Technology applications in bovine gait analysis: A scoping review

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Science
• Biomechanics
• Animal Welfare Technology

Background:

• Subjective visual locomotion scoring remains the primary method for bovine gait assessment.
• Quantitative gait analysis technology has advanced significantly over the past two decades.
• There is a need to map research trends and technologies in quantitative bovine gait analysis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To map research trends in quantitative bovine gait analysis.
• To explore technologies used for measuring biomechanical gait parameters in cattle.
• To identify the primary drivers for technological development in bovine gait analysis.

Main Methods:

• A scoping literature review was conducted following PRISMA guidelines.
• Searches were performed on three online databases for original work published between January 2000 and June 2020.
• A thematic analysis of 82 selected articles identified research aims and technologies used.

Main Results:

• Lameness detection was the most common research aim (55% of studies).
• Key technologies identified include force and pressure platforms (FPP, 58.5%), vision-based systems (VB, 34.1%), and accelerometers (14.6%).
• Force and pressure platforms were the earliest and most utilized technology.

Conclusions:

• The demand for automatic lameness detection has significantly influenced the development of quantitative gait analysis technologies.
• Emerging technologies like deep learning and wearable sensors show promise for future advancements.
• Further research is necessary to develop more accurate, practical, and user-friendly bovine gait analysis technologies.