PigWise

A broad approach will be undertaken combining an innovative individual online-monitoring system based on RFID with HF transponders, camera vision technology and software.
Accurate advanced computer-aided analysis of individual animals data enables to treat each animal as a production unit (instead of the pen or the herd), define animal based threshold values and hence develop early warning systems for potential drops in performance or potential health and consequently performance and welfare problems. For example, a pig displaying a reduced number and duration of feed visits, or even a lack of visits or too great pauses between visits, will be timely signalled and the pig farmer can intervention quickly. Also, a sudden change in activity rate may be caused by an arising lameness problem or problems with agonistic behaviours like tail biting, alerting the farmer to intervene and separate the animals that need special attention. This would mean that negative influences on animal health or economic losses can be prevented.