Location: Genetics and Animal Breeding
Project Number: 3040-31000-106-006-N
Project Type: Non-Funded Cooperative Agreement
Start Date: May 15, 2024
End Date: Apr 14, 2029
Objective:
The objective of this Agreement is to use electronic monitoring devices to study pig behavior in a commercial-style finishing barn and improve our understanding of how genetic and environmental parameters influence behavior and pig well-being.
Approach:
Both COOPERATOR and ARS desire to develop methods necessary to implement precision livestock farming. To achieve this goal, electronic devices need to be calibrated and validated and then procedures need to be created to understand how these measures relate to swine production efficiency. The installed electronic monitoring devices (monitoring feed and water stations with RFID and video technologies) will record an animal’s visits to the feeder and waterer in 6 pens capable of housing 40 pigs each. Use of these devices will be continued by placing new pigs into the barn at approximately 4-month intervals. After animal placement, periodic well-being assessments will be conducted, and weights collected by ARS. Data will be shared among collaborators. The COOPERATOR will calibrate devices and verify the utility of data collected, and ARS will study the impact of genetics on animal behavior phenotypes collected by these devices.