Proposal for a Double-Casing Prototype of a Pedometer for Dairy Cows, Made to Be Interchangeable, Through Numerical Investigation and 3D Modeling of Geometry

In barns for dairy cows, pedometers are used for monitoring cow behavioral activities. In detail, the increase in the motor activity recorded by pedometers is widespread used as an indicator of oestrus onset. Generally, all the cows are equipped with one pedometer attached to one cow leg for a working life of nearly 5 years. After that period, pedometers are disposed of. This practice could be a relevant issue regarding the environmental sustainability. The aim of this paper was to develop a prototype of a pedometer in compliance with the guidelines of the Green Deal, with particular attention to both the materials used in the production process and its management within dairy farms. An accurate study of the pedometer geometry was performed through both a Finite Element Analysis (FEA) and 3D Fusion Deposition Modeling (FDP) techniques. The material proposed to build the prototype, in addition to guarantying adequate chemical and mechanical resistance, is biocompatible and recyclable. The design of the prototype is characterized by the adoption of a double casing: the external one, with a protective function, is fixed to one cow foreleg; the inner one, used for housing the measurement devices, is removable and interchangeable. This solution will provide the pedometers with a longer lifetime than the existing commercial ones and, therefore, could contribute to limit the environmental burden deriving from pedometers dismissing.