PHL to develop swine monitoring project

The Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCAARRD) is developing a computer-aided remote expert (CARE) system model to monitor animals even away from the farm.

The project integrates animal and computer sciences to help the swine industry— the second-largest contributor in the Philippines's agricultural GDP— achieve significant improvement in productivity,” announced PCAARRD, a sectoral council under the Department of Science and Technology (DOST).

Using RFID system, the CARE model can be used for early detection of stress-related responses such as coughing, eating, drinking, standing, lying and other regular activities of the animals.The system will also monitor the defecation habits of the animals, including bodyweight, and body condition through a Web-based video recording system.

The project will improve swine farm-production productivity and efficiency by minimizing the entry of personnel to the farm, which will reduce the risks of disease transfer, and by providing early-warning system that allows real-time identification and monitoring of animals which show signs of behavioral stress.

The surveillance camera linked to a computer software determines and records duration and frequency of specific animal behavioral patterns that are associated with swine reproductive and production performances, to provide reliable inputs to decision-making in the farm, PCAARRD also said.

These technological applications shall help achieve a more sophisticated, accurate and effective farm management toward an improved and productive Philippine swine industry.

Last year a livestock monitoring system that provides insight to feeding habits of animals was developed by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA).