Implementation of multivariate cumulative sum control charts in mastitis and lameness monitoring

This study analyzed the methodology and applicability of multivariate cumulative sum (MCUSUM) charts for early mastitis and lameness detection. Data used were recorded on the Karkendamm dairy research farm, Germany, between August 2008 and December 2010. Data of 328 and 315 cows in their first 200 d in milk were analyzed for mastitis and lameness detection, respectively. Mastitis as well as lameness was specified according to veterinary treatments. Both diseases were defined as disease blocks. Different disease definitions for mastitis and lameness (2 for mastitis and 3 for lameness) varied solely in the sequence length of the blocks. Only the days before the treatment were included in the disease blocks. Milk electrical conductivity, milk yield, and feeding patterns (feed intake, number of trough visits, and feeding time) were used for the recognition of mastitis. Pedometer activity and feeding patterns were used for lameness detection. To exclude biological trends and obtain independent observations, the values of each input variable were either preprocessed by wavelet filters or a multivariate vector autoregressive model. The residuals generated between the observed and filtered or observed and forecast values, respectively, were then transferred to a classic or self-starting MCUSUM chart. The combination of the 2 preprocessing methods with each of the 2 MCUSUM sum charts resulted in 4 combined monitoring systems. For mastitis as well as lameness detection requiring a block sensitivity of at least 70%, all 4 of the combined monitoring systems used revealed similar results within each of the disease definitions. Specificities of 73 to 80% and error rates of 99.6% were achieved for mastitis. The results for lameness showed that the definitions used obtained specificities of up to 81% and error rates of 99.1%. The results indicate that the monitoring systems with these study characteristics have appealing features for mastitis and lameness detection. However, they are not yet directly applicable for practical implementations.