Tracking and sensor-based detection of livestock water system failure: A case study simulation

Water is an important nutrient, and its continuous provision is a critical welfare issue for cattle grazing arid and semiarid rangelands. Time and labor are needed to monitor water availability, and automated monitoring systems are a costly input on expansive rangeland pastures. The objective of this study was to evaluate the potential of detecting water system failures using Global Positioning System (GPS) tracking and accelerometers, assuming the data could be monitored in real or near-real time. Water system failure was simulated in a 1 096-ha pasture in Arizona by placing metal panels around the only drinker for 4 h (0800−1200) on three occasions in 2018 and two occasions in 2019. Randomly selected cows (10 in 2018 and 23 in 2019) of the 120 cows in the pasture were tracked with GPS collars, and 7 (2018) and 10 (2019) of the tracked cows were fitted with triaxial accelerometers. Movement intensity measured by accelerometers was greater (P = 0.03) on the day of simulated water failure than on control days with available water. During simulated water failure, cows remained closer to water (P = 0.01) after approaching the drinker (< 150 m) compared with the control period the day prior. Cows typically went to the drinker, drank, and then traveled away from the drinker and rested. On simulated water-failure days, cows remained near the drinker (< 150 m from the tank) until the panels were removed and they could drink. Real-time GPS tracking with or without accelerometer data has the potential to remotely detect water system failure, which could reduce the time for managers to repair the water system and improve cattle well-being.