Thermal Signatures of Vulval Skin Surface: A Potential Non-Invasive Diagnostic Technology to Monitor the Calving Process in Water Buffalo (Bubalus bubalis)

Abstract

For the first time, the possibility of using infrared thermography to capture the temperature of the vulval skin surface around the calving process in order to forecast when the buffaloes' calving process will begin has been investigated. FLUKE infrared thermal camera was used to record the vulval skin surface temperature (VSST) and ocular temperature. Twenty-eight multiparous pregnant buffaloes had their thermograms taken at 6-h intervals between the 96th hour before the anticipated calving and the 24th hour after the calving. The eye and vulval skin surface showed a ΔT of 0.56°C and 0.45°C, respectively, indicating a considerable drop in temperature from 48 h before to calving. On the other hand, starting 6 h before calving, the vulval skin temperature showed an upward trend. There was minimal effect of circadian influence on the vulval skin surface temperature, as evidenced by the identical and significant declining pattern of the residual temperature of both the eye and VSST from 48 to 0 h of calving. Nonetheless, the reduction is ascribed to progesterone, which lowers vulval skin vascular perfusion and cutaneous circulation. Our study's findings suggested that, using related thermal signatures, vulval skin surface temperature variation in relation to calving as observed by digital infrared thermal imaging could be explored as a potential tool for predicting the onset of impending calving in buffaloes within −48 h.