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Collaborative project: An innovative call-feeding system for an animal- and production-friendly keeping of group housed sows. – Subproject 2
Project
Project code: 2813300207
Contract period: 01.03.2008
- 31.05.2011
Budget: 39,937 Euro
Purpose of research: Experimental development
Fully automatic call-feeding for group-housed pregnant sows was developed in the project as an extension of an electronic feeder and was tested with a dynamic group of 85 animals. The modular system communicates with an INTEC MAC feeder via the ISOagriNET protocol to train and call sows individually. Training to the acoustic call is done without human supervision and considers individual behaviours of the animals. Trained animals visit the feeder only after having been called. As a result, aggressions in front of the feeder are prevented. Consequently, the animals displayed significantly less injuries at head and shoulder compared to standard electronic feeding. In addition to a better animal health and welfare the farmer benefits by behavioural data that allow concluding on the state of the health of a sow. Moreover, single animals can easily be called to the feeding station, e.g. for medical inspection or vaccination.
Section overview
Subjects
- Agricultural Technology Animal Production
- Animal nutrition
