A feeding station that is equipped with RFID tech- nology to track the pigs’ individ- ual feed intake and weights.


fort based on pigs’ resting behavioural patterns such as spatial distribution of pigs within a pen by assessing huddling behav- iour. Cameras have also contributed to assessment of thermal comfort by extracting ear base temperature automatically from top view thermal images in pigs, and they allowed the tym- panic region to be identified as the best area for temperature monitoring when using an infrared thermometer and the ear and loin region when using temperature sensors. Moreover, cameras can be used as integrated parts of im- age-analysis procedure in interactive software packages to de- cide the need for heating or cooling a pig barn. Lame and sound pigs can also be distinguished by video recording and tracking the elevation of the neck region during walking and changes in the ratio of step to stride length. This method can accurately identify up to 74% of the pigs subsequently devel- oping lameness. Three-dimensional machine vision systems can be used to automatically detect tail posture and provide early warning of tail biting on farm. Digital images can also help to precisely identify biter and bitten pigs during ear-biting outbreaks. An- other on-farm application of cameras is to detect aggressive behaviour by measuring the speed and the distance between pigs to classify knocking and chasing behaviour. The RFID systems are already routinely being used in pig farms to individually identify and track pigs. Other applica- tions of RFID systems include recording individual pigs’ feed- ing patterns and drinking behaviour in a group housing con- text, and they could support long-time continuous health and behaviour monitoring of pigs in the near future.


Emerging technologies in the swine industry Emerging technologies available for use in the swine industry include augmented reality, artificial intelligence, three-di- mensional (3D) printing and the Internet of Things (IoT). The applications for emerging technologies in the swine industry are summarised in Table 1. The term “augmented reality” is associated with technologies characterised by the following features:


• They combine physical and virtual objects over the real envi- ronment. • They interact in real time. • They align physical and virtual objects with each other. Augmented reality allows the overlaying of different virtual elements generated by a computer over the real world, giv- ing information about the physical elements that human senses could not provide. Artificial intelligence is described as human intelligence sim- ulation in machines that exhibit traits associated with the hu- man mind such as learning and problem solving. It aims to understand and design systems displaying intelligence prop- erties such as the ability to learn, to derive knowledge from data, to rationalise and to take actions to achieve specific goals. Big data combined with artificial intelligence algo- rithms can be transformed into useful information to improve decision-making on pig farms. Another emerging technology is 3D printing. It is defined as the process of making a physical object from a 3D digital model by laying down thin material layers in succession. It is able to create replications, particularly of small parts, to save time and resources and to reduce costs by enabling distribut- ed manufacturing of substitutes for both specialty equip- ment and conventional mass-manufactured products. Finally, the IoT is a new paradigm in the ability of connected devices through high-speed internet to sense, gather and share data so that it can be processed and used to fulfil com- mon goals. In conclusion, smart farming increases the farmer’s ability to keep contact with individual animals as livestock production intensifies. Using smart farming, a large amount of data can be collected in short periods of time, which can improve swine health and welfare management and monitoring.


* Author Azarpajouh was attached to Iowa State University, USA; author Calderón Díaz is attached to Teagasc, Ireland; the others are attached to Georgia Southern University, USA.


▶ PIG PROGRESS | Volume 37, No. 5/6, 2021 31


PHOTO: VAN ASSENDELFT FOTOGRAFIE


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