Digital surface area assessment of broiler chickens

Abstract

Surface area (SA) of poultry is an important parameter for heat and mass transfer calculations. Optical approaches, such as the moiré technique (MT), are non-destructive, result in accuracy and speed gains, and preserve the object integrity. The objective of this research was to develop and validate a new protocol for estimating the surface area (SA) of broiler chickens based on the MT. Sixty-six Ross breed broiler chickens (twenty-seven male, thirty-nine female, ages spanning all growth phases) were used in this study. The dimensions (length, width and height) and body mass of randomly selected broiler chickens were evaluated in the laboratory. Chickens were illuminated by a light source, and grids were projected onto the chickens to allow their shape to be determined and recorded. Next, the skin and feathers of the chickens were removed to allow SA to be determined by conventional means. These measurements were then used for calibration and validation. The MT for image analysis was a reliable means of evaluating the three-dimensional shape and SA of broiler chickens. This technique, which is neither invasive nor destructive, is a good alternative to the conventional destructive methods.KEYWORDS: image analysis, moiré technique, poultry. ESTIMATIVA DIGITAL DA ÁREA SUPERFICIAL DE FRANGOS DE CORTE RESUMO:A área superficial (AS) de aves é um importante parâmetro nos cálculos de transferência de calor e massa. Aproximações ópticas, tal como a técnica de moiré (MT), são não destrutivas, o que resulta em ganhos de precisão e velocidade, e preservam a integridade do objeto. O objetivo desta pesquisa foi desenvolver e validar um novo protocolo para estimativa da AS de frangos de corte com base na MT. Sessenta e seis frangos da linhagem Ross (vinte e sete machos e trinta e nove fêmeas, com idades abrangendo toda a fase de criação) foram usados neste estudo. As dimensões (comprimento, largura e altura) e a massa corporal dos frangos de corte, aleatoriamente selecionados, foram avaliadas em laboratório. As aves foram iluminadas por uma fonte de luz, e grades foram projetadas sobre as aves para permitir que as suas formas fossem determinadas e gravadas. Em seguida, a pele e as penas das aves foram removidas para permitir que a AS fosse determinada da maneira convencional. Estas medições foram usadas para a calibração e a validação. A MT para análise de imagens foi confiável para avaliar a forma tridimensional e a AS de frangos de corte. Esta técnica, não invasiva e não destrutiva, é uma boa alternativa em relação aos métodos destrutivos convencionais.

Alternative Light Technology Effect on Productive Performance, Carcass Characteristics and Blood Parameters of Broiler Chickens

“…Artificial lighting plays an important role in poultry farms for the bird to reach the best consumption of feed and water, which improves economic feasibility (Mendes et al, 2010). The increasing demand for animal protein that led to power consumption increased which higher production costs (Yanagi, et al, 2011;Pereira et al, 2012), forcing researchers to find light sources with less energy consumption.…”

Image analysis for assessing broiler breeder behavior response to thermal environment

“…Computerized tracking of animals has been used for behavioral studies (PEREIRA et al, 2007b;BUIJS et al, 2011), to assess animal welfare (BUIJS et al, 2010), and to estimate their body characteristics (MCCLURE et al, 2003;YANAGI et al, 2011). The fundamentals of the system are that animals react to their environment both spatially and temporally, facilitating quantitative studies on how patterns of normal and odd behavior are structured.…”