METHOD FOR ESTIMATING THE STATE OF THE SUPPORT AND MOTOR APPARATUS OF CATTLE

Diseases of the limbs of cows are often observed and cause significant losses to farms. Especially this problem has become aggravated under the conditions of specialization of dairy cattle breeding, which is associated with a sharp change in the feeding and maintenance of animals. To solve the problem of disease of the limbs of cows, it is necessary to conduct a constant diagnosis of their condition. The aim of the research is to create a method for assessing the state of the musculoskeletal system of cattle, in which they additionally carry out an automated calculation of the kinematic indicators of the movement of given points of the animal’s body, calculating a complex mobility indicator based on them and comparing it with a reference indicator that allows detecting disorders of the animal diseases that are caused even in the early stages. The calculation of the kinematic indicators of the movement of given points of the animal’s body, in particular the points corresponding to the joints of the extremities, allows not only qualitative but also quantitative assessment of the degree of its lameness. The assessment of the bending of the back of the animal while walking increases the accuracy of detection of diseases of its musculoskeletal system. As a device for obtaining a threedimensional image, a single color video camera was used, as well as an infrared emitter and receiver, which form a depth sensor, designed to determine the distance from the device to each point of the image. The operation of such a device consists of video recording with the possibility of obtaining both a color two-dimensional video image and a three-dimensional image in which the brightness of each point characterizes the distance between it and the device. To process and analyze threedimensional images, you need to use a computer with the appropriate software installed. Thus, the use of the proposed method will allow in automatic mode to determine the complex indicator of the mobility of cattle and to diagnose diseases of its musculoskeletal system, including limbs, as well as to determine additional characteristics, such as the geometric dimensions of animals. The definition of a complex indicator of mobility improves the quality of structuring the herd for the age-productive groups of animals and, accordingly, the efficiency of herd management