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Panting score (PS) is a common research tool used to assess the physiological state of cows exposed to heat stress, but it is subjective. Infrared temperature (IRT), measured by either infrared thermometers or cameras, may be a more objective and reliable alternative. Very few studies thus far have evaluated the associations between PS, IRT, and milk production. We investigated the applicability of IRT compared with PS as a means of assessing heat stress and milk yield reduction in dairy cows in tropical smallholder dairy farms (SDF). In autumn 2017, SDF located across 4 typical dairy regions of Vietnam were each visited once to collect farm (n = 32) and individual cow data (n = 344). For each SDF, heat load index (HLI) inside the cowsheds, an indicator of environmental heat load calculated from ambient temperature, humidity, and wind speed, was measured. For each cow, PS (0 indicates a cow breathing normally, not panting; 4.5 indicates an extremely heat-stressed cow with excessive panting, tongue fully extended, and excessive drooling), IRT of the cow's body, single-day energy-corrected milk yield (ECM), body weight, and body condition score were measured. Cow genotype, age, lactation number, and days in milk were recorded. The IRT of the cows' inner vulval lip (IVuT) were measured with an infrared thermometer; and the IRT of the cows' vulval surface (OVuT), inner tail base surface (ITBT), ocular area, muzzle, armpit area, paralumbar fossa area, fore udder, rear udder, fore hoof, and hind hoof were also measured with an infrared camera. Multivariate mixed-effects models were used to assess the associations between HLI with PS and IRT, and associations between PS and IRT with ECM while accounting for the effects of other cow variables. All IRT correlated positively with PS (Pearson correlation, r = 0.23–0.50). Each unit increase in HLI was associated with increases of 0.07 units in PS and 0.09 to 0.23°C in IRT. Each degree (°C) increase in IVuT, OVuT, and ITBT was associated with decreases of 0.75, 0.87, and 0.70 kg/cow per day in ECM, respectively, whereas PS and other IRT were not significantly associated with ECM. Thus, all IRT showed potential to assess the heat stress level of cows; and IVuT, OVuT, and ITBT, but not PS and other IRT, showed potential to predict ECM reduction in cows during heat stress. First cross (F1) Holstein Brown Swiss and F1 Holstein Jersey showed lower PS and yielded higher ECM than the third backcross (B3) Holstein Zebu (7/8 Holstein + 1/8 Zebu) and pure Holstein. Thus, F1 Holstein Brown Swiss and F1 Holstein Jersey could be more suitable for tropical SDF than B3 Holstein Zebu and pure Holstein. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] Interface formation of ALD HfO2 on both HF and sulphur treated germanium surface and the thermal stability was studied using SXPS. [•] The interfacial sulphur component was stable upto 500°C annealing treatment. [•] Interfacial oxides were effectively removed after post deposition anneal at 700°C without affecting dielectric stoichiometry. [•] The band offsets were determined using photoemission spectroscopy measurement for the dielectric-semiconductor structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • There were considerable variability in seed and post-harvest residues (haulm + pod wall (HPW)) yields and residues quality among genotypes. • Relationships between yields of seed and HPW were positive and strong. • There was a positive association between seed yield and HPW dry matter digestibility, • In general seed yield was not related to the nitrogen concentration. • It is possible to identify genotypes which combine high yields of both seed and HPW, and with improved HPW quality attributes. Abstract Common bean is widely grown as a food legume and the post-harvest crop residues (CR) (i.e. haulm + pod wall (HPW)) are valuable as ruminant feedstuffs. The yields and constituents indicative of nutritive value for ruminants of the HPW from a wide range of common bean genotypes (G) were examined at 4 trial sites in Ethiopia during the 2013 main cropping season to assess the extent of genetic variation among G for simultaneous improvement of both HPW attributes and seed yield. Attributes measured were seed and HPW yields and the amounts of the morphological components, their concentrations of total nitrogen (N), neutral detergent fibre (aNDFom) and acid detergent fibre (ADFom), and the dry matter digestibility (DMD). The constituents were measured using near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) and calibrations based on a large set of reference tropical forages and CR (including common bean), and were validated against other CR reference samples. These CR quality attributes were very well predicted with R2v and RPDv ranging from 0.90 to 0.98 and 3.13–7.36, respectively. There was considerable variation in yields of HPW and seed, and in the proportions and attributes of the HPW fractions among the common bean G. Trial site means for yields of HPW and seed ranged from 0.74 to 2.54 t/ha and 0.79–2.62 t/ha, respectively while for N, aNDFom and ADFom concentrations and DMD of HPW ranged from 7.7 to 11.4 g/kg DM, 648–739 g/kg DM, 502–585 g/kg DM, and 467–570 g/kg DM, respectively. Environment (E), as represented by site, generally affected the yields of HPW and seed (P < 0.001) and nutritive value of the HPW fractions (P < 0.05) as feedstuffs. Seed yield was positively correlated with HPW yield both within and across trial sites (r = 0.92; P < 0.0001), but in general seed yield was not related to the N concentration. Across all sites, seed yield was positively correlated (r = 0.68; P < 0.0001) with haulm DMD. Although this correlation may be due to variation associated with E rather than G, it is nevertheless important in that selection for higher seed yield is likely to also increase metabolisable energy (ME) content of the HPW. There were G x E interaction effects on yields of HPW (P < 0.0001) and seed (P = 0.011), but these were generally less important than E effects which explained 52–58% of the variation. In conclusion the study demonstrated that it is possible to identify genotypes such as ECAB0081 which combine high yields of both seed and HPW, and with HPW attributes which improve their quality as ruminant feedstuffs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Infrared temperature (IRT) of eyes and coronary band associate with cow emotions. • Cows with lower limb IRT walked slower in a forced lateralisation test. • Cows with a higher eye to limb IRT ratio had a more vertical tail position. • Temperature humidity index, milk protein to fat and days in milk may confound IRT. The welfare of dairy cows is sometimes compromised by anxiety that could be indicated by changes in body temperature. We hypothesized that there was an association between external body surface infrared temperature (IRT) of lactating cows and behavioural responses to anxiety, using rectal temperature as a reference point. Approximately 50 cows were examined individually once a month for 3 consecutive months. Cows were excluded from the evaluation if > 300 d in milk, somatic cell counts exceeded 400 × 1000′s cells/mL, or if dried-off, and so numbers declined over time. Monthly IRT thermograms of each cow's head and coronary bands of forelimbs were taken, and we collected data deemed indicative of anxiety (behaviour in a forced lateralisation test, behaviour in the crush, flight speed and rectal temperature) as well as potential confounders: temperature humidity index (THI) in the parlour and crush area and lactation variables. The hypothesized positive association between IRT and behavioural indicators of anxiety was found in the first month only, between IRT of both eyes and cows' sniffing behaviour in the forced lateralisation test. Associations between rectal temperature and behavioural indicators occurred in month 3, when rectal temperature was positively associated with both flight speed and crush score. Cow waiting time prior to being milked was negatively associated with limb IRT in each of the 3 months, and positively associated with the ratio of eyes to limb IRT in 2 of the 3 months, whereas no such associations were detected with rectal temperature. In the analysis across months there were associations between IRT and behavioural indicators, which suggested that limb IRT may relate to cow behaviour: limb IRT was negatively related to slow to medium walking, and the ratio of IRT of eyes to limbs was positively associated with a vertical, rather than horizontal, tail. No associations were detected between laterality and IRT or rectal temperature. The adjusted R2 of the regressions across months was higher for IRT (eyes 86 %; limbs 78 %) than rectal temperature (63 %). IRT had a high repeatability, particularly for both eyes, across the 3 months, whereas rectal temperature was not repeatable. We conclude that there are potential relationships between IRT and cow emotions, but it is important to account for confounders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Maximum IRT in a thermogram was a more useful measure than average IRT. • Cows that were more right than left lateralised had higher limb and eye IRT. • The IRT best associated with behaviour and lactation variables was ratio of eye to limb. • Results show the potential of IRT to monitor stress related behaviours in dairy cows. The aim of this study was to test for associations between infrared temperatures (IRT) of relevant external body surface regions, lateralised behaviours, and milk productivity in dairy cows (N = 31 in a herd of 202 cows). The cows were selected according to their laterality, based on their response (left: N = 15, right: N = 16) in forced lateralisation tests conducted more than a year earlier. Behavioural variables additional to previously determined laterality, and measured daily for 10 days as they returned to pasture after the afternoon milking, included: stopped while walking towards a person in the laneway, standing on the left or right side of the person, speed of walking to the person; and head, ear and tail positions as they passed the person. Then for 6 of the next 7 days, the IRT, waiting time in the loafing area prior to afternoon milking and milk yield variables were measured. IRT measures included maximum and average IRT from replicate daily thermograms of the eyes, ears, muzzle, coronary band of the forelimbs, and the ratio of the eye to coronary band IRTs. Milk yield was determined from the sum of morning and afternoon milking volumes averaged over 6 days. Milk composition, somatic cell count, days in milk and parity were determined by averaging the monthly herd test data either side of the current IRT/ behavioural period. From ANOVA, cows previously determined as right lateralised had higher maximum eye (Both Eyes: Right = 36.5, Left = 36.1, SED =0.16 °C, P = 0.01) and average coronary band (Both Forelimbs: Right = 31.9, Left = 30.8, SED =0.41 °C, P = 0.02) IRT than left lateralised cows. Using multivariate regression, the IRT measure best associated with the behavioural and milk parameters was the ratio of the eye to coronary band maximum IRT (R2 = 92%). The higher the ratio, the more likely the cow was to: be left lateralised, not stop whilst walking, stand on the right rather than left side prior to passing, not pass too slowly or too fast, wait for longer in the loafing yard prior to milking, be of lower parity, have a lower somatic cell count and a higher days in milk. These behavioral and productivity parameters could indicate level of stress or anxiety. Therefore it is concluded that eye and coronary band IRT deserves further investigation as predictors of stress or anxiety in dairy cows. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]