An ICT-based real-time advisory tool to minimise tail biting in fattening pigs (TailBiteAdvice)

2021

This project aims to develop and demonstrate a data-driven decision support tool that will actively advise farmers on how to reduce tail biting occurrences based on mainly behaviour-based variables collected remotely during production.

This project aims to develop and demonstrate a data-driven decision support tool that will actively advise farmers on how to reduce tail biting occurrences based on mainly behaviour-based variables collected remotely during production. Through a multi-actor approach, the project will also seek opportunities to develop this into an EU-wide implementable decision support platform that connects across the pig chain by dealing with data sharing issues typically faced in the European pig chain. The developed decision support tool aims to remotely detect tail biting behaviour in real-time as well as other parameters including object engagement, pen climate, feeding and drinking behaviour, and aggression. When combining knowledge of tail biting occurrence and the development of the other included parameters, the tool will be able to provide the farmer with intervention suggestions to cease the tail biting behaviour. The project will exploit unique state-of-the-art in order “to hit the ground running”, as essential camera-based pig behaviour monitoring have already been proven at lab scale. These will be optimised, validated and integrated into a combined behaviour detection system during the project. At the same time, the project will investigate the relationship between the remotely detected parameters and experimentally induced risk factors for tail biting to create intervention strategies for the farmer. The project will finish with a demonstration of the developed tool in a commercially relevant environment wherein the integrated decision support system will run in real-time. The expected outcome of the final system is lower occurrence of tail biting behaviour.

Udfører/hovedansøger
Aarhus Universitet
Projektets samlede budget
DKK 2.000.016,00
Bevillingsstørrelse tildelt
DKK 1.800.000,00