Live from the cow - What the rumen tells us

Modern rumen sensors can not only distinguish between eating and rumination in cows - they deliver live health data from the cow.

Ruminants can convert grass and hay into milk and meat in their forestomachs. In the project "Relationships between rumen pH and blood parameters in dairy cows depending on body condition," a rumen sensor was used to measure and calibrate not only temperature and pH value but also the acceleration of contractions in the forestomachs.

The result, in collaboration with the technicians, data modelers and our scientists, is data that

• To depict feeding practices appropriate for ruminants
• Recognizing disease states in animals days before the onset of clinical signs
• Display heat data and
• Being able to announce calvings in good time.

How the newly developed rumen sensor adapts individually to each cow, and how long the sensor provides data – you'll learn all this in this podcast. The planned further development of the sensor and the resulting potential are also discussed. The video also includes some in-depth graphics. Just listen or watch:

In conversation with Dr. Andreas Steinwidder DI Christian Fasching talks about the current results of the "PanSens4" project and what this rumen sensor can do in the cow.