The aim of the project is to find out application possibilities of thermal imaging in the field of udder health diagnostics and tasks of udder gently milking. Thermal imaging can be utilised in animal husbandry for health and fertility diagnostics. The easy IR measurement of udder and teats skin temperature makes it possible to utilise thermal imaging for the evaluation of the impacts of milking machines on the teats and udder. Images were taken before and after milking one point of the udder and on the base, the middle and the top of the teats. We measured the udder and teat temperature in conventional milking parlours (CMP) and automatic milking systems (AMS) before and after milking. Milking forces influence the blood circulation and thus the skin temperature. The measured temperature distribution across the teats can therefore be used to analyse the effects on the teats and the quality of the milking process. It was established that the average temperature of the teat tip after milking increases in comparison with temperature before milking practically in all monitored milking units. At the same time the average temperature of teat tip in milking equipment in parlours increased by about 6.1 to 9.0 % (1.7 to 2.7 °C) against temperature before milking. At milking in AMS the temperature rise of the teat tip was smaller and reached only 2.9 to 6.0 % (0.9 to 1.7 °C). The temperature of other parts of the milk gland grew commensurately. The temperature of the surface of the udder didn't change. An other interesting result is the fact, that between the udder form, like normal udder, step udder and ball udder, we didn't find any temperature differences when milking. From the up to now performed monitoring and from the results acquired it is possible to come to the knowledge that the monitoring of teat temperature before and after milking by the help of thermography can become an indicator of the work quality of milking equipment and its influence on milk gland. First results show an influence from the milking system of the teat but not of the udder temperature. This can be an indicator for udder inflammation or problems in milking technique.
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