Project number: 22.11.17.06.03

Indicator for Wellbeing and Virtual Fencing System

A virtual fencing system serves as an enclosure without a physical barrier. Its application could reduce management costs and thus has the potential to prevent the abandonment of marginal land and subsequent biodiversity loss. In addition, virtual fencing systems can protect wildlife by preventing injuries and fatalities caused by physical fences. However, their use requires animal-friendly training and keeping of livestock. To assess the animal welfare effects, field trials will be conducted and a new automated welfare indicator based on the activity rhythm will be evaluated. As constant rhythms are characteristic of a healthy organism and stressors may disturb rhythmicity, the activity rhythm could be a promising marker to assess the animal's state. In particular, it will be tested whether changes in rhythmic behavioural patterns may reflect health- and distress-related challenges in cows such as rumen acidosis, weaning and metabolic imbalances.

Last Name, First Name Location
Bérard Joël Posieux
Eggerschwiler Lukas Posieux
Fuchs Patricia Posieux
Nasser Hassan-Roland Posieux
Schneider Manuel Reckenholz

Schneider M., Umstatter C., Nasser H.-R., Gallmann E., Barth K.
Effect of the daily duration of calf contact on the dam's ultradian and circadian activity rhythms.
JDS Communications, 51, (5), 2024, 457-461.

Schneider M., Umstätter C., Nasser H. R., Gallmann E., Barth K.
Vorläufige Ergebnisse zum Einfluss der muttergebundenen Kälberaufzucht auf die ultra- und circadiane Aktivitätsrhythmik von Milchkühen.
In: One step ahead - einen Schritt voraus. 7. März - 10. März, Publ. FiBL, Frick (CH). 2023, 454-455.

Schneider M., Umstätter C., Nasser H. R., Gallmann E., Barth K.
Erste Untersuchungen zum Einfluss der muttergebundenen Kälberaufzucht auf die ultra- und circadiane Aktivitätsrhythmik von Milchkühen.
In: 16. Wissenchaftstagung Ökologischer Landbau. 8. März, Publ. FiBL, Frick (CH). 2023.

Fuchs P., Stachowicz J., Schneider M. K., Probo M., Bruckmaier R., Umstätter C.
Learning behavior and milk cortisol levels of dairy cows managed under a rotational grazing system with virtual fencing.
In: Abstract Booklet. 13.10, Publ. Agroscope, Changins. 2022, 19.

Fuchs P., Stachowicz J. , Schneider M. K., Probo M., Bruckmaier R., Umstätter C.
Learning behavior and milk cortisol levels of dairy cows managed under a rotational grazing system with virtual fencing.
In: 3rd Agroscope PhD-PostDoc Symposium. 13. Oktober, Publ. Agroscope, Changins. 2022.

Nasser H. R., Schneider M., Stachowicz J., Umstätter C.
digiRhythm: Analyzing Animal's Rhythmicity.

Stachowicz J., Nasser H. R., Adrion F., Umstätter C.
Can we detect patterns in behavioral time series of cows using cluster analysis?
Journal of Dairy Science, 105, (12), 2022, 1-11.

Fuchs P., Stachowicz J., Schneider M. K., Probo M., Bruckmaier R., Umstätter C.
Learning behaviour and welfare of dairy cows using a virtual fencing system in rotational grazing.
In: 73rd Annual Meeting of the European Federation of Animal Science. 5 - 9 September, Publ. EAAP, Porto. 2022.

Fuchs P., Stachowicz J., Schneider M. K., Probo M., Bruckmaier R., Umstätter C.
Learning behavior and welfare of dairy cows using a virtual fencing system in rotational grazing.
In: 73º Annual Meeting of European Federation of Animal Science. 5. - 9. September, Publ. EAAP, Porto, Portugal. 2022, 1-13.

Bach L.
Wie werden Schweizer Kühe trockengestellt?
UFA-Revue, 3. Februar, 2022, 1-4.

Fuchs P., Adrion F., Shafiullah A.Z.M., Bruckmaier R., Umstätter C.
Detecting ultra- and circadian activity rhythms of dairy cows in automatic milking systems using the degree of functional coupling: A pilot study.
Frontiers in Animal Science, 3, 2022, 1-15.

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