Page 68 - Eclipse - RVC Alumni Magazine - Autumn 2020

Fitbits for cows? CowAlert Technology for Boltons Park Farm
Last year Dr Nicola Blackie, Lecturer in Production Animal Science, was awarded a grant by the RVC Animal Care Trust (ACT)
to purchase a CowAlert system for Boltons Park Farm.
This system consists of cow monitoring sensors (leg-based) which can be used to define activity budgets and detect lameness and oestrus in dairy cows. The system also provides access to each cow’s individual data from the database and this can be used in research projects. The system learns the individual behaviour of the cows and flags up any changes which may indicate an issue.
The ACT’s main motivation in funding this project was to help improve the welfare of the cattle used to teach RVC students. The system does this through continuous monitoring, which highlights any subtle changes in behaviour which may occur.
Early detection of lameness is vital
as early treatment results in improved recovery (Leach et al., 2012). The monitors will also allow us to monitor long term the impacts of lameness on the cattle and to develop early intervention tactics. We also hope that the monitors will help us to detect cows who are suffering from sub-clinical disease. Cows are naturally stoic in nature and as such may hide disease until it is advanced
– particularly lameness. Any detection of sub-clinical disease will have a huge benefit to the farm and more importantly, to the welfare of our cattle.
There are additional benefits in relation to the education of our veterinary students. Technology and “big data” are becoming more common on farms and, as a result, students should have an understanding of what data is available to complement their clinical activity.
There are also a huge range of projects that can utilise the data, such as RP2 projects and BSc3 dissertations.
The equipment was installed in February 2020 and the cows were all fitted with their activity monitors (which are similar to Fitbits). The data can be accessed
remotely, which has proved invaluable with the COVID-19 situation, allowing researchers to continue to monitor the cows and enabling students to continue with research projects online. Dr Blackie admits to frequently checking up on the cows from home!
We have several students currently undertaking research using the sensors, these include the relationship between oestrus intensity and productivity and the impacts of specific lesions and hoof trimming on lying behaviour. Many more projects are due to start in the autumn.
Thank you to all supporters of the RVC Animal Care Trust on behalf of the cows who are udderly delighted with their new technology!
RVC Alumni Fund: Supporting students, enhancing careers
Donations to the RVC Alumni Fund make a huge difference to students by providing them with career informing opportunities through the RVC EMS+ Scheme and the Summer Studentships.
The RVC EMS+ Scheme was launched in December 2019 with the aim of providing grants to students to enable them to carry out aspirational, career-informing EMS. Alex and Kriti talk about their experiences here.
The RVC Summer Studentships Programme is well established and we now fund three per year. The programme provides students with a small stipend to enable them to focus on a six-week
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research project over the summer, working with professional RVC research teams. Chloe Davison tells us about her experience in summer 2019.
Alexander Davies
EMS+ Pafiakos, Cyprus
“Following two incredible weeks at Pafiakos and CCP Animal Welfare
in Cyprus, I am a more competent, professional and outgoing veterinary student. EMS students are given considerable responsibility for animals