Next-generation IoT tags and machine learning will all be deployed as part of new research seeking to deliver world class animal welfare and health in commercial piggies.
The partnership, worth $1.2 million, is between Food Agility CRC, Curtin University, Xsights Digital, Craig Mostyn & Co, Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, Western Australia, Pork Innovation WA and Beanstalk AgTech, and will investigate the value of information sharing across the supply chain.
Ashely Rootsey, Food Agility AI and Robotic Pillar Lead, said the three-year project is drawing on Western Australian pig industry experts, technology and supply chain systems.
“It’s hoped this research will provide pig producers with a tool to monitor animal health in real-time, allowing for earlier intervention to further enhance welfare, productivity and profitability,” he said.
It will also examine how the technology could be applied throughout the supply chain. While this research focuses on the pig industry, the technology could have potential for other animal production industries.
Ashely Rootsey, Food Agility AI and Robotic Pillar Lead
The project will utilise data from Xsights IoT Tags (XIoT), which is a cost-effective wafer that can be retrofitted to a button ear tag, to report temperature, movement and location of pigs in real time.
The research will unlock the value of this data, through correlating it with biological measure from pings in a commercial setting. It will then use machine learning to develop a model to predict both the health and welfare outcomes of pigs, alerting producers to pig health status in real time.
Also, the project will create a digital record of pigs’ history, in order to demonstrate animal welfare provenance to customers and consumers.
Dr Rob Wilson, Chair Pork Innovation WA, said industry research and development is evolving, and looking to technology over traditional solutions that enhance on-farm welfare.
The project represents a strong collaboration between a diverse range of organisations who each bring a unique set of skills. PIWA looks forward to supporting the project partners through access to experienced, on-farm research and project management personnel.
Dr Elizabeth Jackson from Curtin University added that the project is a testament to the pig industry’s appreciation of using technology to add value in its supply chain.
“I will be focusing on how good animal welfare practices are emerging as critical to consumers who pay top-dollar for high-quality livestock products,” she said.
“This project will explore how reliable information can be collected and analysed through tag technology to ensure pigs are managed in the best possible conditions and consumers know about this good news story.”
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Curtin University is a sponsor of Startup News.
