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Crociati, M. Devices to Identify the Stage II of Labor. Encyclopedia. Available online: https://encyclopedia.pub/entry/19625 (accessed on 18 November 2024).
Crociati M. Devices to Identify the Stage II of Labor. Encyclopedia. Available at: https://encyclopedia.pub/entry/19625. Accessed November 18, 2024.
Crociati, Martina. "Devices to Identify the Stage II of Labor" Encyclopedia, https://encyclopedia.pub/entry/19625 (accessed November 18, 2024).
Crociati, M. (2022, February 18). Devices to Identify the Stage II of Labor. In Encyclopedia. https://encyclopedia.pub/entry/19625
Crociati, Martina. "Devices to Identify the Stage II of Labor." Encyclopedia. Web. 18 February, 2022.
Devices to Identify the Stage II of Labor
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This entry is adapted from the peer-reviewed paper 10.3390/ani12030405

Cattle farming is facing an increase in number of animals that farmers must care for, together with decreasing time for observation of the single animal. Remote monitoring systems are needed in order to optimize workload, calving assistance, first neonatal care and animal welfare. The expulsive phase is characterized by the complete dilation of birth canal, fetal sacs rupture, fetus entering the canal together with intense and coordinated uterine and abdominal contractions. Sensors for the detection of the stage II of labor can be divided into two main categories: external devices which are sutured to the vulvar skin, and intravaginal sensors.

cattle calving prediction remote monitoring calving assistance calving alert stage II parturition

1. Vulvar Magnetic Sensors

Vulvar lips separation during labor can be detected through magnetic sensors which are sutured to the vulva skin, as routine in equine practice (Foalert, Acworth, GA, USA; C6 birth control, Sisteck s.r.l., Sassuolo, Italy) [1][2]. Marchesi et al. [3] evaluated Se and PPV of Foalert as a calving alarm in 53 Holstein Friesian cows, which were found to be 100% and 95% respectively. They also reported that the presence of farm personnel at calving reached 100% in alarmed cows, compared to 17% in controls (p < 0.001). This system has been further paired to a GPS-transmitter included in neck collars of grazing dairy and beef cattle [4]. In grazing systems, GPS localization and calving alert could be useful both for ensuring assistance, first neonatal care, and to avoid calf losses due to predation. Although those devices proved to be suitable for correct identification of parturition in cattle, the application of the device is invasive and requires veterinarian supervision due to the necessity of a local anesthesia for the suture of the components to vulva surface. This technology has been evaluated as expensive for its application in cattle breeding operations, due to purchase and maintenance costs [5][6].

2. Intravaginal Devices

Some intravaginal thermometers are able to recognize both the pre-calving drop in dam’s body temperature and their own expulsion when fetal sacs or the fetus enter the birth canal. The T-shaped calving alert iVET® (iVET®—Geburtsüberwachung für Kühe, 2012) is characterized by a light-sensor and has been evaluated for use in Holstein primiparous [7]. Sensitivity (Se) and specificity (Sp) of the iVET® were 0.78 and 0.93, respectively. Although the device correctly warned the farm personnel, poor local tolerance was observed, as irritation and discomfort were noticed. Moreover, interference with the parturition process was hypothesized, as the shape of the device could be responsible for premature rupture of fetal sacs, delayed birth canal dilation and increased dystocia rate (58.3% and 40.9% in experimental and control primiparous, respectively, p < 0.001).
The Medria (Vel’Phone®, Châteaugiron, France) and the Gyuonkei (Gyuonkei, Remote Inc., Oita, Japan) are temperature sensors able to generate both an alert at approximately 24 h before delivery (decrease of 0.4 °C of vaginal temperature), and a calving alarm when the devices are expelled [8][9][10][11]. However, one of the major concerns when using devices only equipped with thermometers is that the differential between the dam’s temperature and the external environment could be not enough to generate the alert, as introduced by Norman et al. [5]. They described the use of a remote calving alert in deer, elk, bison and antelope (Sirtrack Ltd., Havelock North, New Zealand), but the detection of expulsion could be impaired for example in hot-climate conditions, as in cattle in case of heat stress.
The intravaginal device OraNasco (Kronotech Srl, Campoformido, Italy) overcomes the single-parameter issues since it is equipped with physical sensors for both light and temperature. The temperature sensor is set to recognize gradients. The light sensor is able to generate an output even in case of scarce brightness. When the device is inserted into the vaginal canal, the probe detects light or a sudden change in temperature. If at least one of the two conditions is present, the probe switches to the ejected status and communicates the expulsion to the Central Unit. The expulsion of the probe occurs when the fetal sacs or the fetus itself enter the birth canal, at the beginning of stage II of labor. Then, the Central Unit sends alerts to farm personnel through GSM, LAN and Wi-Fi connection. The remote system has been evaluated for use both in cattle [12] and buffaloes [13]. Field trials demonstrated an overall Se = 86.3% [14], a good local tolerance and a high retention rate, except in one case of recurrent vaginal prolapse in a buffalo heifer.
Watanabe et al. [15] evaluated the potential of an intravaginal device composed of a triaxial accelerometer coupled to a continuous radio-emitting body. Once expelled, the radio signal is no longer dampened by the body tissues, while the accelerometer identifies the falling. The combination of those data is commuted into the calving alarm by the Central Unit. The identification of stage II of calving was reported to occur correctly for both the triaxial and radio signal methods, although no further information is available concerning the local tolerance or field use of this device.
The majority of the products described above are not designed for use in grazing herds, as the central unit is to be placed within a range from periparturient cows. Due to the dispersal of herds in extensive Australian pasture-based systems, a telemetric intravaginal calving alert device is under evaluation in beef cattle [16]; the device is equipped with a TaggleTM mother board which emits a radio signal ping when expelled. The radio ping can be telemetrically triangulated and the position localized within the pasture. Preliminary results showed an 85% retention rate and no local adverse effects. Correct identification of calving was reached in 66% of deliveries while localization of animals was achieved in 64% of cases with an approximation of 100–200 m. Tracking parturient animals in extensive grazing areas is a concern in Australian breeding systems. Placing radio receiving antennae could be difficult due to the ground topography; thus researchers are also evaluating a Vaginal Implant Transmitter (VIT) device which is equipped with temperature and accelerometer sensors coupled to a GNSS collar for tracking via satellite technology [17]. The device is still a prototype at present, and more improvement is needed for field use.
Table 1. Devices for calving alarm which identify the onset of stage II of parturition, with performance and references.

Event

Sensor type

Device

N

Application

TI

Device performance

Factory

References

Vulvar

lips separation

Magnetic sensor

Foalert,

C6 birth control

22

80

53

Vulva (suture)

0 h

Se = 100; PPV = 95%

Sisteck Srl, Sassuolo, Italy
https://www.foalingalarm.net/

Paolucci et al. [1]
Paolucci et al. [6]
Marchesi et al. [3]
 

Magnetic sensor and GPS collar

GPS-CAL

26

Vulva (suture) + neck collar (GPS)

0 h

Se = 100%; PPV = 100%

Sisteck Srl, Sassuolo, Italy
 SiRF Technology, San Jose, California, USA

Calcante et al. [4]

Device
expulsion

Light and temperature

OraNasco®

120

15

117

83

Vagina

0 h

 

 

 

Se = 86.30%

Kronotech Srl, Campoformido, Italy
https://www.oranasco.it/

Palombi et al. [12]

Rossi et al. [13]
Crociati et al. [22]

Crociati et al. [14]
 

Light

iVET®

167

Vagina

0 h

Se = 78%; Sp = 93%

iVET®-Geburtsüberwachung für Kühe
https://www.nrw-agrar.de/projekt/piloterprobung-des-geburtssensors-ivet-bei-milchkuehen-geburtsueberwachung/

Henningsen et al. [7]
 

Temperature

Gyuonkei

625

Vagina

0 h

n.a.

Remote Inc., Oita, Japan
http://www.gyuonkei.jp/

Sakatani et al. [9]
 

Temperature

Vel'Phone®

211

241

Vagina

0 h

n.a.

Medria, Châteaugiron , France
https://www.medria.fr/en/solutions/velphone/

Ricci et al. [10]
Choukeir et al. [11]
     

54

  

0 h

PPV = 100%

  

Horvàth et al. [8]

3. General Considerations on Devices for the Identification of Stage II of Calving

The methods included in this section are able to precisely identify the beginning of the expulsive phase, thus warning farm personnel and encouraging timely intervention. The duration of stage 2 of calving was reported to average 64.0 min for unassisted primiparous, 42.7 min for assisted primiparous and 20 min in multiparous cows [18]. Methods for the identification of the beginning of expulsive phase generate phone alerts and relative time of alarm reception could be used to schedule intervention in case time interval from alert and calving progression exceeds the median duration of stage II [19]. Those methods are exclusively dedicated to calving prediction. This means that they could not be used for multiple functions, such as estrus detection, rumination monitoring, nor to decide when moving cows to the maternity pen. The purchase of this technology should be evaluated considering the possibility to re-use the device for multiple cows and the return of improved calving management. Moreover, in smaller herds, where the number of employees could not ensure continuous monitoring of periparturient cows, the presence of personnel within the calving barn is optimized and time spent monitoring animals is reduced. Specific employment in farms where the value of the calf is relevant (sorted semen, embryo transfer), can also benefit from these technologies. Timely calving assistance is beneficial for the overall farm reproductive and productive outcomes [19]. Palombi et al. [12] demonstrated that timely calving assistance and initial neonatal care reduce the incidence of postpartum uterine diseases such as retention of fetal membranes, metritis and neonatal mortality. Decreased incidence of uterine infections led both to reduced calving-conception interval and number of artificial inseminations per pregnancy in monitored dairy cows.
Ensuring colostrum intake during the first 6 h of life is fundamental for calf survival and welfare[20]; Morin et al. [21] found a positive association between adequate transfer of passive immunity and first colostrum feeding before 3 h of life. However, they also observed that only 42% of the newborn calves receive their first meal within this time interval and recommended farmers to improve calves and colostrum management. Therefore, increased workload for calving monitoring and newborn calf care could be perceived by farmers as time-consuming and expensive, but partial budget estimation of the effect of calving monitoring and assistance confirmed that a 100-lactating dairy herd could improve the net return from 37 to 90 €/cow/year. Those incomes resulted from reducing calf losses, involuntary culling during the first 60 days postpartum, and days open associated with an increased milk yield [22]. Consequently, investing in calf care could be paid back through the increased number of weaned calves for selling or replacement. On the other hand, exact identification of stage II of parturition could be beneficial in case early cow–calf separation and pathogen-free colostrum feeding is mandatory for the eradication of vertically transmitted diseases such as paratuberculosis and bovine leukemia virus [23][24].

References

  1. Paolucci, M.; Di Giambattista, A.; Sylla, L.; Menichelli, M.; Banchio, A.; Monaci, M. Predicting time of parturition in Holstein Friesian cows by using C6 Birth Control®. In Proceedings of the Reproduction in Domestic Animals, Budapest, Hungary, 13-17 July, 2008; pp. 57–58.
  2. L. F P. Gondim; Milton McAllister; R. C. Anderson-Sprecher; C. Björkman; T. F. Lock; L. D. Firkins; L. Gao; W. R. Fischer; TRANSPLACENTAL TRANSMISSION AND ABORTION IN COWS ADMINISTERED NEOSPORA CANINUM OOCYSTS. Journal of Parasitology 2004, 90, 1394-1400, 10.1645/ge-359r.
  3. G. Marchesi; S. Leonardi; F. M. Tangorra; A. Calcante; E. Beretta; E. Pofcher; M. Lazzari; And; Evaluation of an electronic system for automatic calving detection on a dairy farm. Animal Production Science 2013, 53, 1112-1114, 10.1071/an12335.
  4. Aldo Calcante; Francesco M. Tangorra; Gabriele Marchesi; Massimo Lazzari; A GPS/GSM based birth alarm system for grazing cows. Computers and Electronics in Agriculture 2014, 100, 123-130, 10.1016/j.compag.2013.11.006.
  5. Norman, S.; Swain, D.; Collop, T.; Loy, J.; Larsen, J. Remote Calf Alert—Technology Development; Meat & Livestock Australia Limited, Locked Bag 991, North Sydney Nsw 2059; 2011; ISBN 9781741918878.
  6. M. Paolucci; L. Sylla; A. Di Giambattista; C. Palombi; A. Elad; G. Stradaioli; P. Pascolo; M. Monaci; Improving calving management to further enhance reproductive performance in dairy cattle. Veterinary Research Communications 2010, 34, 37-40, 10.1007/s11259-010-9397-y.
  7. G. Henningsen; H. Marien; W. Hasseler; M. Feldmann; H.-A. Schoon; M. Hoedemaker; K. Herzog; Evaluation of the iVET® birth monitoring system in primiparous dairy heifers. Theriogenology 2017, 102, 44-47, 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2017.07.005.
  8. András Horváth; Lea Lénárt; Anna Csepreghy; Márta Madar; Mátyás Pálffy; Ottó Szenci; A field study using different technologies to detect calving at a large‐scale hungarian dairy farm. Reproduction in Domestic Animals 2021, 56, 673-679, 10.1111/rda.13904.
  9. Miki Sakatani; Takaaki Sugano; Aiki Higo; Koji Naotsuka; Takuo Hojo; Satoru Gessei; Hiroshi Uehara; Naoki Takenouchi; Vaginal temperature measurement by a wireless sensor for predicting the onset of calving in Japanese Black cows. Theriogenology 2018, 111, 19-24, 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2018.01.016.
  10. A. Ricci; V. Racioppi; B. Iotti; Alessia Bertero; K.F. Reed; Osvaldo Bogado Pascottini; L. Vincenti; Assessment of the temperature cut-off point by a commercial intravaginal device to predict parturition in Piedmontese beef cows. Theriogenology 2018, 113, 27-33, 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2018.02.009.
  11. Ali Ismael Choukeir; Levente Kovács; Zoltán Szelényi; Luca Fruzsina Kézér; Ervin Albert; Mohamed Kamel Abdelmegeid; Andela Baukje; Mária Aubin-Wodala; Dávid Buják; Krisztina Nagy; et al.Ottó Szenci Effect of monitoring the onset of calving by a calving alarm thermometer on the prevalence of dystocia, stillbirth, retained fetal membranes and clinical metritis in a Hungarian dairy farm. Theriogenology 2019, 145, 144-148, 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2019.10.004.
  12. Claudio Palombi; Marco Paolucci; Giuseppe Stradaioli; Mario Corubolo; Paolo B Pascolo; Maurizio Monaci; Evaluation of remote monitoring of parturition in dairy cattle as a new tool for calving management. BMC Veterinary Research 2013, 9, 191-191, 10.1186/1746-6148-9-191.
  13. Emanuela Rossi; Nicola Ferri; Martina Crociati; Maurizio Monaci; Giuseppe Stradaioli; Lakamy Sylla; Remote monitoring system as a tool for calving management in Mediterranean Buffalo heifers ( Bubalus bubalis ). Reproduction in Domestic Animals 2020, 55, 1803-1807, 10.1111/rda.13805.
  14. Martina Crociati; Lakamy Sylla; Giuseppe Stradaioli; Maurizio Monaci; Alfonso Zecconi; Assessment of Sensitivity and Profitability of an Intravaginal Sensor for Remote Calving Prediction in Dairy Cattle. Sensors 2021, 21, 8348, 10.3390/s21248348.
  15. Toshio Watanabe; Atsushi Sakurai; Kouhei Kitazaki; Dairy cattle monitoring using wireless acceleration-sensor networks. 2008 IEEE Sensors 2008, volume, 526-529, 10.1109/icsens.2008.4716493.
  16. Stephen, C.; Menzies, D.; Swain, D.; Patison, K.; Corbet, N.; Norman, S. Telemetric monitoring of calving using a novel calfalert device. In Proceedings of the 2019 Society for Theriogenoloy and American College of Theriogenologists Annual Conference, Savannah, GA, USA, 24 July–28 September 2019; Volume 11, p. 449.
  17. Christie Pearson; Lucy Lush; Luciano González; Intravaginal Devices and GNSS Collars with Satellite Communication to Detect Calving Events in Extensive Beef Production in Northern Australia. Remote Sensing 2020, 12, 3963, 10.3390/rs12233963.
  18. G.M. Schuenemann; I. Nieto; S. Bas; K.N. Galvão; J. Workman; Assessment of calving progress and reference times for obstetric intervention during dystocia in Holstein dairy cows. Journal of Dairy Science 2011, 94, 5494-5501, 10.3168/jds.2011-4436.
  19. John F. Mee; Managing the dairy cow at calving time. Veterinary Clinics of North America: Food Animal Practice 2004, 20, 521-546, 10.1016/j.cvfa.2004.06.001.
  20. J. D. Quigley; R. E. Strohbehn; C. J. Kost; M. M. O’Brien; Formulation of Colostrum Supplements, Colostrum Replacers and Acquisition of Passive Immunity in Neonatal Calves. Journal of Dairy Science 2001, 84, 2059-2065, 10.3168/jds.s0022-0302(01)74650-4.
  21. M.P. Morin; J. Dubuc; P. Freycon; S. Buczinski; A herd-level study on colostrum management factors associated with the prevalence of adequate transfer of passive immunity in Québec dairy herds. Journal of Dairy Science 2021, 104, 4914-4922, 10.3168/jds.2020-19476.
  22. Martina Crociati; Lakamy Sylla; Michael Van Straten; Giuseppe Stradaioli; Maurizio Monaci; Estimating the net return of a remote calving alarm system in a dairy farm. Journal of Dairy Science 2020, 103, 9646-9655, 10.3168/jds.2020-18253.
  23. Sothy Meas; Tatsufumi Usui; Kazuhiko Ohashi; Chihiro Sugimoto; Misao Onuma; Vertical transmission of bovine leukemia virus and bovine immunodeficiency virus in dairy cattle herds. Veterinary Microbiology 2001, 84, 275-282, 10.1016/s0378-1135(01)00458-8.
  24. Karsten Donat; Mandy Schmidt; Heike Köhler; Carola Sauter-Louis; Management of the calving pen is a crucial factor for paratuberculosis control in large dairy herds. Journal of Dairy Science 2016, 99, 3744-3752, 10.3168/jds.2015-10625.
  25. Karsten Donat; Mandy Schmidt; Heike Köhler; Carola Sauter-Louis; Management of the calving pen is a crucial factor for paratuberculosis control in large dairy herds. Journal of Dairy Science 2016, 99, 3744-3752, 10.3168/jds.2015-10625.
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