With algorithms to more peace in the pigsty

EU encourages collaboration of life scientists and engineers

In the EU "BioBusiness" project, life scientists and engineers are working together to improve the housing conditions of farm animals. The EU is funding the project under the Marie Curie Actions - Networks for Initial Training (ITN) program for a total of 2,4 million. The Institute for Animal Hygiene, Animal Welfare and Livestock Ethology of the University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover (TiHo) receives 210.000 Euro from the association to develop an interdisciplinary research network with nine university and scientific partners.

In the network, veterinarians, animal scientists and engineers should learn from each other. "Your scientific education should be expanded and go beyond the boundaries of specialist discipline," explains Professor Dr. med. Jörg Hartung, director of the Institute for Animal Hygiene, Animal Welfare and Livestock Ethology, "by working on joint research projects, the understanding of the working methods of others should be increased." The core of the network is the education of young scientists. During her doctoral studies, eleven life scientists and engineers will be supported. They are assigned to one of the research centers involved, but also make targeted visits to other research sites within the network. The research results are discussed between scientists and industrial partners and evaluated products with regard to their market opportunities.

Professor Hartung will work at the TiHo together with his partners on the development of an early warning system for aggression in pigs. In the EU, an estimated five percent of farm pigs suffer from aggressive behavior from their peers. The scientists want to develop a system that tells the farmer directly when aggressive action is about to take place, how often which animals are involved and which animal is responsible for the action. For this purpose, the pigs are continuously monitored by cameras and their behavioral patterns are described using mathematical algorithms. The analysis and sensor system should not only provide information about the causes of aggressiveness, but also help to develop avoidance strategies. Professor Hartung explains: "We want to know whether there is a connection between aggressive behavior and the housing conditions and certain environmental influences. With the help of the developed analysis and sensor techniques, we want to increase the quality of life of the animals in the long term."

Visit the website for more information www.bio-business.eu

Source: Hanover [TiHo]