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Rumination as a measure of heat tolerance: a case study in rangeland beef in northern Australia
Author
Chang, AZ
Colusso, PI, Williams, TM
Trotter, MG
Publisher
XII International Rangeland Congress
Publication Year
2025
Body

Climate change poses significant challenges to both productivity and welfare in extensive beef production systems. The identification of heat tolerant individuals is essential for developing resilient herds capable of withstanding increasing temperatures and prolonged periods of heat. The ability to capture relevant phenotypic data for incorporation into genomic evaluation programs, however, remains a significant limitation in extensive environments. This study reports on the use of sensor-based rumination detection to assess individual responses to increasing heat. Thirty-eight cows were equipped with accelerometer ear tags to monitor individual rumination responses to increasing heat during baseline and heat stress periods. The results highlight the potential of a sensor-based rumination detection system to identify heat tolerant individuals in extensive beef systems.

Language
English
Resource Type
Text
Document Type
Conference Proceedings
Additional Information
This paper is part of the larger XII International Rangelands Congress Proceedings. Page Numbers: 1498-1502. Theme: Theme 6 / Animal productivity
ISSN
978-0-646-72121-7
Conference Name
International Rangeland Congress
Collection
International Rangelands Congress
Keywords
beef cattle
climate change
heat stress
rumination