A 24-hour Automatic Recording of Grazing and Ruminating Behaviour in Cattle on Pasture by a Data Logger Method

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  • 小型データロガによる放牧行動の自動解析
  • コガタ データ ロガ ニ ヨル ホウボク コウドウ ノ ジドウ カイセキ

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A 24-hour simultaneous recording of the jaw movement, head position, walking, posture and heart rate was carried out using three data loggers which were developed in the field for exercise medical measurements. This equipment, which is lightweight and compact, is attached to the back of grazing cattle and can memorize data at intervals of 60 sec for up to 24-hours. After the recording the data logger itself is detached from the animal and the recorded data is stored on floppy discs via an interface. This method is fundamentally different to a telemetry system whose propagation distance is limited. The data logger is equipped with two units and two sensors. The inadequate parts of the unit and sensor were improved for fitting to animal measurements. Jaw movement and head position were measured using a respiratory sensor (a carbon filled tube), the former sensor was attached to the jaw and the latter one connected between a halter and the withers part of chest band. Posture was measured using a tape switch attached to the abdomen. Heart rate (beats/min) and walking (steps/min) were recorded from an ECG and forelimb EMG. Using a microcomputer, a diagram for the jaw movement, head position, walking, posture and heart rate during a 24-hour period was drawn from data stored on floppy discs (as shown in Fig. 2). It was possible to determine whether the animal was grazing, ruminating, walking or lying each minute, and a detailed relation was formed between heart rate and behaviour form. Instead of the telemetry system, the present data logger system provides a more useful means of conducting physiologycal and ecological studies of grazing animals.

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