Variation in the Udder Surface Temperature of Dairy Cows measured by Thermal Imaging: Potential Effects of Milk Production and Environmental Conditions
Many pounds of milk as well as cows are lost to the hot and harsh conditions of summer every year. These losses cost the dairy industry an estimated $900 million every year. When cows produce milk under conditions that are too hot and humid, they are working under what is known as heat stress. Heat stress occurs when heat produced by the cow and heat from the environment accumulates faster than she can dispose of it. Because infrared thermography can detect subtle changes in temperature when the udder becomes infected, our hypothesis is that it can also be used to detect the changes in heat emitted from the udder when the cow is under heat stress. A Fluke Infrared Thermometer was used to measure the electromagnetic radiation emitted from the udders of 45 dairy cows at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Thermal images were taken before three consecutive milkings on one cool day and will be taken on one hot day. The images were analyzed and compared to observe the changes in the heat emitted from the udders. It is presumed that the information collected in this study will be used to help develop a new product that will alleviate heat stress in cows more efficiently.