project - Research and innovation
PigWise
PigWise
Objectives
The aim of the project is to develop an IT based tool that can be used to monitor performance, growth and welfare of pigs at the individual level. This tool allows detecting problems in an early stage (monitoring and decision support) and hence preventing economical losses.
Objectives
The aim of the project is to develop an IT based tool that can be used to monitor performance, growth and welfare of pigs at the individual level. This tool allows detecting problems in an early stage (monitoring and decision support) and hence preventing economical losses.
Activities
A broad approach will be undertaken combining an innovative individual online-monitoring system based on RFID with HF transponders, camera vision technology and software.
Accurate advanced computer-aided analysis of individual animals data enables to treat each animal as a production unit (instead of the pen or the herd), define animal based threshold values and hence develop early warning systems for potential drops in performance or potential health and consequently performance and welfare problems. For example, a pig displaying a reduced number and duration of feed visits, or even a lack of visits or too great pauses between visits, will be timely signalled and the pig farmer can intervention quickly. Also, a sudden change in activity rate may be caused by an arising lameness problem or problems with agonistic behaviours like tail biting, alerting the farmer to intervene and separate the animals that need special attention. This would mean that negative influences on animal health or economic losses can be prevented.
Activities
A broad approach will be undertaken combining an innovative individual online-monitoring system based on RFID with HF transponders, camera vision technology and software.
Accurate advanced computer-aided analysis of individual animals data enables to treat each animal as a production unit (instead of the pen or the herd), define animal based threshold values and hence develop early warning systems for potential drops in performance or potential health and consequently performance and welfare problems. For example, a pig displaying a reduced number and duration of feed visits, or even a lack of visits or too great pauses between visits, will be timely signalled and the pig farmer can intervention quickly. Also, a sudden change in activity rate may be caused by an arising lameness problem or problems with agonistic behaviours like tail biting, alerting the farmer to intervene and separate the animals that need special attention. This would mean that negative influences on animal health or economic losses can be prevented.
Project details
- Main funding source
- Other EU research and development funds
- Project acronym
- PigWise
- Agricultural sectors
- Pigs
Contacts
Project coordinator
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Project coordinator
Project partners
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University of Goettingen: Faculty of Agricultural Sciences-Department of Animal Sciences-Division of Process Engineering
Project partner
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Katholieke Universiteit Leuven: Department of Biosystems-Division of Mechatronics Biostatistics and Sensors (MeBioS)
Project partner
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ILVO Scientific Institute Belgium: Institute for Agricultural and Fisheries Research ? Technology and Food Science Unit ? Agricultural Engineering ? Livestock Precision Farming Scientific
Project partner
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Istituto Superiorie Mario Boella (Italy)
Project partner
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ASE University Denmark: Aarhus School of Engineering
Project partner