Assessment Of Dairy Cattle Carbohydrate Feeding Limitations For A Lameness Preventive Diagnosis Expert System Input

Abstract

Claw lameness in dairy cows can be triggered by biomechanical factors caused by imbalances of the pressure distribution under the hooves when cows are confined in dairy operations with hard concrete flooring. Clinically, the earliest diagnosis of claw lameness is only possible by visually observing faulty locomotion. Unfortunately, the earliest pathological gait signs are characteristics of mild to severe degrees of lameness requiring veterinary intervention and causing economic losses. The results obtained, using a plantar pressure measurement system, yielded a preliminary database on claw pressure distribution, which correlated to claw length and nutritional factors (carbohydrate and fiber available for digestion) formed a preliminary knowledge base used in a Fuzzy Inference System (IRISK) for providing a method to help prevent claw lameness. In order to create the system's UI (IRISK's user interface) nutritional carbohydrate and fiber concentrations, provided by farm mixed and commercial premixed rations, had to be translated mathematically in terms of total rumen available NDF and NFC (Neutral Detergent Fiber and Non Fibrous Carbohydrate respectively) levels. A program was coded in Visual Basic, containing calculations of total DMI (dry matter intake) and accounted for live weight of the cows, lactation phase, production and environmental temperature. The total DMI was then used together with nutrition facts from raw ingredients from farm mixed rations to calculate the total rumen available levels of NDF and NFC. The First module (IRISK) uses the NDF and NFC obtained and together with claw dimensions estimates the total risk level of developing claw lesions.288293Amendola, M., Castanho, M.J., Nääs, I.A., Souza, A.L., Análise Matemática de Condições de Conforto Térmico para Avicultura Usando a Teoria dos Conjuntos Fuzzy. (2004) Biomatemática, 14, pp. 87-92Carvalho, V.R.C., Bucklin, R.A., Shearer, J.K., Shearer, L., 2005(a). Effects of Trimming on Dairy Cattle Hoof Weight Bearing and Pressure Distributions during the Stance Phase Transactions of the ASAE, 48 (4), pp. 1653-1659. , St. Joseph, MI, vCarvalho, V. R. CI. A. NääsM. Mollo NetoV. Massafera Jr. 2005(b). Prediction of Lameness Occurrences in Dairy Cows using a Fuzzy-Logic Based Expert's System. - Part I. International Commission of Agricultural Engineering, Bonn - Germany, v. 7, p. 1-15Nutrient Requirement of Dairy Cattle National Academic Press, W. DC. 381 p. 2001, , NRC, National Research Concil, seventh revised editionRaven, E.T., (1989) Cattle Foot Care and Claw Trimming, pp. 19-33. , Farming Press, UKStone, W.C., Nutritional Approaches to Minimize Subacute Ruminal Acidoses and Laminitis in Dairy Cattle (2004) J. Dairy Sci, 87 (E. SUPPL.), pp. E13-E26Warren, J., Beliakov, G, Van der Zwaag, B. 2000. Fuzzy Logic in Clinical Practice Decision Support Systems. In Proc. of the 33rdHawaii International Conference on System Sciences. IEEE0-7695-0493- 0/0