NEDAP with visual observation and video recording was high for rumination and standing (0.91 for both), while moderate for feeding and lying (0.85 and 0.88, respectively). The Bland–Altman plots were created to determine the association between NEDAP and visual observation and video recording, showing no bias. Therefore, a high level of agreement was found. In conclusion, the current finding showed that the NEDAP system can be used for monitoring feeding, rumination, lying, and standing behaviors in buffaloes. Moreover, these results revealed that the buffalo behavior was monitored precisely using NEDAP technology than visual observation and video recording. This technology will be useful for the diagnosis of diseases.
Highlights
Cattle, sheep, goats, and buffaloes are the most common species of livestock worldwide
The objectives of this study were to investigate the validation of NEDAP neck and leg tags through monitoring of feeding, rumination, lying, and standing behaviors in Nili-Ravi buffaloes, and to compare the behavioral variables monitored by the NEDAP system with visual observation and video recording
The feeding time was significantly higher with NEDAP tags than that observed visually and by video recording (25.2 ± 2.7 vs. 24.6 ± 2.6 and 23.1 ± 2.9, respectively; p < 0.001), which shows the precision of NEDAP technology over visual observation and video recording in recording buffalo behaviors
Summary
Sheep, goats, and buffaloes are the most common species of livestock worldwide. Good management of buffaloes is necessary for achieving high production, and eating, feeding, rumination, lying, standing, and resting behaviors are the most common variables by which we can evaluate the health status of animals, including buffaloes [3]. Previous studies in the literature showed that changes in feeding and rumination behaviors are directly linked with physiological disturbance [8] and metabolic disorder [9] in animals Lying and standing both are resting behaviors in animals. An increase in these behaviors is directly correlated with ketosis, milk fever, pain in the abdomen, lameness, or other disorder [10] Monitoring these behavioral changes reduces risks and decreases management demands in commercial dairy and fatting farms of cattle and buffaloes
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