Technology and tools for contactless identification of cow mastitis by thermographic method under conditions of flow-line milk production

A promising trend for development of optical-electronic methods and technical means for monitoring the condition of the mammary gland of a dairy cow is presented. A layout has been developed for determining the technical parameters of the tool relative to the thermal field of the cow’s mammary gland. The technical parameters of the tool for contactless identification of cow mastitis using the thermographic method in the conditions of continuous milk production were determined theoretically and experimentally. The viewing angle of the lens of the technical tool in the horizontal plane is α_hor = 33 degrees, in the vertical plane  α_vert = 24 degrees; focal length  f = 0.0075 m; udder viewing area in the horizontal plane S_hor = 0.57 m, in the vertical plane S_vert = 0.42 m; minimum element of udder resolution in the horizontal plane  Δ_hor = 0.0037 m, in the vertical plane  Δ_vert = 0.0047 m; the rational distance from the lens of the technical tool to the udder is L = 1 m; rational distance from the lens of the technical tool to the floor is H = 1 m; four groups of animals were identified under given temperature conditions: healthy  – animals with a negative kenotest result (–) in the temperature range of [34.6 ºС <T_max < 36.8 ºС]; intermediate – with an intermediate kenotest result (+) in the temperature range of [36.8 ºС < Т_max < 38 ºС]; subclinical – with a subclinical stage of mastitis according to kenotest (++) in the temperature range of [38 ºС < Т_max< 39 ºС], and clinical – with a pronounced stage of mastitis according to rapid test (+++) in the temperature range of [39 ºС < Т_max < 40.5 ºС]. A design and technological layout for incorporating the thermographic method for diagnosing mastitis into a production line for milking cows is presented, and a systematic assessment of methods for diagnosing mastitis is given.

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