Instant Insights: Sensor technologies in livestock monitoring

by Dr Mark Trotter, Derek Bailey, Jamie Barwick, Jaime Manning, Caitlin Evans, Dr Diogo Costa, Elle Fogarty, Anita Chang, Dr Dana L. M. Campbell, Dr Marisa A. Erasmus, Dr Michael Iwersen, Dr Marc Drillich, Prof Henk Hogeveen, Dr Mariska van der Voort, Dr Maciej Oczak, Dr Kristina Maschat, Dr Johannes Baumgartner

2022 · Burleigh Dodds Science Publishing

This collection features five peer-reviewed literature reviews on sensor technologies in livestock monitoring. The first chapter considers the development of on-animal sensors as a means of monitoring an array of livestock species, as well as the challenges which arise with their deployment in commercial livestock management operations. The second chapter reviews the utilisation of wearable technologies to monitor the welfare of poultry, including accelerometers. The chapter also considers the effects of these sensors on bird welfare and behaviour. The third chapter provides a detailed overview of recent advances in techniques for monitoring dairy cow health and welfare. The chapter reviews the development of diagnostic tools and sensor technologies which enable automated, continuous monitoring of livestock. The fourth chapter reviews the potential of precision livestock farming (PLF) technology to monitor dairy cattle welfare in line with the Five Domains framework. The chapter explores how PLF can positively impact each of the five domains: nutrition, environment, health, behaviour and mental state. The final chapter reviews recent advances in technologies for monitoring key indicators of pig welfare by considering good feeding, good housing, good health and appropriate behaviour.

Instant Insights: Ensuring the welfare of laying hens

by Dr Victoria Sandilands, Dr Dana L. M. Campbell, Sarah L. Lambton, Isabelle Ruhnke, Claire A. Weeks, Dr Dorothy McKeegan, Dr Christina Rufener, Dr Michael J. Toscano, Dr Heng-Wei Cheng, Dr Sha Jiang

2023 · Burleigh Dodds Science Publishing

This collection features five peer-reviewed reviews on ensuring the welfare of laying hens. The first chapter highlights the key welfare issues in poultry housing and management, focussing on the use of conventional cages to house laying hens. The chapter then explores the emergence of enriched cages and cage-free housing, as well as the benefits and risks of each system on bird health and welfare. The second chapter reviews the range of welfare issues affecting free range laying hens. The chapter also highlights the need to improve current understanding of how laying hens behave in free range systems to be able to adequately meet their health and welfare needs. The third chapter discusses the use of beak trimming methods, as well as the welfare concerns that arise as a result of their use. The chapter highlights alternative strategies to reduce the need for these practices which are known to incur acute pain. The fourth chapter reviews the impact of housing and management systems on the skeletal and cognitive development of laying hens. It discusses how nutrition and housing can be optimised to reduce the occurrence of bone health issues. The final chapter reviews current research on the genetics of behavioural traits in poultry, focussing on how breeding can be optimised to reduce aggressive behaviour in laying hens.

One-Welfare approach to assessing egg quality

by Professor Angela Trocino, Dr Francesca Leone, Dr Valentina Ferrante

2025 · Burleigh Dodds Science Publishing

Once basic requirements are met, consumers’ perception of product quality is directed to animal welfare. Both in and beyond Europe, animal farming systems for egg production and laying hens are transitioning from indoor cage to cage-free systems (often still based on high stocking densities and selected genotypes) as well as alternative systems, such as organic and free-range using resilient genotypes and extensive conditions. Based on a One-Welfare approach, this chapter addresses the impacts and research challenges of this transition, ongoing welfare concerns for animals and impacts on egg quality.