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Measuring the drinking behaviour of individual pigs housed in group using radio frequency identification (RFID)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 May 2015

J. Maselyne ,
I. Adriaens ,
T. Huybrechts ,
B. De Ketelaere ,
S. Millet ,
J. Vangeyte ,
A. Van Nuffel  and
W. Saeys
J. Maselyne
Affiliation:
KU Leuven Department of Biosystems, MeBioS, Kasteelpark Arenberg 30, 3001 Leuven, Belgium Technology and Food Science Unit – Agricultural Engineering, Institute for Agricultural and Fisheries Research (ILVO), Burg. van Gansberghelaan 115 bus 1, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium
I. Adriaens
Affiliation:
KU Leuven Department of Biosystems, MeBioS, Kasteelpark Arenberg 30, 3001 Leuven, Belgium
T. Huybrechts
Affiliation:
KU Leuven Department of Biosystems, MeBioS, Kasteelpark Arenberg 30, 3001 Leuven, Belgium
B. De Ketelaere
Affiliation:
KU Leuven Department of Biosystems, MeBioS, Kasteelpark Arenberg 30, 3001 Leuven, Belgium
S. Millet
Affiliation:
Animal Sciences Unit, Institute for Agricultural and Fisheries Research (ILVO), Scheldeweg 68, 9090 Melle, Belgium
J. Vangeyte
Affiliation:
Technology and Food Science Unit – Agricultural Engineering, Institute for Agricultural and Fisheries Research (ILVO), Burg. van Gansberghelaan 115 bus 1, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium
A. Van Nuffel
Affiliation:
Technology and Food Science Unit – Agricultural Engineering, Institute for Agricultural and Fisheries Research (ILVO), Burg. van Gansberghelaan 115 bus 1, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium
W. Saeys*
Affiliation:
KU Leuven Department of Biosystems, MeBioS, Kasteelpark Arenberg 30, 3001 Leuven, Belgium
*
† E-mail: wouter.saeys@biw.kuleuven.be
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Abstract

Changes in the drinking behaviour of pigs may indicate health, welfare or productivity problems. Automated monitoring and analysis of drinking behaviour could allow problems to be detected, thus improving farm productivity. A high frequency radio frequency identification (HF RFID) system was designed to register the drinking behaviour of individual pigs. HF RFID antennas were placed around four nipple drinkers and connected to a reader via a multiplexer. A total of 55 growing-finishing pigs were fitted with radio frequency identification (RFID) ear tags, one in each ear. RFID-based drinking visits were created from the RFID registrations using a bout criterion and a minimum and maximum duration criterion. The HF RFID system was successfully validated by comparing RFID-based visits with visual observations and flow meter measurements based on visit overlap. Sensitivity was at least 92%, specificity 93%, precision 90% and accuracy 93%. RFID-based drinking duration had a high correlation with observed drinking duration (R 2=0.88) and water usage (R 2=0.71). The number of registrations after applying the visit criteria had an even higher correlation with the same two variables (R 2=0.90 and 0.75, respectively). There was also a correlation between number of RFID visits and number of observed visits (R 2=0.84). The system provides good quality information about the drinking behaviour of individual pigs. As health or other problems affect the pigs’ drinking behaviour, analysis of the RFID data could allow problems to be detected and signalled to the farmer. This information can help to improve the productivity and economics of the farm as well as the health and welfare of the pigs.

Keywords

pigsgroup housingdrinking behaviourradio frequency identificationvalidation
Type
Research Article
Information
animal , Volume 10 , Issue 9 , September 2016 , pp. 1557 - 1566
Copyright
© The Animal Consortium 2015 

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