An Agro-Environmental Approach In Semi-Arid Regions: Development Of A Solar-Powered Embedded System To Mitigate Heat Stress In Dairy Cattle

Abstract

The climatic environment, particularly heat stress, affects animal welfare and milk production in cows. In semi-arid regions such as the Ghriss Plain (Wilaya of Mascara, Algeria), the frequent rise in the temperature-humidity index (THI) above a critical threshold of 72 in summer causes a significant drop in milk production. This article highlights the design and development of an embedded system. This device allows for real-time monitoring of the position and critical physiological parameters of dairy cows under severe heat stress. The main goal is to rigorously examine the impact of environmental parameters such as temperature and relative humidity, as well as husbandry practices, on dairy performance and animal welfare. Tests conducted on 41 cattle show that the HBT system works well. Based on individual cow data, it takes very precise measurements of body temperature (37.82°C ± 0.28), heart rate (52.91 bpm ± 3.66) and instant geolocation accessible via the mobile application "La vache connectée". Solar-powered HBT is an important technological support for dairy farming in environmental engineering. This technology helps anticipate the effects of heat stress, which can impact animal welfare, production, and the resilience of the livestock system in extreme climates.