Environmental factors were evaluated to determine potential limitations in using cattle eye temperatures
obtained through infrared thermography (IRT) for early disease detection systems or in animal welfare
research studies. The effects of the following factors on IRT eye temperatures in cattle and a fabricated
surrogate ‘‘eye’’ were evaluated: camera to object distance, wind speed, camera settings (distance, emissivity,
and humidity), and solar loading. Wind speed in both live animals and using a surrogate ‘‘eye’’ was
found to decrease the IRT temperature.