Co-Authors:
Peiper, U.M., Agricultural Engineering Institute, Volcani Center, Institute of Agricultural Engineering IMAG-DLO, P.O.B 6 Bet Dagan, Israel 50250
, Mansholtlaan 10-12, P.O.B. 43, NL 6700 AA Wageningen, Netherlands
Edan, Y., Agricultural Engineering Institute, Volcani Center, Institute of Agricultural Engineering IMAG-DLO, P.O.B 6 Bet Dagan, Israel 50250
Devir, S., Agricultural Engineering Institute, Volcani Center, Institute of Agricultural Engineering IMAG-DLO, P.O.B 6 Bet Dagan, Israel 50250
Barak, M., Agricultural Engineering Institute, Volcani Center, Institute of Agricultural Engineering IMAG-DLO, P.O.B 6 Bet Dagan, Israel 50250
Maltz, E., Agricultural Engineering Institute, Volcani Center, Institute of Agricultural Engineering IMAG-DLO, P.O.B 6 Bet Dagan, Israel 50250
Abstract:
An electronic weighing system combined with an automatic individual identification system was used with a commercial herd to record cow weights three times a day, without interference to normal procedures. Dedicated real-time software and special algorithms were developed to obtain accurate weights on-line. Eighty-five cows were measured during complete lactations over a period of 3 years. The accuracy of the walk through weighing system was 1·5%. No less than 65% of the cows were weighed routinely at least once daily and all cows in the group had at least five weights recorded weekly. Automatic weighing of cows proved to be feasible as an additional real-time on-line parameter.