The right angle: validating a standardised protocol for the use of infrared thermography of eye temperature as a welfare indicator

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Ijichi, C ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1271-8813, Evans, L, Woods, H and Yarnell, K ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7464-8764, 2020. The right angle: validating a standardised protocol for the use of infrared thermography of eye temperature as a welfare indicator. Animal Welfare, 29 (2), pp. 123-131. ISSN 0962-7286

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Official URL: https://doi.org/10.7120/09627286.29.2.123

Abstract

Infrared Thermography (IRT) is a non-invasive tool for measuring eye temperature as an indicator of stress and welfare in animals. Previous studies state that images are taken from 90° but do not specify a reference point or method of standardisation. The aims of the current study were to determine whether the position of the IRT camera has an impact on recorded temperature and which camera position is optimal for indicating stress in a mammal with anterolateral eyes. IRT images were taken from 90° to the nasal plane, eye and sagittal plane on the left side of the horses’ faces (N=14) at eye level before and after exposure to a novel object. Distance and angle of measurement was standardised using ground markers. Temperature at each point of measurement was compared against heart rate variability. A significant difference was found between recorded temperature at all three of the points of measurement, both before and after the novel object test, suggesting that IRT camera position has an impact on eye temperature results. There was a significant strong positive correlation between eye temperature taken from 90° to the sagittal plane and heart rate variability, but no such correlation was observed from 90° to the nasal plane or eye. This suggests that a 90° angle in relation to the sagittal plane is the optimal position for taking eye temperature measurements using IRT, whereas 90° to the eye is commonly used. This study offers a validated protocol for using IRT to measure stress and welfare in mammals with anterolateral eyes.

Item Type:	Journal article
Publication Title:	Animal Welfare
Creators:	Ijichi, C., Evans, L., Woods, H. and Yarnell, K.
Publisher:	Universities Federation for Animal Welfare
Date:	1 May 2020
Volume:	29
Number:	2
ISSN:	0962-7286
Identifiers:	Number Type 1262802 Other 10.7120/09627286.29.2.123 DOI
Divisions:	Schools > School of Animal, Rural and Environmental Sciences
Record created by:	Jill Tomkinson
Date Added:	07 Jan 2020 14:38
Last Modified:	11 Jul 2022 15:32
URI:	https://irep.ntu.ac.uk/id/eprint/38932