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HighlightsAn egg-collecting robot embedded with deep-learning-based computer vision algorithms was constructed.The retrained deep-learning detector achieved >93% performance for detecting and locating eggs in images.The kernel sizes of 65 × 65 pixels for erosion and dilation in image processing assisted in extracting geometry features of eggs with the least remaining noises.The robot with soft grouting sponge on the gripper had 92% to 94% success in picking white and brown eggs.Abstract. Manual collection of floor eggs in cage-free hen housing systems is time-consuming and laborious. The objectives of this study were to (1) develop a robot to automatically collect floor eggs and (2) optimize the performance of recognizing and picking eggs with the robot. The robot consisted of a deep-learning-based egg detector, a robot arm, a two-finger gripper, and a hand-mounted camera. The deep-learning model, You Only Look Once (YOLO) V3, was embedded in the vision system to detect and locate eggs on a simulated litter floor in real-time. Image processing algorithms (e.g., cropping, erosion, etc.) were implemented for the detection and provided the robot with centroid coordinates, orientation, and axis lengths of the detected eggs, so that the gripper could be manipulated with an appropriate angle and opening width to grasp the detected eggs. For optimization, the YOLO V3 model was retrained with a dataset of floor eggs and achieved >93% performance in detecting and locating eggs. The kernel size of 65 × 65 pixels for erosion and dilation in image processing assisted in extracting the geometry features of eggs with the least remaining noises. Among the tested materials, soft grouting sponge attached to the gripper had the highest success rates for egg picking. The robot achieved 92% to 94% success in picking white and brown eggs. In sum, the developed egg-collecting robot can be relied on for picking floor eggs to assist in precision management of cage-free hen housing systems. Keywords: Floor egg, Image processing, Laying hen, Robot arm, Soft gripper, YOLO V3.

HighlightsUsing an elevated platform with a manure catcher reduced litter moisture content and ammonia concentration.A robotic vehicle encouraged bird movement and use of the elevated platform.Using the elevated platform and robotic vehicle jointly improved broiler paw quality and plumage cleanliness.Abstract. Elevated platform (EP) and robotic vehicle (RV) are two emerging systems aiming to improve environment enrichment and bird activity in broiler housing systems. However, the impacts of these systems on broiler production, welfare, and housing environment have not been evaluated. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of using EP and RV individually or jointly on broiler feed conversion ratio (FCR), litter moisture content (LMC), ammonia (NH3) concentration, gait score (GS), paw quality (PQ), plumage cleanliness (PC), and bird activity index (AI). Broilers were reared for eight-week production cycles. Four experimental rooms (54 birds room-1) were randomly assigned four treatments: EP only, RV only, EP and RV (EP+RV), and neither EP nor RV (Ctrl). Broiler GS, PQ, and PC were assessed following welfare protocols. Bird AI was determined through image processing. The experiment was repeated three times. The results showed that overall FCR values were 1.806 for EP, 1.804 for RV, 1.797 for EP+RV, and 1.791 for Ctrl. The normalized LMC values were 23.2% ±4.1% for EP, 32.8% ±4.1% for RV, 23.4% ±2.5% for EP+RV, and 35.7% ±7.0% for Ctrl over the eight-week production cycles. NH3 concentrations were 40% lower in the rooms with EP than in the rooms without EP at the end of the production cycle. Broilers had better PQ in the rooms with EP than in the rooms without EP. Broiler PC seemed better in the rooms with RV compared to those without RV. Operation of RV increased bird AI; however, the benefits in activity encouragement diminished as the broilers grew. The number of broilers on the EP was higher in the EP+RV rooms than in the EP rooms. It is concluded that using EP and RV together may improve broiler welfare and activity without compromising their production performance. Keywords: Behavior, Broiler, Elevated platform, Robotic vehicle, Welfare.

Since its recognition in the early 1980s, enteric septicemia of catfish (ESC), caused by the gram‐negative enteric Edwardsiella ictaluri, is one of the most significant pathogens affecting catfish aquaculture. In efforts to improve disease management in U.S. catfish aquaculture, a live‐attenuated ESC vaccine and method of in‐pond oral vaccine delivery was developed. This work evaluated the efficacy of the oral delivery platform using a live‐attenuated E. ictaluri vaccine under simulated commercial conditions. Channel catfish fingerlings were orally vaccinated approximately 40–50 days poststocking by mixing the attenuated vaccine with feed using a patent‐pending mechanized delivery system. Across three discrete years under varying evaluation methods, vaccination resulted in significant improvements in survival, feed conversion ratio, feed fed, and total yield. An economic analysis of experimental data suggests a significant positive net economic benefit from vaccination. After accounting for a projected cost of vaccination, the realized improvements in survival and yield resulted in an estimated benefit exceeding $3,500/ha ($1,400/acre) on fingerling operations. These results suggest vaccinating channel catfish fingerlings against ESC is an effective strategy to mitigate ESC‐related losses and can significantly improve production efficiency and profitability on catfish operations.

Reducing floor eggs in cage-free (CF) housing systems is among primary concerns for egg producers. The objective of this research was to evaluate the effects of ground robot manipulation on reduction of floor eggs. In addition, the effects of ground robot manipulation on production performance, stress response, bone quality, and behavior were also investigated. Two successive flocks of 180 Hy-Line Brown hens at 34 weeks of this age were used. The treatment structure for each flock consisted of six pens with three treatments (without robot running, with one-week robot running, and with two-weeks robot running), resulting in two replicates per treatment per flock and four replicates per treatment with two flocks. Two phases were involved with each flock. Phase 1 (weeks 35–38) mimicked the normal scenario, and phase 2 (weeks 40–43) mimicked a scenario after inadvertent restriction to nest box access. Results indicate that the floor egg reduction rate in the first two weeks of phase 1 was 11.0% without the robot treatment, 18.9% with the one-week robot treatment, and 34.0% with the two-week robot treatment. The effect of robot operation on floor egg production was not significant when the two phases of data were included in the analysis. Other tested parameters were similar among the treatments, including hen-day egg production, feed intake, feed conversion ratio, live body weight, plasma corticosterone concentration, bone breaking force, ash percentage, and time spent in nest boxes. In conclusion, ground robot operation in CF settings may help to reduce floor egg production to a certain degree for a short period right after being introduced. Additionally, robot operation does not seem to negatively affect hen production performance and well-being.

Broilers attempting to, but being restricted to, access feed due to competition and/or lack of feeding space may continuously walk around feeder for extended periods of time, which is an indication of restricted feeding behavior. The purpose of this study was to develop and evaluate a method to automatically identify restricted feeding birds continuously walking around feeder, and to quantify restricted feeding behavior responses under stocking densities (SD) of 27 (27SD), 29 (29SD), 33 (33SD), and 39 kg·m−2 (39SD). The algorithms included a faster region-based convolutional neural network object detector, a bird tracker, and a support vector machine behavior classifier. The results show that majority of birds (64.8–76.4% of total cases) that were restricted to feeder access walked around feeder for >2 sec; while non-restricted feeding birds (87.4–92.0% of total cases) walked around feeder for

Heat stress adversely affects poultry production and growth in hot weather. Poultry house insulation requirements are typically specified based on air temperatures alone, which disregards diurnal weather effects such as convective cooling and solar radiation. The objectives of this study were to: 1) Monitor internal and external temperatures of a commercial broiler house to verify the suitability of using sol-air temperature as a design parameter for broiler housing design; 2) Use the sol-air temperature to simulate the effects of solar radiation on conductive heat gain during warm weather for a modeled broiler house in varying climatic locations using historical meteorological data. Measurements of temperature (°C) (interior air, exterior air, and exterior surface) and solar radiation (W/m2) were recorded for an east facing sidewall of a broiler house. Sol-air temperatures were calculated from these data. Maximum daily air temperatures (Tair) were significantly different (P

Providing the optimum lighting environment for commercial poultry is essential for physiological processes, ensuring welfare, and managing production efficiency. Recent research has shown that poultry house illuminance is dependent upon ambient sunlight conditions and control of light leakage can improve live performance. The objective of this study was to evaluate the performance of high-efficiency fan shades for reduction of light leakage and spatial variation of illuminance in commercial broiler houses. A total of five mobile photometric arrays were constructed to collect high-density spatial illuminance data in commercial broiler houses. Data acquisition was synchronized and controlled with a radio-frequency relay system. Illuminance was measured at 4 Hz for 10 s at each position. Data was acquired for two commercial broiler houses measuring 13.4 x 182.9 m (44 x 600 ft) with and without fan shades. Overall mean illuminance values for the fan shade and no-fan shade treatments were 2.0 ± 1.7 and 6.3 ± 19.5 lx, respectively, and were significantly different (P

Determining moisture levels in windrowed biomass is important for both forage producers and researchers. Energy crops such as switchgrass have been troublesome when using the standard methods set for electrical resistance meters. The objectives of this study were to i) develop the methodologies needed to measure MC in switchgrass using electrical resistance meters, ii) to determine the effects of pressure and probe orientation on MC measurement and iii) to generate MC calibration equations for electrical resistance meters using switchgrass in the senescence growth stage. Two meters (Meter 1, Farmex HT-PRO; Meter 2, Delmhorst F-2000) were selected based on commercial availability. A forage compression apparatus was designed and constructed with on-farm materials and methods to provide a simple system of applying pressure achievable by any forage producer or researcher in the