Possibility to use mechanical vibrations for prevention and treatment of bovine mastitis

Abstract

The aim of the study is to develop a mechanical vibration excitation device for the improvement of udder and teat blood flow in cattle (cows), prevention of subclinical mastitis and treatment of clinical mastitis.There are known devices developed by foreign scientists that expose the udder by acoustic or electromagnetic waves of a certain frequency (1). This induces harmonic and directional oscillations of different frequencies directed to a certain area of the excited object, e.g. local udder location (2) (Device “ARMENTA”, Israel,2018)). The udder and teat contain an extensive network of blood vessels and capillaries, which reduces the efficiency of the milking process and increases the risk of developing mastitis. The mechanical vibration device developed by LSMU and KTU researchers is mounted on the milker, and while operating during the milking process, it analyses input parameters such as temperature, amplitude of oscillations and pulse using the oximeter; the system is able to adapt the vibration frequency and duration of action according to measured parameters. This device is designed to improve the blood flow to the udder and teats of cows, reduce the incidence of mastitis and increase the effectiveness of therapy. The device has a feedback control system, by which the data can be stored in a database, which allows changing the technological parameters of the device with the help of artificial intelligence.Experimental studies were performed with a cow udder training model and Laval milkers, each of which was excited by low-frequency directional harmonic oscillations (frequency 10–45 Hz, amplitude 2–5 mm).Vibrations were measured with a laser vibration sensor (KEYNCE LK-G82) both on the milking machine body and on the teats and at various locations in the udder. The mechanical vibrations caused by the vibrator in the milker propagate through the teats to the entire udder and produce a physiotherapeutic effect, activating its blood circulation. Tests were performed when the test udder model was filled with fluid. In this way, the dynamic characteristics of the udder subjected to vibrations change, thus approaching the real conditions when the cow’s udder is full of milk. Further research will be done with real animals, thus confirming the results of our training model.