Real-time monitoring of peripheral body temperature using non-invasive, self-powered, sensor based radio-frequency device in goats (capra hircus)

- The real-time body temperature monitoring is a useful tool in the management of livestock.
- Radio frequency based digital (RFD) thermometer may be an effective instrument for recording rectal temperature (RT) in goat.
- Real-time RT recordings of RFD thermometer are similar to those body temperature recordings of mercury bulb thermometer.

The livestock health monitoring programme becomes central not only for preventing outbreak of the animal diseases, but also for ensuring the fitness of the animals that directly affecting the health of the consumers. Thus, the aim of the current study was to validate the real-time rectal temperature (RT) data of radio frequency based digital (RFD) thermometer with RT data of mercury bulb (MB) thermometer by conducting three experiments in Black Bengal goats. In experiment I, six non-pregnant Black Bengal does with a mean (±SEM) body weight of 10.93 ± 1.33 at the age of 2.25 ± 0.11 years were used to record RT for 2 h on empty stomach and 2 h after feeding at 0, 30, 60, 90 and 120 min using RFD thermometer as well as MB thermometer. In experiment II, previously selected six does were further used to record RT for 2 h before exercise and 2 h after exercise at 0, 30, 60, 90 and 120 min. In experiment III, twelve non-pregnant Black Bengal does with mean (±SEM) body weight of 15.83 ± 2.16 kg at the age of 3.61 ± 0.43 years were challenged with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) μg/kg body weight and RT was recorded at 15 min interval for 1 h prior to the administration of LPS at −60, −45, −30, 15 and 0 min (0 being the time of LPS administration) and then every 15 min interval for 5 h post LPS administration up to 300 min. Two way repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) with post hoc comparisons by Bonferroni test depicted that there was no significant difference (P > 0.05) between real-time RT data recorded by RFD thermometer as well as MB thermometer before and after feeding/exercise/LPS administration. Both RFD thermometer and MB thermometer recorded increased (P < 0.05 or P < 0.001) RT due to the effect of feeding/exercise/LPS administration in experimental goats. Hence, the body temperature recordings from RFD thermometer would be acceptable and thus RFD thermometer could be used for monitoring real-time RT in goats.