Using wearable sensors and molecular markers for health risk assessment and targeted preventive practices in transition cow management

Lead Applicant: Eduardo De Souza Ribeiro

Research Priority: Animal Health & Welfare

Program Type: Tier 1

Funding Cycle: 2024/2025

Research Centre: NA

Research Summary: Highly prevalent in dairy cows, clinical diseases occur mostly in the early postpartum period and have long-lasting effects on performance and survival even months after treatment and clinical resolution. Prevention is, therefore, the most effective way to avoid losses in performance and longevity associated with transition health disorders. Nonetheless, there are no reliable methods to predict the risk of postpartum disease in advance, and preventive measures are applied to the entire herd, ignoring individual differences. Identification of cows that are more likely to have a bad start on lactation would allow the design of selective management strategies, which could be more effective in preventing health problems and would optimize the utilization of resources. This project proposes the use of wearable sensors and molecular markers in peripheral blood leukocytes of prepartum cows to predict the risk of postpartum health problems and subsequent performance and to design targeted preventive practices.