Daily biorhythm from horses measured with ALT pedometer for well-being in different horse keeping systems

U. Brehme¹, U. Stollberg¹, Y. Buschor², B. Strickler² and R.V. Niederhäusern²

¹Department of Engineering for Livestock Management, Institute of Agricultural Engineering Bornim, Potsdam-Bornim, Germany
²Haras National – stud farm, Avenches, Switzerland

Electronic identi.cation and measuring systems represent key technologies for progressive automation in animal husbandry in modern, future-oriented livestock farming. Suitable objective measuring systems are needed in animals husbandry to recognize animal that are ill, ready to mate or for analysis the living conditions in different keeping systems. Modern sensors (sensors, bio sensors) and increasingly non-invasive measuring and transfer methods make crucial improvements in the potential for measuring animal data. A new type of pedometer, named ALT pedometer, was developed to use for cattle and horses. ALT is the abbreviation for - activity, lying time, temperature. The pedometer system registers the three parameter activity, lying time, and temperature for an accurate determination of the daily biorhythm of horses. It was tested in stud-farms in Germany and Switzerland with good results.

The main reason for these investigations was the question: is the present dimensions of single boxes, single boxes with paddock and grazing area suf.cient and suitable for horse keeping? The first investigation took place in Germany in single boxes with three stallions and three mares over two weeks. In Switzerland two investigations were carried out. First includes nine stallions and four geldings in single boxes and boxes with run over three month. Second includes five stallions for two month on the pasture in winter time and a one month period in single boxes in the stable. Through continuous automatic recording with an eligible time interval (5 min) automatic data transmission from pedometer to PC a successful and rapid control of the exact daily biorhythm with detailed results for activity and lying time per day is possible. The high correspondence between the measuring parameters activity and lying time allow a statement to be made a correct and differentiate course of the daily biorhythm of horses in keeping systems. The first results will be reported.

Paper presented at Measuring Behavior 2005 , 5^th International Conference on Methods and Techniques in Behavioral Research, 30 August - 2 September 2005, Wageningen, The Netherlands.

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