Rethinking environment control strategy of confined animal housing systems through precision livestock farming

Fournel, Sébastien; Rousseau, Alain N.; Laberge, Benoît

doi:10.1016/j.biosystemseng.2016.12.005

Cited by 121 publications

(73 citation statements)

References 144 publications

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“…The objective of Precision Livestock Farming is to automatically inform farmers on the current health [2] or welfare status [3] of their animals and to help them make decisions based on analysed sensor data. Many developments have been presented in multidisciplinary studies using various cameras [4] [5], microphones [6], accelerometers [7] [8], and different other kinds of sensors.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

How does the Behaviour of Dairy Cows during Recording Affect an Image Processing Based Calculation of the Udder Depth?

Salau¹,

Haas²,

Junge³

et al. 2018

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Precision Livestock Farming studies are based on data that was measured from animals via technical devices. In the means of automation, it is usually not accounted for the animals' reaction towards the devices or individual animal behaviour during the gathering of sensor data. In this study, 14 Holstein-Friesian cows were recorded with a 2D video camera while walking through a scanning passage comprising six Microsoft Kinect 3D cameras. Elementary behavioural traits like how long the cows avoided the passage, the time they needed to walk through or the number of times they stopped walking were assessed from the video footage and analysed with respect to the target variable "udder depth" that was calculated from the recorded 3D data using an automated procedure. Ten repeated passages were recorded of each cow. During the repetitions, the cows adjusted individually (p < 0.001) to the recording situations. The averaged total time to complete a passage (p = 0.05) and the averaged number of stops (p = 0.07) depended on the lactation numbers of the cows. The measurement precision of target variable "udder depth" was affected by the time the cows avoided the recording (p = 0.06) and by the time it took them to walk through the scanning passage (p = 0.03). Effects of animal behaviour during the collection of sensor data can alter the results and should, thus, be considered in the development of sensor based devices.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

How does the Behaviour of Dairy Cows during Recording Affect an Image Processing Based Calculation of the Udder Depth?

Salau¹,

Haas²,

Junge³

et al. 2018

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“…In confined situations, typical of intensive livestock farming, the climate control plays a fundamental role to maintain the health and welfare of animals reared. Indeed, thermal stresses can result in reduced performances, increased morbidity and mortality, with significative losses for farmers (Fournel, Rousseau, & Laberge, 2017).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In the actual context of intensive farming, Precision Livestock Farming (PLF) could be the guiding concept for the development of an advanced control system based on automatic monitoring, at an appropriate frequency, of environmental, physiological, and behavioral variables (Fournel et al, 2017). PLF can combine information technologies into on-line automated tools that can be used to model, monitor and control the behavior of animals and their biological responses in relation to their environment, without stressing, disturbing or handling the animals.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The influence of microclimate on the development of foot pad dermatitis in broilers

Tullo¹,

Aletti²,

Micheletti³

et al. 2018

10th International Livestock Environment Symposium (ILES X)

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Footpad dermatitis and lameness are a major welfare concern in broiler chicken farming. In general, footpad lesions are linked to poor environmental conditions. Ulcers that arise from advanced lesions can negatively affect the gait of the birds, with effects on the animal welfare, including, in the worst cases, inability to reach the feed or water.In this study, the degree of footpad dermatitis and lameness was manually scored on four broiler farms across Europe, as part of an EU-wide welfare assessment programme (Welfare Quality® protocol). Assessment of animal welfare is typically based on manual scoring, which requires a lot of trained manpower/labour. Precision Livestock Farming (PLF) can combine information technologies into on-line automated tools that can be used to control, monitor and model the behavior of animals and their biological response without stressing, disturbing or handling the animals. The association between the PLF and the Welfare Quality® protocol was investigated to assess whether animal welfare could be better ensured if they were closely monitored with state of the art technology that gives rapid feedback to the farmer. Thus, the aim of this study was to find the association between environmental predisposing factors, measured continuously (such as the indoor temperature and humidity) and leg problems, scored manually during the welfare assessment procedure, in order to find an automated prediction system to detect those lesions. Even if genetics is a heavy predisposing factor for leg disorders, environmental condition could trigger the presence of lesions. Indeed, immobility on litter of poor quality might cause footpad dermatitis affecting the gait of birds. The association between automated control of the environmental conditions and the welfare assessments could be the basis for the development of models and algorithms capable to automatically detect thresholds above which lesions are mostly probable.

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“…Hamrita et al [2] highlighted the limitations of current poultry environmental control practices and called for new research and practices that incorporate physiological responses of the birds. Fournel et al [3] discussed research opportunities in environmental control of confined animal housing systems through what they referred to as precision livestock farming. This term was used to imply that the use of continuous and automatic monitoring of physiological behavior among other things, contributes to more precise assessment and management of the animals' wellbeing.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This term was used to imply that the use of continuous and automatic monitoring of physiological behavior among other things, contributes to more precise assessment and management of the animals' wellbeing. Moreover, Fournel et al [4] presented a critical review of the state of the art of precision environment control of livestock buildings, identifying knowledge gaps, research opportunities and technical challenges. Hamrita et al [5] highlighted advances in biotelemetry, which make it possible to monitor chickens physiological responses in real-time for the purposes of modeling and control.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

First order dynamics approaching of broiler chicken deep body temperature response to step changes in ambient temperature

Hamrita¹,

Conway²

2017

International Journal of Agricultural and Biological Engineering

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Traditional environmental control methods for poultry housing which rely solely on environmental factors fall short in meeting thermal and physiological needs of the animals. New methods are needed that factor in the physiological needs and responses of the animals in order to maximize well-being of the animals and minimize heat stress. Deep body temperature (DBT) has been shown in the literature to be a strong indicator of heat stress, therefore studies are needed that help us gain a deeper understanding of the relationship between this variable and environmental conditions. The aim of this study was to identify the order of the dynamic response of poultry DBT to large step changes in ambient temperature (AT). Temperature steps had to be big enough to take the chickens out of their homeothermic zone. A total of 46 DBT/AT data sets with 23 upward AT steps and 23 downward AT steps were obtained using a biotelemetry system, and involving three chickens. DBT responses of individual chickens to step changes in AT were found to have a 0.88 average Pearson correlation suggesting consistency in chickens' responses to the same stimuli (p<0.0005). The data indicated that DBT responses to AT followed a first order behavior in most cases with an average time constant of 1.6 h, and the curve fitting method was used to validate this observation. There was a 0.88 average correlation between DBT model and measured data (p<0.0005). These results indicate statistical significance in the data used and the model derived from it. In conclusion, it is reasonable to assume that the dynamic response of poultry DBT to large step changes in ambient temperature follows a first order model. Although further studies are needed to more fully derive the model, this study provided a stepping-stone towards gaining a better understanding of the relationship between DBT and AT, therefore taking us one step closer towards making optimal management and risk assessment decisions that are based on physiological needs of the chickens.

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Rethinking environment control strategy of confined animal housing systems through precision livestock farming

Cited by 121 publications

References 144 publications

How does the Behaviour of Dairy Cows during Recording Affect an Image Processing Based Calculation of the Udder Depth?

How does the Behaviour of Dairy Cows during Recording Affect an Image Processing Based Calculation of the Udder Depth?

The influence of microclimate on the development of foot pad dermatitis in broilers

First order dynamics approaching of broiler chicken deep body temperature response to step changes in ambient temperature

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