Photoplethysmography for bovine heat detection: the preliminary results
Date
2020-02-14
Authors
Cugmas, Blaž
Plavšić, Aleksandar
Štruc, Eva
Spīgulis, Jānis
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
International Society for Optics and Photonics (SPIE)
Abstract
In this study, we applied photoplethysmography (PPG) as an alternative, convenient, and affordable method for bovine
heat detection. Heat detection is an essential part of effective herd reproduction management. Currently, there are many
different heat detection techniques, but they can be ineffective or impractical to use. Since heat affects local vulvar blood
circulation (resulting in swelling and erythema), photoplethysmography could represent an affordable alternative to
detect this bovine phenomenon. In this study, we enrolled 20 animals in heat and other stages of the bovine reproduction
cycle. We analyzed the PPG signal in terms of baseline (DC component), power, kurtosis, and erythema index. One
vaginal measurement site, approximately 8 cm from the vulva, exhibited significant differences in mucous color (PPG
green and red baseline, both erythema indices). What is more, cows in heat displayed higher PPG signal power and
kurtosis, but differences were not significant. Photoplethysmography exhibited the potential to detect bovine heat.
Description
Keywords
Heat detection , Photoplethysmography , Pulse oximeter , Cow , Estrus , Signal quality index , Erythema Index , Kurtosis , Research Subject Categories::NATURAL SCIENCES::Physics::Atomic and molecular physics
Citation
Blaž Cugmas, Aleksandar Plavšić, Eva Štruc, and Jānis Spīgulis "Photoplethysmography for bovine heat detection: the preliminary results", Proc. SPIE 11247, Optical Diagnostics and Sensing XX: Toward Point-of-Care Diagnostics, 112470J (14 February 2020); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2543858