Development and validation of an autonomous radio-frequency identification controlled soaking system for dairy cattle

This study aim was to develop and validate a radio-frequency identification (RFID) controlled cattle soaking system for use in dairy cattle. The autonomous system was composed of a Raspberry Pi microcontroller, an ultra-high frequency (UHF) RFID system, a temperature-humidity sensor, and a water soaker. The system was developed and programmed to identify and tailor heat stress abatement to dairy cattle. The validation of the system was divided into static and dynamic phases. During the static phase, five UHF-RFID tags were placed 5 times in 11 point of interest on a ranging from 0 to 150 cm of the antenna. During the dynamic phase, 10 tags were moved 10 times each from 150 cm to the right to 150 cm to the left of the center of the antenna mimicking a cow's walking speed. During the static validation, the percentage of successful readings was moderate (MEAN±SD; 77.8±30.1%). We found that the distance from the antenna affected the percentage of successful readings (P<0.01), it was 100% up to 60 cm from the antenna and static readings were less successful from 120 cm left up to 90 cm to the right of the center of the antenna. During the dynamic validation, the percentage of successful readings was very high (96.0±7.0%). These results suggest that the autonomous soaker system seems to be able to detect cows in movement underneath the system. Future research should investigate the effects on the physiology, production, and behavior of heat-stressed dairy cows.