scholarly journals Precision Livestock Farming in Swine Welfare: A Review for Swine Practitioners

Animals ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 133 ◽  
Author(s):  
Madonna Benjamin ◽  
Steven Yik
Keyword(s):  
Data Entry ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Livestock Farming ◽  
Network Systems ◽  
Pork Production ◽  
Precision Livestock Farming ◽  
Technological Advances ◽  
Client Advocacy ◽  
Health And Well Being ◽  
Poor Welfare

The burgeoning research and applications of technological advances are launching the development of precision livestock farming. Through sensors (cameras, microphones and accelerometers), images, sounds and movements are combined with algorithms to non-invasively monitor animals to detect their welfare and predict productivity. In turn, this remote monitoring of livestock can provide quantitative and early alerts to situations of poor welfare requiring the stockperson’s attention. While swine practitioners’ skills include translation of pig data entry into pig health and well-being indices, many do not yet have enough familiarity to advise their clients on the adoption of precision livestock farming practices. This review, intended for swine veterinarians and specialists, (1) includes an introduction to algorithms and machine learning, (2) summarizes current literature on relevant sensors and sensor network systems, and drawing from industry pig welfare audit criteria, (3) explains how these applications can be used to improve swine welfare and meet current pork production stakeholder expectations. Swine practitioners, by virtue of their animal and client advocacy roles, interpretation of benchmarking data, and stewardship in regulatory and traceability programs, can play a broader role as advisors in the transfer of precision livestock farming technology, and its implications to their clients.

SPOUSAL INFLUENCES ON HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF OLDER KUWAITI MEN AND WOMEN

2016 ◽  
Vol 49 (4) ◽  
pp. 509-526 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yagoub Y. Al-Kandari ◽  
Douglas E. Crews
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Data Entry ◽  
Somatic Symptoms ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Total Sample ◽  
Poor Health ◽  
Daily Lives ◽  
Health Symptoms ◽  
Frequency Of Contact ◽  
Health And Well Being

SummaryThe aim of the study was to determine the associations of the self-perceptions of health and social support among Kuwaitis who were 60 years old and older, who either were or were not currently living with a spouse. A sample of 1427 was selected (472 men and 955 women). Social Affairs nurses completed all interviews in the participants’ homes. A single questionnaire was designed; SPSS (version 21) was used for data entry and analysis. Participants living with their spouse reported significantly greater social support, more frequent contact with others and greater strength of social relationships than those without a spouse. Significant differences between those with and without a spouse were observed for all physically assessed and self-reported aspects of health. Of 60 items included in the somatic symptoms, participants with a spouse reported fewer poor health symptoms than those without a spouse. More children living in the same household, along with greater frequency of contact, strength of contact and social support significantly and independently predicted positive somatic symptoms in the total sample as well as in both sexes. Participants with a spouse reported fewer poor health symptoms than did those without a spouse. Having a spouse is a significant benefit to many aspects of elder Kuwaitis’ daily lives, including their health and well-being.

Smart Animal Agriculture: Application of Real-Time Sensors to Improve Animal Well-Being and Production

2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 403-425 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ilan Halachmi ◽  
Marcella Guarino ◽  
Jeffrey Bewley ◽  
Matti Pastell
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Technological Innovation ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Accurate Data ◽  
Livestock Farming ◽  
Medical Problems ◽  
Animal Products ◽  
Precision Livestock Farming ◽  
Wearable Technologies ◽  
First World

Consumption of animal products such as meat, milk, and eggs in first-world countries has leveled off, but it is rising precipitously in developing countries. Agriculture will have to increase its output to meet demand, opening the door to increased automation and technological innovation; intensified, sustainable farming; and precision livestock farming (PLF) applications. Early indicators of medical problems, which use sensors to alert cattle farmers early concerning individual animals that need special care, are proliferating. Wearable technologies dominate the market. In less-value-per-animal systems like sheep, goat, pig, poultry, and fish, one sensor, like a camera or robot per herd/flock/school, rather than one sensor per animal, will become common. PLF sensors generate huge amounts of data, and many actors benefit from PLF data. No standards currently exist for sharing sensor-generated data, limiting the use of commercial sensors. Technologies providing accurate data can enhance a well-managed farm. Development of methods to turn the data into actionable solutions is critical.

scholarly journals Older Men With Living Spouses Versus Men Without Spouses: An Example From the Arab World—Kuwait

2020 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
pp. 155798832093721
Author(s):  
Yagoub Yousif Al-Kandari
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Arab World ◽  
Data Entry ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Elderly Men ◽  
Glucose Levels ◽  
Frequency Of Contact ◽  
Social Support Scale ◽  
Reported Health ◽  
Health And Well Being

This research is concentrated on elderly Kuwait men and the effect that losing wife, a major determinant of social support, has on their general health. A sample of 472 older male adults aged 60 years and older have been included in this study. A questionnaire was the major tool of the study. The questionnaire included sociocultural information and social support scales (Degree of Religiosity, Social Support Scale, Frequency of Contact, and Strength of Relation scales). Health measurements also were used: two, one-item self-reported health scales in the current year and last year and a Somatic Symptoms Inventory (SSI) were used. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure and glucose levels were taken. Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS, version 21) was used for data entry and analysis. t-test and regression were the major statistical procedures. Data show that there are differences between elderly men with a living wife compared to those without a living wife. Having a living wife was positively associated with better social support and health in Kuwaiti elderly men. Data show that a living wife is an important factor of men’s health and well-being in general and that a wife is one of the major social support elements of elderly men.

scholarly journals Digital Twins in Livestock Farming

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Suresh Neethirajan ◽  
Bas Kemp
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Farm Animals ◽  
Emotional States ◽  
Space Technology ◽  
Livestock Farming ◽  
Digital Twin ◽  
Technological Advances ◽  
Digital Twins ◽  
Cost And Benefit Analysis

Digital twin technology is already improving efficiencies and reducing costs across multiple industries and sectors. As the earliest adopters, space technology and manufacturing sectors have made the most sophisticated gains with automobile and natural resource extraction industries following close behind with recent investments in digital twin technology. The application of digital twins within the livestock farming sector is the next frontier. The possibilities that this technology may fuel are nearly endless as digital twins can be used to improve large-scale precision livestock farming practices, machinery and equipment usage, and the health and well-being of a wide variety of farm animals. Currently, many pioneers of digital twins in livestock farming are already applying sophisticated AI technology to monitor both animals and environment around the clock, which leads to a better understanding of animal behavior and distress, disease control and prevention, and smarter business decisions for the farmer. Mental and emotional states of animals can be monitored using recognition technology that examines facial features such as ear postures and eye white regions. Used with modeling, simulation and augmented reality technologies, digital twins can help farmers build more energy-efficient housing structures, predict heat cycles for breeding, discourage negative behaviors of livestock, and potentially much more. As with all disruptive technological advances, the implementation of digital twin technology will demand a thorough cost and benefit analysis by individual farms. Digital twin application will need to overcome challenges and accept limitations that arise. However, regardless of these issues, the potential of digital twins promises to revolutionize livestock farming in the future.

scholarly journals Digital Twins in Livestock Farming

Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 1008
Author(s):  
Suresh Neethirajan ◽  
Bas Kemp
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Animal Husbandry ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Farm Animals ◽  
Emotional States ◽  
Livestock Farming ◽  
Digital Twin ◽  
Technological Advances ◽  
Digital Twins ◽  
Cost And Benefit Analysis

Artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML) and big data are consistently called upon to analyze and comprehend many facets of modern daily life. AI and ML in particular are widely used in animal husbandry to monitor both the animals and environment around the clock, which leads to a better understanding of animal behavior and distress, disease control and prevention, and effective business decisions for the farmer. One particularly promising area that advances upon AI is digital twin technology, which is currently used to improve efficiencies and reduce costs across multiple industries and sectors. In contrast to a model, a digital twin is a digital replica of a real-world entity that is kept current with a constant influx of data. The application of digital twins within the livestock farming sector is the next frontier and has the potential to be used to improve large-scale precision livestock farming practices, machinery and equipment usage, and the health and well-being of a wide variety of farm animals. The mental and emotional states of animals can be monitored using recognition technology that examines facial features, such as ear postures and eye white regions. Used with modeling, simulation and augmented reality technologies, digital twins can help farmers to build more energy-efficient housing structures, predict heat cycles for breeding, discourage negative behaviors of livestock, and potentially much more. As with all disruptive technological advances, the implementation of digital twin technology will demand a thorough cost and benefit analysis of individual farms. Our goal in this review is to assess the progress toward the use of digital twin technology in livestock farming, with the goal of revolutionizing animal husbandry in the future.

Diet Quality, a Term Subject to Change over Time

2012 ◽  
Vol 82 (3) ◽  
pp. 144-147 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ibrahim Elmadfa ◽  
Alexa L. Meyer
Keyword(s):  
Diet Quality ◽  
Functional Foods ◽  
Disease Risk ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Industrialized Countries ◽  
Quality Factors ◽  
Long Time ◽  
Quality Diet ◽  
Important Quality ◽  
Health And Well Being

A high-quality diet is one of the foundations of health and well-being. For a long time in human history, diet was chiefly a source of energy and macronutrients meant to still hunger and give the strength for work and activities that were in general much harder than nowadays. Only few persons could afford to emphasize enjoyment. In the assessment of quality, organoleptic properties were major criteria to detect spoilage and oxidative deterioration of food. Today, food hygiene is a quality aspect that is often taken for granted by consumers, despite its lack being at the origin of most food-borne diseases. The discovery of micronutrients entailed fundamental changes of the concept of diet quality. However, non-essential food components with additional health functions were still barely known or not considered important until recently. With the high burden of obesity and its associated diseases on the rise, affluent, industrialized countries have developed an increased interest in these substances, which has led to the development of functional foods to optimize special body functions, reduce disease risk, or even contribute to therapeutic approaches. Indeed, nowadays, high contents of energy, fat, and sugar are factors associated with a lower quality of food, and products with reduced amounts of these components are valued by many consumers. At the same time, enjoyment and convenience are important quality factors, presenting food manufacturers with the dilemma of reconciling low fat content and applicability with good taste and appealing appearance. Functional foods offer an approach to address this challenge. Deeper insights into nutrient-gene interactions may enable personalized nutrition adapted to the special needs of individuals. However, so far, a varied healthy diet remains the best basis for health and well-being.

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