Location: Poultry Research
Project Number: 6064-32630-010-009-A
Project Type: Cooperative Agreement
Start Date: Jul 1, 2026
End Date: Jun 30, 2028
Objective:
1. Quantify energy and water use, thermal conditions, and system performance in commercial broiler houses, and validate on-farm environmental data for analytics tool development.
2. Apply machine learning and digital analytics methods to characterize broiler behavioral responses to feeding and thermal environments.
3. Enhance reproductive efficiency in broiler breeders by using precision sensing systems to evaluate hen production dynamics, assess thermal and feeding effects on rooster fertility, and optimize egg storage conditions to improve hatchability.
Approach:
Using a combination of computational tools and conventional biological experiments, the objectives will be addressed as follows:
Objective 1: Monitor energy and water utilization, thermal conditions, and system operations on a commercial broiler farm using custom sensor systems. Conduct large scale statistical analyses of thermal data and evaluate field deployable sensor calibration methods to verify farm level data quality for analytics tool development.
Objective 2: Evaluate animal behaviors and activity associated with thermal and feeding environments using machine learning /vision and analytics tools coupled with production metrics.
Objective 3: Use digital analytics and precision sensing systems to improve production efficiency in broiler breeder hens and roosters. Continue using a validated photoelectric sensor system to assess hen production, egg formation timing, and egg lay timing. Determine how thermal conditions and feeding management affect male fertility, and evaluate egg storage conditions to enhance hatchability.