Analytical and theoretical studies were conducted in working cattle facilities in order to identify infectious, parasitic, and nervous diseases in large horned cattle. Our analytical study was based on the analysis of available scientific research papers. The theoretical research was based on processing the measurement results with existing hardware and software. Both environmental and physiological parameters were obtained from five farms for at least 30 days. The studied cows were divided into two groups. One group consisted of 37 dairy cows of the Holstein breed aged 2–3 years having no clinical signs of disease. All cows in this group were fed the same diet, kept in the same conditions, and had the same lactation period (from 3 to 5 months). Their average weight was 517 (±2.03) kg. For inclusion into the second group, we selected 23 dairy cows with parameters similar to those of the cows in the first group but with some clinical signs of diseases such as encephalomyelitis, infectious enteritis, and hypodermatosis. The data obtained from the animals in the first group were considered as the parameters’ standardized boundary values for the estimation of a cow’s conditions, i.e., as the norm (the setpoint). As for the data obtained for the second group, they were considered to be deviations from the threshold values of the parameters (deviations from the setpoint, which required a pre-planned action). The analysis was carried out using the program code implemented in the software package “Matlab R2019b”. We analyzed the correlations between the cows’ rumen temperature and pH, their locomotive activity, and environmental parameters such as air temperature and relative humidity in the cowsheds. We then constructed graphs of inter-correlating functions. As a result of the study, for the first time, algorithms were compiled enabling the detection of infectious, parasitic, and nervous diseases.

This study aims to determine the relationship between indicators of the motor activity, pH factor, rumen and rectal temperature within 10 days after calving and to analyze the possibility of using the studied parameters as prognostic signs for diagnosing sub-acute rumen acidosis (SARA). The measurements were taken using bolus with sensors designed to monitor cow health. The motor activity, pH factor and ruminal temperature of 10 cows were measured during 10 days at a measurement interval of every 60 seconds. Next, the researchers calculated the average values of the obtained readings, which were divided into 2 groups according to a measurement interval of every 12 hours. Rectal temperature was measured using a veterinary thermometer every 12 hours (at 8 a.m. and at 8 p.m.). As a result, 200 measurements were obtained. Descriptive sampling statistics were calculated using the SPSS Statistics program. An increase in motor activity reduces the pH level of the rumen environment. Lowering the pH factor of the rumen environment leads to an increase in ruminal temperature. There is a positive statistically significant correlation between ruminal and rectal temperature. The nosology of SARA can be predicted by measuring the motor activity and rectal temperature of dairy cows.

Relevance. Increased values of temperature and relative humidity of the external environment lead to negative consequences for the animal body, forcing the thermoregulation processes to be turned on. These mechanisms allow the animal organism to adapt to new environmental conditions at the expense of productivity. In these cases heat stress is observed. It is established that its manifestation is observed after 17 hours and there is a possible decrease in productivity by 35–40%. To identify the effect of heat stress, accurate determination of temperature-humidity index (THI) is necessary.Methods. The materials and methods contain the most common formulas for determining the temperature and humidity index. The equipment and software package used for the research are presented.Results. A graph of the results of South Korean studies is presented to compare the effects of heat stress on productivity. The results and discussions display a modernized formula for determining the heat stress index and figures showing the level of heat stress at different temperature and relative humidity levels.

Monitoring the temperature and pH of the contents of the rumen can be useful for assessing the health status and detecting physiological heat in cows. The purpose of the research was to develop methods and means of livestock control in cattle breeding to manage the physiological state of the herd based on mathematical models for detecting the heat, upcoming calving, initial signs of diseases, monitoring the level of feeding and water intake. The work was carried out under the production conditions of farms using existing hardware and software. The measurements were carried out using a non-invasive control method using special sensors-boluses designed to monitor the health of cows. Boluses were placed orally in the rumen of the cows under research. As a result of the research, algorithms and mathematical models were compiled to identify the heat, upcoming calving, diseases, as well as monitoring the level of feeding and water intake. The source data was imported from a standard file format compatible with other applications (csv table). Correlations between the temperature and pH of the rumen, as well as the motor activity of cows were also analyzed. As illustrations, graphs of the main indicators of vital activity, as well as graphs of mutually correlative functions and an illustration of the working console of the program have been given. Table of the results of the program for each cow, average values and standard deviation have been given. A mathematical model is a set of algorithms and calculation results. In order to implement it, a program code was created in the Matlab R2019b software package. This mathematical model can be used to process and interpret data placed in the animal’s rumen of measuring elements (boluses).

The purpose of the research was to determine the corelation between pH and temperature of the contents of the rumen and abomasum in the fi rst 10 days after calving and to evaluate these factors as prognostic signs for the diagnosis of subacute acidosis in cows. The temperature and pH of the rumen contents have been measured by using special boluses made for monitoring the physiological state of cattle. The temperature and pH of the abomasum contents have been measured by using abdominal cannulation. Before the study the selected cows were clinically examined in accordance with the general plan and were completely healthy. Clinical signs of acidosis (diarrhea, loss of appetite, and weak rumination) have been not detected. The average concentration of somatic cells count in the milk of the studied cows was 250±32 thousand/ml and the urea content in the milk was at the level of 25±4 mg/%. Boluses were placed orally in the rumen of the cows under study. In 7 cows, readings have been taken 2 times per day for 10 days (at 9 am and 9 pm). A total of 140 measurements have been made. A negative correlation has been observed between pH of the rumen contents and its temperature. Consequently, an increase in the acidity (decrease in pH) of the rumen content increases its temperature. A positive statistically signifi cant correlation has been established between the temperature of the rumen content and rectal temperature. By measuring the temperature of the contents of the rumen, it is possible to prevent the appearance of subacute rumen acidosis in cows.

Monitoring the temperature and pH of the contents of the rumen can be useful for assessing the state of health and detecting of cows in heat. The purpose of this research was to evaluate the influence of time of day and season of year on the pH of the contents of rumen and its temperature in dairy cows. The research was carried out on 10 clinically healthy fi rst-calf cows of Holstein breed. Cows were milked twice a day at 05:00 and 17:00 they were housed in in a free-stall barn and fed throughout the year at the same ration balanced in accordance with their physiological need. The temperature of the contents and pH of the rumen in cows were measured using special HealthBolus boluses for the care of animals, which were produced at the Federal Research Center Agro Engineering All Russian Institute of Mechanization. The temperature of the rumen began to increase 6 hours after evening feeding and milking, and 1 hour after morning milking it began to decrease. The lowest rumen temperature was observed in spring 38,81±0,001, and the highest in autumn 39,17±0,001. The concentration of hydrogen ions of the rumen (pH) began to decrease 3 hours after morning feeding, whereas 4 hours after evening feeding it began to increase. The lowest rumen pH was observed in the summer 5,99 ± 0,001, and the highest in the autumn-spring period 6,18 ± 0,001. It has been found that the temperature of the rumen in dairy cows has been affected by the time of day and season of year, the pH of the rumen changed similarly to temperature. It was also found that the pH of the rumen has been aff ected by the time of day and season of year.