Validation of an Ultra-Wideband Tracking System for Recording Individual Levels of Activity in Broilers

Individual data on activity of broilers is valuable, as activity may serve as a proxy for multiple health, welfare and performance indicators. However, broilers are often kept in large groups, which makes it difficult to identify and monitor them individually. Sensor technologies might offer solutions. Here, an ultra-wideband (UWB) tracking system was implemented with the goal of validating this system for individual tracking of activity of group-housed broilers. The implemented approaches were (1) a comparison of distances moved as recorded by the UWB system and on video and (2) a study recording individual levels of activity of broilers and assessing group-level trends in activity over time; that could be compared to activity trends from literature. There was a moderately strong positive correlation between the UWB system and video tracking. Using the UWB system, we detected reductions in activity over time and we found that lightweight birds were on average more active than heavier birds. Both findings match with reports in literature. Overall, the UWB system appears well-suited for activity monitoring in broilers, when the settings are kept the same for all individuals. The longitudinal information on differences in activity can potentially be used as proxy for health, welfare and performance; but further research into individual patterns in activity is require

Assessing individual activity levels in two broiler lines using an ultra-wideband tracking system

Individual data on activity of broilers is valuable for breeding programmes, as activity may serve as proxy for multiple health, welfare and performance indicators. However, in current husbandry systems, broilers are often kept in large groups, which makes it difficult to identify and monitor them at the individual level. Sensor technologies, such as ultra-wideband (UWB) tracking systems, might offer solutions. This paper investigated the recorded distances of an UWB tracking system that was applied to broilers, as a first step in assessing the potential of an UWB tracking system for studying individual levels of activity in broilers housed in groups. To this end, the distances moved as recorded by the UWB system were compared to distances recorded on video, using Kinovea video tracking software. There was a moderately strong positive correlation between the output of the UWB system and video tracking, although some under- and over- estimations were observed. Even though the recorded distances from the UWB system may not completely match the true distances moved, the UWB system appears to be well-suited for studying differences in activity between individual broilers when measured with the same system settings.</p

Validation of an Ultra-Wideband Tracking System for Recording Individual Levels of Activity in Broilers

Individual data on activity of broilers is valuable, as activity may serve as a proxy for multiple health, welfare and performance indicators. However, broilers are often kept in large groups, which makes it difficult to identify and monitor them individually. Sensor technologies might offer solutions. Here, an ultra-wideband (UWB) tracking system was implemented with the goal of validating this system for individual tracking of activity of group-housed broilers. The implemented approaches were (1) a comparison of distances moved as recorded by the UWB system and on video and (2) a study recording individual levels of activity of broilers and assessing group-level trends in activity over time; that could be compared to activity trends from literature. There was a moderately strong positive correlation between the UWB system and video tracking. Using the UWB system, we detected reductions in activity over time and we found that lightweight birds were on average more active than heavier birds. Both findings match with reports in literature. Overall, the UWB system appears well-suited for activity monitoring in broilers, when the settings are kept the same for all individuals. The longitudinal information on differences in activity can potentially be used as proxy for health, welfare and performance; but further research into individual patterns in activity is require

Assessing individual activity levels in two broiler lines using an ultra-wideband tracking system

Individual data on activity of broilers is valuable for breeding programmes, as activity may serve as proxy for multiple health, welfare and performance indicators. However, in current husbandry systems, broilers are often kept in large groups, which makes it difficult to identify and monitor them at the individual level. Sensor technologies, such as ultra-wideband (UWB) tracking systems, might offer solutions. This paper investigated the recorded distances of an UWB tracking system that was applied to broilers, as a first step in assessing the potential of an UWB tracking system for studying individual levels of activity in broilers housed in groups. To this end, the distances moved as recorded by the UWB system were compared to distances recorded on video, using Kinovea video tracking software. There was a moderately strong positive correlation between the output of the UWB system and video tracking, although some under- and over- estimations were observed. Even though the recorded distances from the UWB system may not completely match the true distances moved, the UWB system appears to be well-suited for studying differences in activity between individual broilers when measured with the same system settings.</p

Passive radio frequency identification and video tracking for the determination of location and movement of broilers

Phenotypes on individual animals are required for breeding programs to be able to select for traits. However, phenotyping individual animals can be difficult and time-consuming, especially for traits related to health, welfare, and performance. Individual broiler behavior could serve as a proxy for these traits when recorded automatically and reliably on many animals. Sensors could record individual broiler behavior, yet different sensors can differ in their assessment. In this study a comparison was made between a passive radio frequency identification (RFID) system (grid of antennas underneath the pen) and video tracking for the determination of location and movement of 3 color-marked broilers at d 18. Furthermore, a systems comparison of derived behavioral metrics such as space usage, locomotion activity and apparent feeding and drinking behavior was made. Color-marked broilers simplified the computer vision task for YOLOv5 to detect, track, and identify the animals. Animal locations derived from the RFID-system and based on video were largely in agreement. Most location differences (77.5%) were within the mean radius of the antennas’ enclosing circle (≤128 px, 28.15 cm), and 95.3% of the differences were within a one antenna difference (≤256 px, 56.30 cm). Animal movement was not always registered by the RFID-system whereas video was sensitive to detection noise and the animal's behavior (e.g., pecking). The method used to determine location and the systems’ sensitivities to movement led to differences in behavioral metrics. Behavioral metrics derived from video are likely more accurate than RFID-system derived behavioral metrics. However, at present, only the RFID-system can provide individual identification for non-color marked broilers. A combination of verifiable and detailed video with the unique identification of RFID could make it possible to identify, describe, and quantify a wide range of individual broiler behaviors

Assessing individual activity levels in two broiler lines using an ultra-wideband tracking system

Individual data on activity of broilers is valuable for breeding programmes, as activity may serve as proxy for multiple health, welfare and performance indicators. However, in current husbandry systems, broilers are often kept in large groups, which makes it difficult to identify and monitor them at the individual level. Sensor technologies, such as ultra-wideband (UWB) tracking systems, might offer solutions. This paper investigated the recorded distances of an UWB tracking system that was applied to broilers, as a first step in assessing the potential of an UWB tracking system for studying individual levels of activity in broilers housed in groups. To this end, the distances moved as recorded by the UWB system were compared to distances recorded on video, using Kinovea video tracking software. There was a moderately strong positive correlation between the output of the UWB system and video tracking, although some under- and over- estimations were observed. Even though the recorded distances from the UWB system may not completely match the true distances moved, the UWB system appears to be well-suited for studying differences in activity between individual broilers when measured with the same system settings