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.
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