Invited Review: Using data from sensors and other precision farming technologies to enhance the sustainability of dairy cattle breeding programs.

The increased uptake of sensor technologies and precision farming tools for the dairy cattle sector is enabling real-time monitoring of animal health, welfare, and productivity. These digital advancements provide high-frequency, objective, and large-scale phenotypic data for breeding purposes. This review explores the potential of sensor-derived data to improve genetic and genomic evaluations in dairy cattle and outlines key challenges, opportunities, and approaches associated with their implementation.

Association of artificial intelligence-predicted milk yield residuals to behavioral patterns and transition success in multiparous dairy cows.

Data-driven health monitoring based on milk yield has shown potential to identify health-perturbing events during the transition period. As a proof of principle, we explored the association between the cow's residual milk yield, that is, the difference between the actual and expected milk yield, and the behavioral parameters of cows during the transition period, as measured by a neck and leg activity sensor. Cows from 8 Dutch commercial dairy farms were equipped with accelerometer sensors to study their time budgets, including eating, rumination, lying, and standing times.

A systematic review and meta-analysis of lameness scoring methods and the prevalence of lameness of dairy cows in Northwest Europe.

Lameness in dairy cows, linked to claw disorders and pain, is a major welfare concern. Studies worldwide use various scoring methods, resulting in differing prevalences. To address this, we developed a 3-level comparative locomotion scale (Welfare Quality equivalent [WQE]), to compare studies using different lameness scoring methods and provide insights into the distribution of lameness prevalence.

Investigating the development of piglet feeding behaviour during the immediate postweaning phase using computer vision.

Adequate feed intake is a crucial factor driving piglet health during the weaning transition, and therefore, this study investigated the feeding behaviour in the immediate postweaning period under varying conditions of preweaning socialisation and feed familiarity in a 2 × 2 factorial design. During the first 3 days postweaning, 288 weaned piglets (21.8 days old), housed in 24 pens (n = 6 per treatment) with 12 piglets per pen, were video recorded.

Perspectives in cattle reproduction for the next 20 years - A European context.

Following a significant increase in herd and farm sizes after the removal of milk quotas in Europe, the past 10 years have seen a slight yet steady decline in the population of cattle. This includes a reduction of approximately 5 % in dairy and beef cattle. This trend is driven by various factors, such as changing market demands, economic shifts, and sustainability challenges in the livestock sector.