Association of production diseases with motor activity-sensing devices and milk progesterone concentrations in dairy cows J. Williams a , T. Ntallaris b , J.E. Routly a , D.N. Jones a , J. Cameron a , A. Holman-Coates a , R.F. Smith a , P. Humblot b , H. Dobson a, * a Leahurst Campus, School of Veterinary Science, University of Liverpool, Neston, CH64 7TE UK b Division of Reproduction, Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Agricultural Sciences, SLU, 750-07 Uppsala, Sweden article info Article history: Received 13 January 2018 Received in revised form 24 May 2018 Accepted 29 May 2018 Available online 31 May 2018 Keywords: Oestrus Lameness Body condition score abstract We have previously established that the efficiency of identifying oestrus with activity-sensing devices can be compromised by common production diseases; the present study was undertaken to determine how these diseases may affect device readings. A total of 67 Holstein-Friesian cows, >20 days post- partum, were equipped with activity-sensing neck collars and pedometers, and simultaneous milk progesterone profiles were also monitored twice a week. The influences of common production stressors on maximum activity and progesterone values were analysed. Approximately 30% potential oestrus events (low progesterone value between two high values) remained unrecognised by both activity methods, and progesterone values in these animals were higher on the potential day of oestrus when both activity methods did not detect an event (0.043 ± 0.004 versus 0.029 ± 0.004 ng/mL; P ¼ 0.03). Data from a subset of 45 cows (two events each) were subjected to mixed models and multiple regression modelling to investigate associations with production diseases. Cow motor activity was lower in lame cows. Maximum progesterone concentrations prior to oestrus increased as time postpartum and body condition score (BCS) increased. There were also fewer days of low progesterone prior to oestrus asso- ciated with increases in BCS and maximum progesterone concentrations prior to oestrus. In conclusion, lameness was associated with lower activity values, but this suppression was insufficient to account for lowered oestrus detection efficiency of either device. However, associations were identified between production diseases and progesterone profiles. © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. 1. Introduction There has been a decline in oestrus behaviour intensity dis- played by dairy cattle world-wide over the past 50 years leading to problems with accurate oestrus detection in many herds [1]. Oestrus normally lasts 15e18 h, although some cattle show signs for as little as 6 h, making identification a challenge for busy farm staff [2]. From a management point of view, being able to efficiently and accurately detect oestrus is still the most important factor in reducing calving intervals [1 ,3]. Accuracy of oestrus detection should be examined as part of evaluation of herds with low preg- nancy rates, especially as a visual heat detection rate of only 38% was recorded across 4550 dairy herds [4]. These days with fewer farm staff on dairy farms, the popularity of activity-sensing devices is increasing. Activity-sensing neck-collars or pedometers both engage continuous radio-transmitted monitoring of cow activity, and have been reviewed across many studies with an average 87% accuracy when compared to visual observations [5,6]. A prior comparison of various simultaneous methods of oestrus detection indicated that the efficiency of identifying oestrus is compromised by common production diseases such as lameness, metabolic disorders as revealed by low body condition score (BCS), and high daily milk yield [7]. The present study aimed to establish if production stressors affected specific components of two types of cow activity devices (neck-collars or pedometers). Associations with parity and milk constituents (somatic cell counts (SSC), % fat, and/or % protein, fat: protein ratio) were also examined. * Corresponding author. E-mail address: hdobson@liv.ac.uk (H. Dobson). Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Theriogenology journal homepage: www.theriojournal.com https://doi.org/10.1016/j.theriogenology.2018.05.038 0093-691X/© 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. Theriogenology 118 (2018) 57e62