Abstract: Embodiments herein are generally related to apparatus and methodologies for improved screening of important biological states in animals. The apparatus and methodologies comprise the use of high-resolution infrared thermography images collected about an animal to obtain both thermal information and behavioural information about the animal, wherein both thermal and behavioural information can be used to generate a comprehensive thermal prolife value that is indicative of the biologically important state in the animal.

Abstract: Apparatus and methodologies for inducing a non-steady state in an animal to determine the metabolic efficiency of the animal. According to at least some embodiments herein, apparatus and methodologies for non-invasive, rapid infrared thermography of animals induced into non-steady biological states can be used to determine the animals' metabolic efficiency.

Abstract: Real-time automated, non-invasive infrared thermography information of a group of animals to be used for both thermal and behavioral measurement, thereby providing an earlier and more accurate predictor of onset of disease, growth states, or reproductive states in an animal within the group. More specifically, the present system and method provide for the use of thermal images to obtain both temperature and behavioral information about one or more animals at a time, and to utilize that information to determine the health, growth, or reproductive state of the animal. The combination of thermal biometric data, such as radio frequency identification infrared thermography, and behavioral biometric information, such as grouping behavior can be used to detect early-onset of biological states in animals.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for identifying real-time automated, non-invasive infrared thermography information of an animal induced into a non-steady state in order to determine the animal's metabolic efficiency.

Abstract: Real-time automated, non-invasive infrared thermography information of a group of animals to be used for both thermal and behavioural measurement, thereby providing an earlier and more accurate predictor of onset of disease, growth states, or reproductive states in an animal within the group. More specifically, the present system and method provide for the use of thermal images to obtain both temperature and behavioural information about one or more animals at a time, and to utilize that information to determine the health, growth, or reproductive state of the animal. The combination of thermal biometric data, such as radio frequency identification infrared thermography, and behavioural biometric information, such as grouping behaviour can be used to detect early-onset of biological states in animals.

Abstract: The present apparatus and method provides for real-time automated, non-invasive infrared thermography information of an animal to be used for both thermal and behavioural measurement, thereby providing an earlier and more accurate predictor of onset of disease, growth states, or reproductive states in that animal. More specifically, the present system and method provide for the use of thermal images (taken, for example, at a water station) to obtain both temperature and behavioural information about one or more animals at a time, and to utilize that information to determine the health, growth, or reproductive state of the animal. The combination of thermal biometric data, such as radio frequency identification infrared thermography, and behavioural biometric information, such as behavioural fidgets can be used to detect early-onset of these biological steady and non-steady states in animals.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for predicting growth efficiency of an animal by using infrared thermography by generating a predictive model, comprising selecting a sample population from a group of animals; scanning each animal to obtain a thermographic image represented as an array of pixels providing temperature data; calculating a value of a statistical measure of the temperature data (input variable); calculating a value of a measure of growth efficiency (output variable); and determining a relationship between the input and output variables to generate a predictive model. The predictive model is then used to predict growth efficiency in an animal from the same group but not in the sample population by scanning the animal to obtain a thermographic image; calculating a value of a statistical measure of the temperature data (input variable); and solving the predictive model to provide the value of the growth efficiency of the animal.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of alleviating the effects of stress in a non-human animal comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of a corticosteroid, such as dexamethasone, alone or in conjunction with a nutritional supplement, to the animal in need thereof. The corticosteroid can be administered prior to exposure to the stress, during the stress, and/or following exposure to the stress. The administration of the corticosteroid in conjunction with a nutritional supplement provides synergistic effects in alleviating the effects of stress, particularly weight loss. The nutrient therapy comprises one or more sources of electrolytes providing each of sodium, potassium and magnesium; one or more sources of amino acids providing each of alanine, lysine, phenylalanine, methionine, threonine, leucine, isoleucine, valine, and glutamate; and a source of tryptophan. The combined administration appears to have a restorative effect.

Abstract: The invention provides a method and apparatus using infrared thermography for predicting an unknown value of an internal composition characteristic of velvet antler in vivo, in vitro, and/or during cooling or warming. The method involves generating a predictive model using a sample population of antlers to determine a relationship between a known input variable and a known value for the composition characteristic; and using the predictive model to predict the unknown value of the same composition characteristic in an antler not selected from the sample population. Using this value, a map can be made to identify sites and levels of the composition characteristic within the antler. The invention provides a method for predicting an internal composition characteristic of a velvet antler by obtaining an infrared thermographic image of the antler and visually ranking the image by comparison to a corresponding image of an antler with the desired composition characteristic.