Image analysis for assessing broiler breeder behavior response to thermal environment

Abstract

ABSTRACT:The research proposes a methodology for assessing broiler breeder response to changes in rearing thermal environment. The continuous video recording of a flock analyzed may offer compelling evidences of thermal comfort, as well as other indications of welfare. An algorithm for classifying specific broiler breeder behavior was developed. Videos were recorded over three boxes where 30 breeders were reared. The boxes were mounted inside an environmental chamber were ambient temperature varied from cold to hot. Digital images were processed based on the number of pixels, according to their light intensity variation and binary contrast allowing a sequence of behaviors related to welfare. The system used the default of x, y coordinates, where x represents the horizontal distance from the top left of the work area to the point P, and y is the vertical distance. The video images were observed, and a grid was developed for identifying the area the birds stayed and the time they spent at that place. The sequence was analyzed frame by frame confronting the data with specific adopted thermal neutral rearing standards. The grid mask overlapped the real bird image. The resulting image allows the visualization of clusters, as birds in flock behave in certain patterns. An algorithm indicating the breeder response to thermal environment was developed.KEYWORDS: animal welfare, image processing, clusters analysis. ANÁLISE DE IMAGEM PARA A AVALIAÇÃO DE FRANGOS DE CORTE DE RESPOSTA AO COMPORTAMENTO CRIADOR AMBIENTE TÉRMICORESUMO: Esta pesquisa propõe uma metodologia para avaliação da resposta de matrizes pesadas a mudanças no ambiente térmico de criação. A gravação contínua em vídeo de um grupo de aves, quando analisada, pode oferecer evidências interessantes de conforto térmico, bem como outras indicações de bem-estar. Um algoritmo foi desenvolvido para classificar o comportamento de matrizes de frangos de corte. Vídeos foram registrados sobre três boxes onde 30 matrizes foram alojadas. Os boxes foram montados dentro de uma câmara climática onde a temperatura ambiente variou de frio para quente. As imagens digitais foram processadas com base no número de pixels, de acordo com sua variação da intensidade de luz do contraste binário, permitindo uma sequência de comportamentos relacionados com o bem-estar. O sistema utilizou o padrão de coordenadas x, y, em que x representa a distância horizontal a partir da esquerda superior da área de trabalho para o ponto P, e y é a distância vertical. As imagens de vídeo foram observadas e uma grade foi desenvolvida para identificar a área ocupada pelas aves e o tempo que elas ocupavam o lugar. A sequência foi analisada quadro a quadro, confrontando os dados com as normas específicas adoptadas para criação dentro da região termoneutra. A máscara quadriculada foi sobreposta à imagem real da ave. A imagem resultante permite a visualização de aglomerações, de como o bando de aves se comporta sob determinado padrão. Um algoritmo indicando a resposta da matriz ao ambiente térmico foi desenvolv...

Identification of acoustic parameters for broiler welfare estimate

“…On the other hand, welfare indicators should be studied together with a set of measurements, so that it can appropriately reflect the animal state (SPINKA, 2012). Animal welfare can be estimated with objective indicators, such as measure of glucocorticoids (RAULT, 2012); subjective indicators can also be used, such as aggressive behavior, presence of lesions, and analysis of vocalization and images (BROOM & FRASER, 2007;BAKER et al, 2012;NÄÄS et al, 2012).…”

“…Mathematical models have been used to estimate animal welfare using pattern recognition (NÄÄS et al, 2008;SHAO & XIN, 2008;DAWKINS et al, 2009;NÄÄS et al, 2012). Among the natural patterns expressed by animals, vocalization is one of the most important means of information transmission, so the acoustic monitoring can provide an efficient management tool to improve animal health and welfare (JAHNS, 2008).…”

Image monitoring on the behavior study of three genetic groups of confined goats

“…Many studies on the behavior of production animals using video images (mainly cattle, birds and pigs) are found in the national or international literature (Provolo and Riva, 2009;Porto et al, 2011;Souza et al, 2011;Nääs et al, 2012;Costa et al, 2013), but not for Brazilian native goats, which reinforces the need for studies using this approach on these animals. In this sense, considering the lack of studies on the behavior of confined native goats and the emergence of image monitoring as an important tool to assess animal behavior, this study aimed at evaluating the performance of Azul, Graúna and Moxotó goats kept in confinement by image monitoring.…”