A multi-Kinect cow scanning system: Calculating linear traits from manually marked recordings of Holstein-Friesian dairy cows

Microsoft Kinect systems have already been used for detecting lameness and determining body condition in dairy cattle. A combination of six Kinect cameras was used with the goal of measuring linear descriptive traits. To access the precision of measurements gathered with a fixed installed recording unit, front teats and ischial tuberosities were marked manually in the recordings. Teat lengths and heights of ischial tuberosities were then calculated from the 3D coordinates. Recorded with cattle standing still and walking, teat lengths showed a standard error range from 0.7 mm to 1.5 mm and 1.8 mm-3.2 mm, respectively. The standard errors regarding the heights of the ischial tuberosities ranged between 2.4 mm and 4.0 mm in standstill and between 14.0 mm and 22.5 mm when measured on a walking cow.