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Unpublished Paper
Time Required for Lameness Detection on an Embedded Microcomputer Based Force Plate in a Lab Based Setting
Animal Industry Report
  • Brady M. McNeil, Iowa State University
  • Caitlyn Abell, Iowa State University
  • Joseph D. Stock, Iowa State University
  • Anna K. Johnson, Iowa State University
  • Kenneth J. Stalder, Iowa State University
  • Suzanne T. Millman, Iowa State University
  • Locke A. Karriker, Iowa State University
Extension Number
ASL R3027
Publication Date
2015
Topic
Swine
Summary and Implications

The objective of this study was to determine the minimum time required for the embedded microcomputer based force plate (force plate) to detect lameness. The force plate can be placed under an electronic sow feeder or a gestation stall to routinely assess lameness. Previous work with the force plate has required sows to remain standing in a gestation stall for longer than a typical feeding time allotment of 9 minutes to measure the force applied to each foot. Comparing sows’ weight distribution across time showed that an adjustment period is required before force distribution measurements are consistent, as the sows adapts to the force plate. When using a 30 second adjustment period, sows only needed to stand on the force plate for 210 seconds in order to have a consistent reading across time. This could create a labor reduction during research trials, and allow more data to be used from a commercial setting, than when using the previous times.

Copyright Holder
Iowa State University
DOI
https://doi.org/10.31274/ans_air-180814-1364
Language
en
Citation Information
Brady M. McNeil, Caitlyn Abell, Joseph D. Stock, Anna K. Johnson, et al.. "Time Required for Lameness Detection on an Embedded Microcomputer Based Force Plate in a Lab Based Setting" (2015)
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/kenneth_stalder/115/