TailBiteAdvice - Project Tasks
The TailBiteAdvice project has 4 main research tasks: (click on the task below to read more)
- To optimise and integrate included remote detection algorithms
- To investigate the relationship between included parameters and risk factors of tail biting
- To demonstrate the developed decision support tool in a commercially relevant environment
- To discuss and create opportunities, barriers and guidelines for implementing the decision support tool.
To optimise and integrate included remote detection algorithms
Lead researchers: Prof Tomas Norton, Dr Dong Liu
Lead institution: KU Leuven, Belgium
Algorithms have already been developed and lab validated separately, for all parameters included in the decision support tool. This includes:
- remote detection algorithms for tail biting behaviour
- object engagement
- aggression
- feeding behaviour
- drinking behaviour.
The project will focus on integrating our prior knowledge into an end-to-end computer vision algorithm, fusing multi-sensor sources, and further improving and validating the transferability across new environments. Finally, the associated algorithms will be combined into one data-driven decision support tool. The success of this tool will provide an automatic quantifying approach to the tail biting behaviour and associated risk factors.
To investigate the relationship between included parameters and risk factors of tail biting to develop intervention strategies
Lead researchers: Prof Lene J. Pedersen, Dr Mona L. V. Larsen, Dr Guilherme A. Franchi
Lead institution: Aarhus University, Denmark
Different risk factors for tail biting will be experimentally induced or monitored for occurrence using an experimental herd. Pigs will be kept with intact tails to ensure that tail biting behaviour will occur in the majority of pens. The optimised algorithms will be implemented offline to deliver outputs on each parameter during the growing period of finishers. The most promising candidate(s) of parameters to identify the presence of each risk factor will be identified and used to develop the system proposed intervention strategies. Risk factors induced will include:
- inadequate environmental enrichment
- competition for resources, and diet,
The risk factors, thermal discomfort and air quality, health status and cleanliness will be monitored and used as observational data.
To demonstrate the developed decision support to in a commercially relevant environment
Lead researchers: Dr Keelin O’Driscoll, Dr Laura Boyle
Lead institution: Teagasc, Ireland
The development of the decision support tool will be completed by a demonstration at an experimental herd using both tail-docked and undocked pigs. The decision support tool will suggest interventions when tail biting behaviour is observed. Suggested interventions will be followed and the effect on the performance of tail biting behaviour will be investigated. Recordings of carcass quality at the abattoir will also be conducted as well as an economic analysis of the implementation of the developed system.
To discuss and create opportunities, barriers and guidelines for implementing the decision support tool.
Lead researchers: Dr Keelin O’Driscoll, Dr Laura Boyle
Lead institution: Teagasc, Ireland
Other involved institutions: KU Leuven, Belgium; Aarhus University, Denmark
The project will create a multi-actor stakeholder group for discussing opportunities, barriers and guidelines for implementing the decision support tool and any other monitoring tools that are available, such as TailCam®, which can automatically recognise tail lesions and tail length at the abattoir. Discussion with developers of TailCam® revealed that commercial implementation is delayed because of cultural and political barriers in the production chain.This suggests the importance of defining value propositions for stakeholders and reaching consensus on data sharing during technology development. Actors that will be invited to these discussions include:
- the technology provider (DMRI),
- farmers
- veterinarians
- animal welfare inspectors
- animal welfare organisations
- consumer representatives
- abattoir representatives
- political actors