Browsing by Subject "Animal behaviour"

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    Adaption and assessment of a UHF-RFID system for livestock management
    (2018) Adrion, Felix; Gallmann, Eva
    A prerequisite for the implementation of concepts of precision livestock farming is data acquisition on the level of the individual animal, which is only possible on a large scale by applying electronic animal identification. Radio-frequency identification (RFID) systems in the ultra-high frequency range (UHF, 860 – 960 MHz) offer the possibility of simultaneous detection of transponders and a variably adjustable read range of more than 3 m. Until now, these systems were, however, only insufficiently adapted to the operating conditions in livestock farming. In collaboration with industry partners, passive UHF-RFID transponders for integration into ear tags for cattle and pigs and readers have been developed and tested. The objective of this thesis was the adaption and assessment of this UHF-RFID system for livestock farming. In particular, 1) the construction and test of a static test bench for UHF-RFID ear tags, 2) the development of a method of measuring the influence of ear tissue on the performance of UHF-RFID ear tags, and 3) the application and validation of the UHF-RFID system for monitoring of trough visits of growing-finishing pigs should be carried out. The experiments supported the selection and further development of UHF transponder ear tags and reader antennas for application in livestock farming. A suitable test method for UHF-RFID technology in the fields of research covered was established and applied for the first time. It repeatedly became clear during the experiments that the greatest challenge for the application of UHF transponders in ear tags is the reduction of the sensitivity against ear tissue. In addition to the monitoring of animal health with UHF-RFID, further research could be carried out regarding the positioning of animals for measurement of motion activity, the combination of transponders with sensors, for example, to measure body temperature, and the utilisation of the technology for implementation of the Internet of Things in food supply chains.
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    Vergleich zweier Mastschweinehaltungssysteme - Beurteilung der Tiergerechtheit
    (2004) Bea, Wolfgang; Jungbluth, Thomas
    Housing systems for fattening pigs nowadays have to meet a variety of demands concerning the social, political and productional situation. Especially systems, which allow the cost-saving use of existing buildings, an up-to-date production and meet at the same time the needs of the pigs as well as the environment. This shows interesting alternatives to conventional housing systems. The object of this work was a comparison between two housing systems for fattening pigs, concerning animal welfare. A conventional system (VSP), with forced ventilation, underfloor extraction and fully slatted floor, which was enhanced concerning the animal welfare through more space for each fattener and through building in an occupational technique. Compared to compartment VSP was a far more developed, alternative housing system (GK), which stands out through separated climatic areas, natural ventilation and kennels. The conception of the alternative system GK was based on the conversion of existing housing systems with forced ventilation. Both methods were installed parallel. Both housing systems were identical concerning the animals origins, the animal-care, the feeding, the occupational possibilities, the slurry management and the room measurements. Both studies were carried out close to practical scale. Examined were aspects of the lying behaviour, the belly nosing, the playing and explora-tional behaviour, the influences on the tegument, the health, the soiling of the fatteners and pen floors and the performance of the fatteners. The lying behaviour of the animals, concerning the total period of lying was in tendency shorter in compartment GK, than in compartment VSP. The place of rest changed with in-creasing temperature through the different climatic areas from inside the kennels to the other functional areas of the pen. Due to the forced ventilation in compartment VSP, no change of resting place was possible. The lying position changed with increasing inside temperature in compartment GK, not so in compartment VSP. No relation at all could be detected between indoor gas concentrations and the resting position or position of the snout inside or outside the kennels. The Belly Nosing, which is judged as a substitute for explorational behaviour, could be observed significantly more often and for longer periods of time in compartment VSP, than in compartment GK. Playing behaviour could be observed in both compartments from 30 - 35 kg and 70 - 75 kg live weight. Fatteners with around 110 kg live weight showed playing behaviour only in compartment GK. Statistically, frequency and duration of the playing behaviour could not be distinguished in both compartments. The exploration at the social partners did occur extremely less frequent and less long in com-partment GK, than in compartment VSP. This shows that in the well structured pens of com-partment GK, the fattening pigs normal behaviour concerning exploration is far more frequent. The occupation technique in both housing systems were attractive to the animals throughout the fattening period, but wasn´t frequented as often in compartment GK, than in compartment VSP. The duration of explorational actions could statistically not be distinguished. The exploration at the pen equipment seemed to be equalled with the exploration at the occupation technique. Under the aspect of health cough and medication were examined. Any statistical differences between the two housing systems could not be found. This means, that also in free ventilated systems, healthy animals can be kept. The animals gained with over 800 g per day a very high performance in both housing systems. The tendency to a better performance could be detected in compartment GK. The examination of both housing systems showed in aspects of the lying-behaviour, the Belly Nosing, the playing and explorational behaviour, slight advantages in the compartment GK due to separate climatic areas and the structured pens concerning a realization of animal friendly solutions, in comparison with compartment VSP with fully slatted floor and forced ventilation. The damages occurred at the undocked tails of the animals, as well as the heavy soiling of the penfloors and the fatteners themselves in compartment GK, show the necessity to better the dimensions and the structure of the pens. In conclusion it can be established, that the alternative housing system GK with natural ventilation, separated climatic areas and kennels seems to be very good and suitable under the given, very positive circumstances of the examination to comply with the requests of animal welfare. Nevertheless were the results of compartment VSP concerning the examined parameters under the given, very good experimental conditions, better than expected.