This study assessed the feasibility of using camera image analysis to detect behavioral changes as an indicator of the onset of calving in Japanese Black cattle. Thirty-five pregnant cattle individually housed in pens were used and were continuously monitored using a digital camera system. For the automatic determination of the x and y coordinates of a cow, trajectory analysis was conducted using thermal image and analysis software, and the distances moved were calculated using coordinate data. Further, the frequency of postural changes and the time spent tail raising per hour were measured for 14 cows using visible images. The measurement data were used to calculate hourly data for 12 h prior to amniorrhexis (first rupture of the allantoic sac). The hourly distances moved tended to increase at the time of amniorrhexis, with significantly longer distances measured 3-0 h before amniorrhexis than those at 12-8 h before amniorrhexis (P < 0.05). In all cows, amniorrhexis occurred within 11 h of hourly distances moved by more than 50% compared with distance moved the previous hour. The overall average elapsed time before amniorrhexis was 9 h 30 min (range: 5-11 h). Tail raising time and the frequency of postural changes significantly increased at 1-0 h and 2-0 h before amniorrhexis, respectively. This suggests that predicting the time of calving is possible by measuring the activity of Japanese Black cows during late pregnancy using camera image analysis as a non-invasive technique.

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使用相机图像分析预测日本黑牛产犊的开始

本研究评估了使用相机图像分析检测行为变化作为日本黑牛产犊开始的指标的可行性。使用单独圈养在围栏中的 35 头怀孕牛，并使用数码相机系统进行连续监测。为了自动确定奶牛的x和y坐标，使用热图像和分析软件进行轨迹分析，并使用坐标数据计算移动的距离。此外，使用可见图像测量了 14 头奶牛的姿势变化频率和每小时抬尾时间。测量数据用于计算羊膜撕裂（尿囊首次破裂）前 12 小时的每小时数据。羊膜撕裂时每小时移动的距离趋于增加，羊膜撕裂前 3-0 小时测量的距离明显长于羊膜撕裂前 12-8 小时的距离（P < 0.05）。在所有奶牛中，与前一小时移动距离相比，每小时移动距离超过 50% 后 11 小时内发生羊膜撕裂。羊膜撕裂术前的总体平均时间为 9 小时 30 分钟（范围：5-11 小时）。在羊膜撕裂术前 1-0 小时和 2-0 小时，抬尾时间和姿势变化频率分别显着增加。这表明通过使用相机图像分析作为一种非侵入性技术测量妊娠晚期日本黑牛的活动来预测产犊时间是可能的。与前一小时移动的距离相比，每小时移动的距离超过 50%，在 11 小时内发生羊膜撕裂。羊膜撕裂术前的总体平均时间为 9 小时 30 分钟（范围：5-11 小时）。在羊膜撕裂术前 1-0 小时和 2-0 小时，抬尾时间和姿势变化频率分别显着增加。这表明通过使用相机图像分析作为一种非侵入性技术测量妊娠晚期日本黑牛的活动来预测产犊时间是可能的。与前一小时移动的距离相比，每小时移动的距离超过 50%，在 11 小时内发生羊膜撕裂。羊膜撕裂术前的总体平均时间为 9 小时 30 分钟（范围：5-11 小时）。在羊膜撕裂术前 1-0 小时和 2-0 小时，抬尾时间和姿势变化频率分别显着增加。这表明通过使用相机图像分析作为一种非侵入性技术测量妊娠晚期日本黑牛的活动来预测产犊时间是可能的。