Headbutting goats wrecking dairy researchers' study
Researchers at a university hope that ear tags that track movement and behaviour will help to improve the welfare of dairy goats, however the animals are doing their best to thwart the project.
The study is led by Harper Adams University in Shropshire, alongside Reading University and technology company SmartBell.
The tags are already used in calves across the agricultural industry to provide early detection of health issues.
But Dr Holly Vickery admitted the technology support team were struggling to understand why the tags kept on resetting and think it could be "because the goats are headbutting each other".
"I'm surprised that the goats haven't eaten them," she said.
The tags are orange and oblong shaped, and sit in the animals' ear with their normal numbered tag.
"It's a bit like a Fitbit... it's got an accelerometer in it, and what it's doing is... it's tracking movement," said Dr Vickery.
Behaviours that can be detected include lying down time, rumination, eating behaviours and general activity.
The tags could also be used for the early detection of health issues and better responses to environmental factors like extreme heat.
In cows, more "lying time" could signal that the animal is lame.
"The goats are very different to work with, but broadly the behaviours that we want to look at are the same," said Dr Vickery.
"The algorithms have to be tweaked because the goats display the behaviours in a slightly different way."
This project involves a trial with 40 of the ear tags fitted to goats on a farm in Somerset.
Dr Vickery said she would like to see the technology incorporated into animal welfare assessments in the future.
"It would give much clearer data to consumers who want to make really informed decisions," she said.
Follow BBC Shropshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
Agriculture
Goats
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
BBC News
2 hours ago
- BBC News
Blackpool theme park to broadcast personal messages from space
Members of the public are being urged to take part in a project which will see their personal messages broadcast from space on a specially designed digital screen.A dedicated recording booth is being set up at Blackpool Pleasure Beach on 11 August for anyone who wants to submit " something meaningful, heartfelt or hilarious". Using a hydrogen-filled high-altitude balloon, the messages will then be launched into the stratosphere - about 33.5km (110,000ft) above the Earth's surface - on 15 August, or the following week, depending on weather idea has been inspired by Launch Pad, a new space-themed ride, which opened this year at the Blackpool amusement park. 'Big reveals' The team at the theme park are looking for submissions from people of all ages, and hope to include "dedications and secrets, to big reveals, or even just funny one-liners". "This is about giving people the chance to say something meaningful, heartfelt or hilarious - and knowing that, even for a moment, your voice made it all the way to space," said Pleasure Beach boss Amanda to 8 August, people can also submit a short video or written message, a spokesman said. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Lancashire on BBC Sounds and follow BBC Lancashire on Facebook, X and Instagram and watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer.
BBC News
2 hours ago
- BBC News
Somerset butterfly count is expected to drive conservation effort
An annual butterfly count is under way after it logged the lowest numbers on record last year. There was a 35% decline in butterflies and moth species recorded across Somerset in 2024 - with a total of 43,547, compared to a total of 66,486 in 2023 according to the Buttery count has been running for 15 years but last year the charity said butterflies were at "their lowest ebb" on the back of 50 years of decline - with the wet weather contributing to the poor results. "What we really need to see is which species have been able to bounce back from that weather of last year, and which species might still be struggling," said Dr Dan Hoare from the charity. The gatekeeper butterfly was the most spotted species in Somerset last year, with more than 9,000 reported sightings. To join in the count people can sign up online and record their results on the website or app. Dr Hoare said: "Butterflies are an indicator of the health of our environment. "With about half of Britain's butterfly species already threatened or near threatened with extinction, it's really important that we understand what's driving these declines in nature – and we can use butterflies as an indicator. "When we get things right, they bounce back really quickly, and they can show us where nature recovery is working, but when their numbers are declining, that's a real sign that we need to do more."He added that Somerset was a significant area for butterflies with "really lovely rural habitats".The survey runs until 10 August, with the results revealed the following month.
Telegraph
2 hours ago
- Telegraph
Nerve simulator worn on ear is a ‘physical fitness boost'
Clipping a device to your ear for just half an hour a day could improve fitness, a study suggests. Wearing the stimulator that zaps a major nerve connecting the heart and brain increased oxygen intake during exercise, researchers found. They hope it could one day be used to help people who are not very active. The device sends gentle electrical pulses to increase the activity of the vagus nerve, which plays a key role in regulating heart function. The study, led by researchers at University College London and Queen Mary University of London, involved 28 healthy volunteers. Half were given the nerve stimulator to wear for 30 minutes every day for a week, while the other half were given a dummy device. Following a two-week break, the groups swapped devices. All of those taking part in the trial had an exercise test at the beginning and end of the week they wore the stimulator. The trial, published in the European Heart Journal, found those wearing the nerve stimulator were able to exercise more intensely than when wearing the dummy device. After a week, the stimulator increased oxygen intake during exercise by four per cent. It also boosted maximum breathing rate by an average of four breaths per minute, and maximum heart rate by four beats per minute during exercise. Gareth Ackland, a professor of perioperative medicine at Queen Mary University of London School of Medicine, said: 'Maintaining physical activity is essential for every aspect of cardiovascular, emotional, and cognitive health. 'The outcome of the trial is consistent with the significant body of evidence pointing to an important role of the brain in optimising exercise performance and regulating the activity of the immune system, helped by the vagus nerve'. Blood samples were also taken from five people, with researchers suggesting wearing the nerve stimulator for a week helped reduce inflammation. Prof Ackland added: 'We will need to carry out larger trials to confirm our findings, but the results of this study in healthy volunteers suggest that increasing vagus nerve activity can improve fitness and reduce inflammation, potentially offering new approaches to improve heart health.' Professor Bryan Williams, chief scientific and medical officer at the British Heart Foundation, which funded the study, said: 'This early study suggests that a simple technology, which harnesses the connection between the heart and the brain, can lead to improvements in fitness and exercise tolerance. 'While more research is needed involving people with cardiovascular disease, this could one day be used as a tool to improve wellbeing and quality of life for people with heart failure.'
