V.Carvalho, I. Naas, M. Mollo and V. Massafera. “Prediction of the Occurrence of Lameness in Dairy Cows using a Fuzzy-Logic Based Expert System-Part I”. Agricultural Engineering

A cause of claw lameness in dairy cows is biomechanical factors caused by imbalances of the pressure distribution under the hooves when cows are confined in modern dairy operations with hard concrete flooring. Clinically, the earliest diagnosis of claw lameness is only possible by visually observing faulty locomotion (i.e., lame gait). Unfortunately, the earliest pathological gait signs are typically characteristics of mild to severe degrees of lameness where veterinary intervention is already necessary, causing economic losses and concerns about animal welfare. Using a system that is based on thin pressure measurement film, the pressure distribution under the hooves of 32 dairy Holstein cows have been recorded under dynamic conditions (stance phase) to evaluate the effects of trimming in reestablishing the balance under the foot. The results obtained yielded a preliminary database on claw pressure distribution, which was correlated to claw length and nutritional factors to form a preliminary knowledge base, which after translation into linguistic terms were used for the Fuzzy Inference System which provides a method to help prevent claw lameness. The outcome of the defuzzification of the rules yielded information on the possiblities of increasing or decreasing chances of developing lameness problems based on nutritional and claw measurement information and input by the user into the software. Results can be seen through surface charts obtained from any combination of two input variables (nutritional: NDF (% DM) neutral digestive fiber, NSC (% DM) -non structural carbohydrate, NFC (% DM) -non fiber carbohydrate and measurable: Toe length (mm)) yielding a unit-less qualitative lameness incidence possibility outcome. The system has performed satisfactorily in laboratory testing. LIP values ranged from 4.4 to 26.6%, 78 to 98.7% and 42 to 78% for the best, median and worse nutritional scenarios under a range of 60 to 115mm toe length.