PHOTO: HANS PRINSEN
INNOVATION ▶▶▶
Automatic lameness detection using smart broiler farming
BY SAMANEH AZARPAJOUH T
o prevent financial losses and welfare problems, ear- ly and accurate lameness detection and treatment is essential. The most common method to evaluate lameness is visual scoring which is easy to do and
cheap to implement but has disadvantages, such as the time and labour involved, plus it is prone to observer error due to the limitations of human visual perception. Therefore, auto- mated lameness detection methods that do not rely on the human visual capacity and which are not subjective may offer a more accurate method of lameness detection.
Lameness in broilers Lameness is defined as a deviation from the normal gait caused by lesions, disease and other factors, such as genet- ics, nutrition, housing systems and management practices. However, the term lameness is used for a broad range of conditions, including foot and leg problems, conformational deficiencies, lameness, unsoundness, injuries and abscesses on the limbs. Lameness may be episodic and, because multi- ple joints may be affected, it can shift between legs. Due to its association with pain, discomfort, reduced mobility and reduced ability to cope with the environment, lameness is regarded as an indicator of poor welfare. Broiler lameness prevalence ranges from 14.1% to 57%. Direct lameness costs include increased workload, medical treatment, reduced productive and reproductive performance, higher culling rate and increased production costs. It is estimated that lameness costs the US poultry industry approximately US$ 150 million a year.
Smart broiler farming In modern livestock production systems, farmers need relia- ble and affordable technologies to assist them with daily management tasks which guarantee accurate and continuous individual animal monitoring. The application of engineering techniques in broiler farming to monitor, model and manage animal production aims to increase the farmer’s ability to maintain contact with individual animals as broiler
Lameness is a major production disease affecting broiler welfare and profitability. Although lameness is a prevalent condition in broiler production systems, its identification can be unreliable due to lack of individual animal observation for gait and posture abnormalities and standard evaluation criteria. Automatic lameness detection adds a valuable tool in tracking bird condition.
production intensifies, and to prevent health, welfare and management issues. Using smart broiler farming a large vol- ume of data can be collected in a short period of time which can be used improve the accuracy of lameness prediction.
Visual lameness evaluation Visual lameness scoring systems in broilers use a 5-scale scoring method in which score 0 = walks normally, score 1= detectable but unidentifiable gait abnormality,
The application of engineering techniques in broiler farming to monitor, model and manage animal production aims to increase the farmer’s ability to maintain contact with individual animals as broiler production intensifies.
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