Behavioral Monitoring Tool for Pig Farmers: Ear Tag Sensors, Machine Intelligence, and Technology Adoption Roadmap

Pandey, Santosh; Kong, Taejoon; Guo, Baoqing; Gauger, Phillip C.; Peters, David J.; Yoon, Kyoung-Jin

Behavioral Monitoring Tool for Pig Farmers: Ear Tag Sensors, Machine Intelligence, and Technology Adoption Roadmap

File

2021-PandeySantosh-BehavioralMonitoring.pdf (3.71 MB)

Date

2021-09-10

Authors

Pandey, Santosh

Kong, Taejoon

Guo, Baoqing

Gauger, Phillip C.

Peters, David J.

Yoon, Kyoung-Jin

Publisher

MDPI

Authors

Person

Pandey, Santosh

Organizational Units

Organizational Unit

Electrical and Computer Engineering

The Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECpE) contains two focuses. The focus on Electrical Engineering teaches students in the fields of control systems, electromagnetics and non-destructive evaluation, microelectronics, electric power & energy systems, and the like. The Computer Engineering focus teaches in the fields of software systems, embedded systems, networking, information security, computer architecture, etc.

History
The Department of Electrical Engineering was formed in 1909 from the division of the Department of Physics and Electrical Engineering. In 1985 its name changed to Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Engineering. In 1995 it became the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering.

Dates of Existence
1909-present

Historical Names

Department of Electrical Engineering (1909-1985)
Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Engineering (1985-1995)

Related Units

College of Engineering (parent college)
Department of Physics and Electrical Engineering (predecessor)

Organizational Unit

Veterinary Diagnostic and Production Animal Medicine

The mission of VDPAM is to educate current and future food animal veterinarians, population medicine scientists and stakeholders by increasing our understanding of issues that impact the health, productivity and well-being of food and fiber producing animals; developing innovative solutions for animal health and food safety; and providing the highest quality, most comprehensive clinical practice and diagnostic services. Our department is made up of highly trained specialists who span a wide range of veterinary disciplines and species interests. We have faculty of all ranks with expertise in diagnostics, medicine, surgery, pathology, microbiology, epidemiology, public health, and production medicine. Most have earned certification from specialty boards. Dozens of additional scientists and laboratory technicians support the research and service components of our department.

Organizational Unit

Sociology

Department

Electrical and Computer EngineeringVeterinary Diagnostic and Production Animal MedicineSociology

Abstract

Precision swine production can benefit from autonomous, noninvasive, and affordable devices that conduct frequent checks on the well-being status of pigs. Here, we present a remote monitoring tool for the objective measurement of some behavioral indicators that may help in assessing the health and welfare status—namely, posture, gait, vocalization, and external temperature. The multiparameter electronic sensor board is characterized by laboratory measurements and by animal tests. Relevant behavioral health indicators are discussed for implementing machine learning algorithms and decision support tools to detect animal lameness, lethargy, pain, injury, and distress. The roadmap for technology adoption is also discussed, along with challenges and the path forward. The presented technology can potentially lead to efficient management of farm animals, targeted focus on sick animals, medical cost savings, and less use of antibiotics.

Comments

This article is published as Pandey, Santosh, Upender Kalwa, Taejoon Kong, Baoqing Guo, Phillip C. Gauger, David J. Peters, and Kyoung-Jin Yoon. "Behavioral Monitoring Tool for Pig Farmers: Ear Tag Sensors, Machine Intelligence, and Technology Adoption Roadmap." Animals 11, no. 9 (2021): 2665. DOI: 10.3390/ani11092665. Copyright 2021 by the authors. Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0). Posted with permission.