Liveweight and condition score trajectories to parametrize self weighing scales in small ruminants
Résumé
Monitoring of small ruminants flocks could be enhanced by warnings sent by devices often frequented by animals. The OtoP-3D project aims to develop devices as self-weighing scales or 3D-body condition display. In the action 2 of the project, liveweight of lambs and ewes and ewes body condition score have been described following 3 livestock systems: indoors system, outdoors system, dairy system. Four lambs liveweight trajectories have been separated following the growth rate, the destination (lamb production vs replacement) and the early rearing system (maternal vs artificial suckling). Trajectories were based on median ±1 median absolute deviation forming an envelope wrapping the liveweight points of the group of animals. Liveweight and body condition score trajectories have also been described for ewes by testing 4 methods. Hierarchical ascending classification of similarity indices gave the best result. Those trajectories will be used to parametrize self weighing scales as WoW (walk over weighing) devices in small ruminants. Such devices will provide warnings to the breeder/farmer when a small ruminant will get its auto-weighing deviant from the trajectory it has been assigned following its previous recorded weights and its livestock system/physiological stage/destination/growth rate class.