Technical Note: Evaluation of individual ultraviolet radiation dosimeter sensitivity and specificity for assessing shade use.

The effects of solar or UV radiation on livestock are often evaluated in research focused on heat stress, dermatological conditions, and other topics, with radiation measurements recorded by instrumentation at a field or local weather station for a general geographical location. Individual sensors would be valuable for quantifying an individual animal's exposure, especially as they move about in a heterogeneous environment. Individual commercially available UV dosimeters were evaluated for specificity and sensitivity and found to be potentially valuable research tools for assessing and comparing the UV radiation exposure of individual animals.