## 5 Use of IRT in Livestock Production
### Detection of Lameness in Dairy Cows
Similarly, for the cleaned and inspected limbs, the temperature threshold of 21 \({}^{\circ}\)C helped to correctly identify 93% of lesions but only 49% of the limbs without lesions. Thus, the best combination of sensitivity and specificity appears to be the use of a temperature threshold of 27 \({}^{\circ}\)C for soiled limbs [159]. [PERSON] et al. measured the surface temperature of the coronal band (CB) and skin (S) regions of the front and back of the hindlimb. Those affected by digital dermatitis had higher CB and S temperatures than healthy limbs. Skin temperature was significantly higher in limbs with infectious lesions compared to limbs without lesions. However, the probability was not significant in the coronary zone. The prevalence of digital dermatitis was found to be 44.8% at the cow level and 87.5% at the herd level [145]. In the study by [PERSON] et al., dairy cows without clinical signs of lameness were selected for examination. Coronal temperature was measured using a thermal imaging camera on both fore and hind legs. The results showed that 63% of the dairy cows had tissue changes in at least one hoof, while 37% remained unchanged; 14% of the dairy cows were diagnosed with a plantar ulcer, 24%--with interdigital hyperplasia, 62%--with digital dermatitis [160]. In the study of [PERSON] et al., lame dairy cows were selected, and the thermography method was compared with other detection techniques. Dairy cows diagnosed with laminitis by means of other methods showed an increase in temperature at the measured hood surfaces. The infrared camera software showed an increased local temperature of 0.5-1.5 \({}^{\circ}\)C between the normal area and the area with laminitis cases [161]. [PERSON] et al. investigated the suitability of IRT for early detection of subclinical laminitis and the temperature distribution between the hooves was also examined. In the second month of lactation, foot bleeding, a sign of subclinical laminitis, was detected. Thermography showed significant differences between the temperature of the fore and hind hooves, as well as between the lateral and medial hooves [162]. [PERSON] et al. used thermography to diagnose septic arthritis of the right metatar-sophalangeal joint in heifers, and compared to the healthy limb, the affected limb had a higher temperature at the site of arthritis localization [163]. and mid-lactation or late lactation. The coronal temperature was higher in mid-lactation cows with the presence of sole hemorrhages compared to the late phase. Underrun heels were more commonly observed in late lactation phase [165]. According to a study by [PERSON] et al., there was no temperature difference between the healthy left and right hind limbs, but there was a significant thermal difference between the left and right hind limbs when there was a lesion on one of them [166]. [PERSON] et al. evaluated the temperature of the hooves prior to treatment using an inexpensive infrared thermometer. The average temperature of the limbs with lesions was 26.8 \({}^{\circ}\)C compared to 23.6 \({}^{\circ}\)C for the limbs without lesions. By observing the maximum temperature for each limb, it was possible to identify dairy cows with at least one lesion with a sensitivity and specificity of 78% at a threshold temperature of 25.25 \({}^{\circ}\)C [167]. [PERSON] and [PERSON] investigated the potential of IRT for early detection of limb disabilities by measuring surface temperature of the coronary band and skin in dairy cows without clinical signs at different stages of lactation. Hoof temperature was two degrees higher (31.8 \({}^{\circ}\)C) in early- and mid-lactation dairy cows compared with late-lactation cows (29.8 \({}^{\circ}\)C). When data before and after hoof trimming were analyzed, there was a significant difference in coronary temperature between cows with and without lesions. IRT detected increased temperature in the limbs with lesions [126]. [PERSON] et al. compared the IRT method with a method for assessing locomotion scores in dairy cows.