Project Grant 20226801436663

**AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** PRECISION LIVESTOCK FARMING (PLF) FEATURES REAL-TIME MONITORING OF ANIMAL-BASED MEASURES (ABMS) USING ADVANCED TECHNOLOGIES TO ASSIST ANIMAL PRODUCERS IN FARM MANAGEMENT. IN BROILER SECTOR, FEW PLF SYSTEMS ARE AVAILABLE AND NO OUTLET IS AVAILABLE TO DISSEMINATE POTENTIAL BENEFITS OF PLF TO STAKEHOLDERS. THERE IS A CLEAR NEED TO ADDRESS THESE DEFICIENCIES THROUGH INTEGRATIVE EFFORTS AMONG INTERDISCIPLINARY RESEARCHERS AND EXTENSION EXPERTS IN THE FIELDS OF ANIMAL/POULTRY SCIENCE, COMPUTER SCIENCE, AND AGRICULTURAL ENGINEERING. WITH INCLUSION OF ALL ABOVE EXPERTISE, WE PROPOSE TO DEVELOP, APPLY, AND DEMONSTRATE A NOVEL AND AFFORDABLE VISION-BASED PLF TECHNOLOGY FOR REAL-TIME BROILER ABM MEASUREMENT THROUGH A SERIES OF RESEARCH AND EXTENSION ACTIVITIES. TO ACHIEVE THIS GOAL, THE INTEGRATED PROJECT OBJECTIVES ARE TO:DEVELOP AND EVALUATE A COMPUTER VISION SYSTEM (CVS) FOR REAL-TIME MONITORING OF SEVERAL BROILER ABMS, INCLUDING KEY WELFARE INDICATORS (GAIT SCORE, ACTIVITY, FLOCK DISTRIBUTION) AND BEHAVIORAL RESPONSES (STRETCHING, PREENING, DUSTBATHING, EATING AND DRINKING) [RESEARCH]DETERMINE BASELINE ABMS AND IDENTIFY THE INTERACTIONS OF THE AMBS WITH TWO MANAGEMENT FACTORS, I.E. STOCKING DENSITY AND LIGHT INTENSITY, IN LAB- AND FARM-SCALE TRIALS. [RESEARCH]ENHANCE AND FINALIZE THE CVS WITH DATA COLLECTED IN OBJ 2 AND STAKEHOLDER FEEDBACK COLLECTED IN OBJ 4. [RESEARCH]ESTABLISH A PLF MODULE IN REGIONAL AND NATIONAL POULTRY EXTENSION PROGRAMS THROUGH NEEDS ASSESSMENTS, SURVEYS, TRAINING SESSIONS, COURSE DEVELOPMENT AND EVALUATIONS; AND DEMONSTRATE AND DISSEMINATE THE FINAL CVS SYSTEM DESIGN AND RESEARCH OUTCOMES AMONG FARMERS AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS. [EXTENSION]THIS STANDARD USDA-AFRI PROJECT ADDRESSES PROGRAM AREA PRIORITY A1261 - INTER-DISCIPLINARY ENGAGEMENT IN ANIMAL SYSTEMS, ALIGNED WITH PRECISION ANIMAL MANAGEMENT, AND USDA STRATEGIC GOALS 2 AND 3. PROJECT LEADERSHIP WILL LEVERAGE A STRONG TEAM OF RESEARCHERS AND EXTENSION EXPERTS WITH DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS IN PLF, POULTRY PRODUCTION, POULTRY WELFARE, ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE, IMAGE PROCESSING, AND SENSORING. A CAMERA SYSTEM FOR BIRD ACTIVITY AND DISTRIBUTION MONITORING IS CURRENTLY DEPLOYED AT UT'S COLLABORATIVE COMMERCIAL FARMS AND CAN BE IMMEDIATELY USED AND UPGRADED FOR THIS PROJECT UPON FUNDING. THE OUTCOME OF THIS PROJECT WILL IMPROVE THE AUTOMATION, EFFICIENCY, AND COMPETITIVENESS OF U.S. BROILER PRODUCERS IN TODAY'S LOW-PROFIT-MARGIN MEAT MARKET.