Laying hen rearing system and egg information analysis method

Abstract

This solves the problem of keeping chicken eggs inside cages, enabling precise rearing management. [Solution] The system includes a cage row 12 consisting of multiple cages 11 arranged in a row to accommodate laying hens C, an egg collection belt 13 for collecting eggs E laid by the laying hens C to a processing device in the next step, an egg storage section 14 provided between the cage row 12 and the egg collection belt 13 for storing eggs E from each cage 11, and an egg transfer section 15 for transferring eggs E stored in the egg storage section 14 to the egg collection belt 13.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an egg-laying hen breeding system and a chicken egg information analysis method.

Background Art

[0002] In egg-laying poultry farming, collecting spawning information including the number and state (e.g., dirty eggs, malformed eggs, etc.) of spawned eggs is important for the breeding management of egg-laying hens.

[0003] It is desirable to collect this spawning information on an individual bird basis, but in modern large-scale egg-laying poultry farming, more than 100,000 egg-laying hens are bred in a single henhouse, making this practically difficult. For this reason, currently spawning information is collected with management groups of egg-laying hens being in units of 1,000 to tens of thousands of birds.

[0004] When attempting to detect spawning abnormalities occurring in egg-laying hens using such a large number of birds as the denominator, the signal-to-noise ratio decreases, making it difficult to detect spawning abnormalities, and the current situation is that detection can only be achieved after many egg-laying hens have been affected as a result.

[0005] On the other hand, in order to achieve precise breeding management in large-scale egg-laying poultry farming, methods of collecting spawning information of egg-laying hens in cage row units as described in Patent Documents 1 and 2 have been proposed.

[0006] The egg-laying henhouse system of Patent Document 1 collects spawning information such as spawning distribution across the entire cage row by detecting chicken eggs conveyed by an egg collection belt with an egg sensor. In this egg-laying henhouse system, in order to accurately obtain spawning information for the entire cage row, an egg stopper (blocker) prevents new eggs from exiting the cage row during the conveying operation of the egg collection belt.

[0007] Furthermore, the egg-laying hen house management system described in Patent Document 2 collects egg-laying information, such as the egg-laying distribution, across the entire row of cages by moving an egg sensor along the egg-collecting belt while the belt is stopped to detect eggs. In this egg-laying hen house management system, in order to obtain egg-laying information across the entire row of cages with high accuracy, an egg stopper (barrier) is used to prevent new eggs from leaving the row of cages when the egg sensor is moved along the egg-collecting belt.

[0008] However, if egg stoppers (barriers) are used to prevent new eggs from leaving the cage rows, the new eggs will remain inside the cages, which could lead to problems such as laying hens pecking at or stepping on the eggs and breaking them, or the eggs remaining near the laying hens' feet and becoming soiled with chicken droppings. [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0009] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2024-54838 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2024-54082 [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0010] Therefore, the present invention aims to solve the problem of keeping chicken eggs inside cages and to achieve precise livestock management. [Means for solving the problem]

[0011] In other words, the egg-laying hen rearing system according to the present invention is characterized by comprising: a cage row comprising a plurality of cages for housing egg-laying hens; an egg collection belt for collecting eggs laid by the egg-laying hens in a processing device for the next process; an egg storage unit provided between the cage row and the egg collection belt for storing eggs from each cage; and an egg transfer unit for transferring eggs stored in the egg storage unit to the egg collection belt.

[0012] This laying hen rearing system features an egg storage section between the cage rows and the egg collection belt (i.e., outside the cage rows). By storing eggs in this storage section, problems such as eggs being broken by laying hens pecking or stepping on them, or being soiled by chicken droppings, can be reduced. Furthermore, it becomes clear that the eggs stored in the egg storage section were laid between the previous and current operations of the egg transfer unit, providing useful information for rearing management. In addition, by keeping the egg transfer unit stopped until the egg collection belt has completed its full delivery operation, the number of eggs being delivered does not increase during the egg collection belt operation, allowing for the supply of the optimal number of eggs to the next processing unit. Currently, in laying hen rearing systems, newly laid eggs are added to the egg collection belt during egg transport, making it difficult to keep the supply of eggs to the next processing unit within a certain range.

[0013] It is desirable that the egg storage section has a partition between adjacent cages in the storage space corresponding to each cage. With this configuration, when eggs are turned from each cage to the egg storage area, they roll forward to the adjacent cage, preventing them from mixing with eggs from neighboring cages. As a result, the number of eggs laid by each cage can be accurately detected, and egg-laying information for laying hens can be collected on a cage-by-cage basis.

[0014] The egg transfer unit has a blocking unit that switches between a blocking state in which eggs are stored in the egg storage unit and a passing state in which eggs are passed from the egg storage unit to the egg collection belt. Preferably, the egg-laying hen rearing system further includes an egg sensor that moves along the cage row in the blocking state and detects eggs stored in the egg storage unit. With this configuration, since the eggs are detected in the egg storage section, it is easier to secure an observation field of view, and eggs can be detected with higher accuracy compared to detecting eggs remaining in the cage.

[0015] It is desirable to have an operating control mode in which, after the egg sensor moves along the cage row and detects eggs stored in the egg storage section, the blocking section enters the pass-through state, transferring the eggs stored in the egg storage section to the egg collection belt, and then returns to the blocking state again. With this configuration, the number of eggs being sent out does not increase during the operation of the egg collection belt, allowing for precise management of eggs from each cage being transported by the egg collection belt.

[0016] It is desirable that the timing of switching between the blocked state and the pass-through state of the blocking unit is controlled based on known time-specific spawning information. With this configuration, for example, by shortening the time the system is shut off during periods when a large number of eggs are expected to be laid, it is possible to prevent the egg storage section from overflowing with eggs. Also, by shortening the time the system is shut off, the number of eggs stored in the egg storage section can be reduced, allowing the egg storage section to be made smaller.

[0017] The egg transfer unit has a blocking unit that switches between a blocking state in which eggs are stored in the egg storage unit and a passing state in which eggs are passed from the egg storage unit to the egg collection belt. The egg-laying hen rearing system further includes an egg sensor provided downstream of the egg collection belt for detecting eggs being transported to the egg collection belt. It is desirable that, before the start of egg collection, the blocking unit is in the blocking state and the egg collection belt is empty after the full delivery operation has been completed. Prior to the start of egg collection, the blocking unit, which is in the blocking state, switches to the passing state to transfer the eggs stored in the egg storage unit to the egg collection belt, and then returns to the blocking state, after which the egg collection belt starts the full delivery operation. With this configuration, it becomes clear that the eggs stored in the egg storage unit were laid between the previous operation and the current operation of the egg transfer unit, allowing for precise management of the eggs from each cage being transported by the egg collection belt.

[0018] Furthermore, a chicken egg distribution analysis method according to the present invention is an egg information analysis method in the above-described laying hen breeding system, wherein the egg transfer section includes a blocking section that switches between a blocking state in which eggs are stored in the egg storage section and a passing state in which eggs are allowed to pass from the egg storage section to the egg collecting belt; and the blocking section is maintained in the blocking state by the egg sensor from when detection of eggs from the starting cage in the cage row is started until detection of eggs from the terminating cage is completed. Effects of the Invention

[0019] According to the present invention configured as described above, problems caused by retaining chicken eggs in cages can be solved, and precise feeding management can be realized. Brief Description of the Drawings

[0020] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a plan view schematically showing a laying hen breeding system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically showing, in the egg transfer section of the same embodiment: (a) a blocking state and (b) a passing state in the case of linear drive, and (a) a blocking state and (b) a passing state in the case of rotational drive. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram of the egg information analysis apparatus of the same embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a plan view schematically showing a laying hen breeding system according to a modified embodiment. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a functional block diagram of an egg information analysis apparatus according to a modified embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a plan view schematically showing a laying hen breeding system according to a modified embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a diagram schematically showing the operation of an egg transfer section according to a modified embodiment. Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0021] The following describes various embodiments of the egg-laying hen rearing system according to the present invention with reference to the drawings. Note that, for clarity, all the following figures are schematic representations, with some details omitted or exaggerated as appropriate. The same components are denoted by the same reference numerals, and their descriptions are omitted as appropriate.

[0022] <First Embodiment> The first embodiment of the egg-laying hen rearing system 100 includes, as shown in Figure 1, an egg-laying hen house 10 having an artificial environment adjustment function such as a sealed chicken house (windowless chicken house) for egg-laying hens, and an egg information analysis device 20 installed in the egg-laying hen house 10.

[0023] <Egg-laying hen house 10> The egg-laying hen house 10 includes a plurality of cage rows 12, each consisting of a plurality of cages 11 arranged in a series, an egg collection belt 13 for transporting eggs E laid by the egg-laying hens C to a processing device (not shown) in the next process, an egg storage section 14 provided between the cage rows 12 and the egg collection belt 13 for storing eggs E from each cage 11, and an egg transfer section 15 for transferring eggs E stored in the egg storage section 14 to the egg collection belt 13.

[0024] Multiple cage rows 12 consist of multiple cages 11 arranged in a single direction, each containing laying hens C of approximately the same age. In this embodiment, the multiple cage rows 12 are arranged side by side, as shown in Figure 1. The multiple cage rows 12 are arranged in three tiers vertically, but the number of tiers is not limited to this. Laying hens C of approximately the same age include laying hens C whose ages differ by up to one month, and preferably, laying hens C whose ages differ by up to about two weeks.

[0025] The egg collection belt 13 is provided corresponding to each cage row 12 and collects chicken eggs E from the cage row 12 and transports them to one end of the cage row 12. As shown in Figure 2, the egg collection belt 13 is provided in front of the output side of the chicken egg output section 11h formed at the bottom of the cage 11. Each egg collection belt 13 is driven by a belt drive device 16 and moves toward one end of each cage row 12. Here, the belt drive device 16 can drive multiple egg collection belts 13 at once and can be configured using a belt drive motor or the like. The egg collection belts 13 and the belt drive device 16 constitute an egg collection conveyor. The chicken eggs E that have been transported to one end of each cage row 12 are then transported to the next processing device (not shown) via another egg collection device 17. Note that the chicken eggs E can also be transported to the next processing device without going through the other egg collection device 17. The belt drive device 16 is also provided with an encoder 18 for detecting the transport distance (travel distance) of the egg collection belt 13. The belt drive unit 16 is controlled by the functions of the control calculation device 3, which will be described later.

[0026] The egg storage section 14 temporarily stores eggs E from each cage row 12. As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the egg storage section 14 is provided between each cage row 12 and the corresponding egg collection belt 13. Specifically, the egg storage section 14 is provided between the egg discharge section 11h of the cage 11 in each cage row 12 and the egg collection belt 13. Furthermore, as shown in Figure 2, the egg storage section 14 is provided continuously with the bottom surface 11a of the cage 11 in each cage row 12. The bottom surface 11a of the cage 11 is formed with a downward slope toward the egg discharge section 11h, and the egg storage section 14 is formed with a downward slope toward the egg collection belt 13 located in front of the discharge side, continuous with the bottom surface 11a of the cage 11.

[0027] The egg transfer unit 15 is interposed between the egg storage unit 14 and each egg collection belt 13, which are provided in each cage row 12. Specifically, as shown in Figure 2, the egg transfer unit 15 has a shut-off unit 151 that switches between a shut-off state P, in which eggs E are stored in the egg storage unit 14, and a passing state Q, in which eggs E are passed from the egg storage unit 14 to the egg collection belt 13. This shut-off unit 151 is driven by an actuator (not shown). The shut-off unit 151 may be linearly driven, for example, along the vertical direction, between the shut-off state P and the passing state Q, as shown in Figure 2(A), or it may be rotationally driven between the shut-off state P and the passing state Q, as shown in Figure 2(B). This shut-off unit 151 is controlled by the functions of the control calculation device 3, which will be described later.

[0028] <Egg Information Analysis Device 20> The egg information analysis device 20 analyzes egg information such as the egg distribution in each cage row 12 by detecting eggs E on each egg collection belt 13.

[0029] Specifically, as shown in Figures 1 and 3, the egg information analysis device 20 includes an egg sensor 2 that moves along the cage row 12 (i.e., the egg storage section 14) with the operation of each egg collection belt 13 stopped and detects eggs E stored in the egg storage section 14, and a control calculation device 3 that calculates egg information such as the egg distribution in each cage row 12 based on the detection signal of the egg sensor 2.

[0030] <Configuration of chicken egg sensor 2> As shown in Figure 1, the egg sensor 2 is mounted on a traveling carriage 30 that moves along the cage row 12. The egg sensor 2 in this embodiment is an imaging sensor such as a camera or line sensor, and acquires two-dimensional image data including the eggs E stored in the egg storage section 14 by moving along the cage row 12 (i.e., the egg storage section 14). Note that the egg sensor 2 may also be an ultrasonic sensor, an optical sensor (e.g., a transmissive or reflective photoelectric sensor), a capacitive sensor, or a mechanical switch (limit switch).

[0031] Furthermore, the egg sensor 2 moves along the egg storage section 14 from one end to the other as the traveling carriage 30 moves along the cage row 12 from one end (starting cage) to the other (ending cage). In the following, the movement of the egg sensor 2 from one end to the other of the egg storage section 14 for egg detection is referred to as one detection movement operation (scanning operation).

[0032] In addition, the trolley 30 may be equipped with environmental sensors (not shown) for acquiring environmental information inside the chicken coop, such as temperature sensors, air quality sensors (e.g., CO2 sensors), and humidity sensors.

[0033] <Configuration of Control Processing Unit 3> The control and calculation unit 3 controls various devices for measuring egg information, as well as the egg collection belt 13 and the egg transfer unit 15.

[0034] The control arithmetic unit 3 is composed of a computer having a CPU, memory, input / output interface, AD converter, input device, display device, etc. The CPU and peripheral devices work together based on a predetermined program stored in memory to perform each function of the control arithmetic unit 3. Furthermore, the control arithmetic unit 3 may be composed of a single computer or multiple computers.

[0035] Specifically, as shown in Figure 3, the control calculation device 3 includes a movement control unit 31 that moves the traveling carriage 30 to move the egg sensor 2, an egg transfer control unit 32 that controls the blocking unit 151 of the egg transfer unit 15, and a belt control unit 33 that controls the belt drive motor of the egg collection belt 13. The control calculation device 3 executes the following operation control modes using the movement control unit 31, the egg transfer control unit 32, and the belt control unit 33.

[0036] The egg transfer control unit 32 keeps the blockage unit 151 of the egg transfer unit 15 in a blocked state P until the detection and movement operation (scanning operation) of the egg sensor 2 is completed (see (a) in Figures 2(A) and (B)). In addition, the belt control unit 33 stops the egg collection belt 13 until the detection and movement operation (scanning operation) of the egg sensor 2 is completed.

[0037] Then, when the detection and movement operation (scanning operation) of the egg sensor 2 is completed, the egg transfer control unit 32 sets the blocking section 151 of the egg transfer unit 15 to the pass-through state Q, and transfers the eggs E in the egg storage unit 14 to the egg collection belt 13 (see Figures 2(A), (B), and (b)), and then sets the blocking section 151 to the blocked state P again. Next, the belt control unit 33 starts the belt drive motor to move the egg collection belt 13 and transfer the eggs E to another egg collection device 17. By setting the blocking section 151 to the pass-through state Q and then to the blocked state P in this way, the number of eggs E sent out does not increase during the operation of the egg collection belt, so that the eggs E from each cage 11 being transported by the egg collection belt 13 can be managed with high accuracy.

[0038] Here, the blocking unit 151 of the egg transfer unit 15 controls the switching timing between the blocking state P and the passing state Q based on known time-based egg-laying information. For example, in the time-based egg-laying information, the switching between the blocking state and the passing state will occur more frequently during periods of high egg-laying compared to periods of low egg-laying. Alternatively, egg-laying information data obtained from past scan operations may be used as training data for machine learning, and egg-laying information may be predicted from the resulting machine learning model to control the switching timing between the blocking state P and the passing state Q.

[0039] Furthermore, the timing of the detection movement (scanning operation) of the egg sensor 2 is controlled in accordance with the switching timing between the blocked state P and the passing state Q of the blocking unit 151. In other words, the detection movement (scanning operation) of the egg sensor 2 is performed before the timing when the blocking unit 151 switches from the blocked state P to the passing state Q.

[0040] Furthermore, the timing of the egg collection belt 13's transport operation is controlled in accordance with the switching timing between the blocked state P and the passing state Q of the blocking unit 151. In other words, the egg collection belt 13 transports after the blocking unit 151 switches from the blocked state P to the passing state Q, and then the blocking unit 151 is set back to the blocked state.

[0041] The control and calculation device 3 includes an egg detection unit 34 that detects and counts chicken eggs E, and a recording unit 35 that records the detection information of chicken eggs E in association with the location information of said chicken eggs E, as well as the date and time information of the movement of the chicken egg sensor 2.

[0042] Specifically, the egg detection unit 34 detects and counts eggs E based on the detection signal from the egg sensor 2. Since the egg sensor 2 in this embodiment is an imaging sensor such as a camera or line sensor, the egg detection unit 34 detects and counts eggs E by processing the two-dimensional image data obtained by the imaging sensor such as the camera or line sensor.

[0043] Each time an egg E is detected, the recording unit 35 records the detection information (count information) of the egg E, associating it with the location information of the egg E, and also records the date and time information of the detection movement operation by the egg sensor 2. The date and time information of the movement operation of the egg sensor 2 includes at least the start date and time of the detection movement operation by the egg sensor 2, and in this embodiment, it includes not only the start date and time of the detection movement operation but also the end date and time of the detection movement operation. This date and time information can be obtained from the movement control unit 31.

[0044] Furthermore, the recording unit 35 may record environmental information, including temperature information obtained by environmental sensors provided on the traveling trolley 30, in response to the movement of the egg sensor 2 along the cage row 12. Specifically, the recording unit 35 may record environmental information, including temperature information obtained by environmental sensors provided on the traveling trolley 30, each time an egg E is detected.

[0045] Here, the position information of the chicken egg E can be determined by the distance from a predetermined reference position. In this embodiment, the position information acquisition unit 36 ​​of the control calculation device 3 acquires the position information of the chicken egg E by acquiring the travel distance of the traveling trolley 30 from a predetermined reference position (for example, a position set on one end of the egg collection belt 13). The travel distance of the traveling trolley 30 can be determined using the output signal from the encoder of the travel drive motor (not shown) that drives the traveling trolley 30.

[0046] Furthermore, the control calculation device 3 further includes an egg information generation unit 37 that generates egg information such as the distribution of eggs on the egg storage unit 14.

[0047] As shown in Figure 5, the egg information generation unit 37 generates egg information such as the egg distribution during a single detection movement operation based on the detection information and position information obtained from a single detection movement operation by the egg sensor 2. Here, the detection information and position information for a single detection movement operation are recorded in the recording unit 35. In addition, the egg information generation unit 37 may also detect abnormalities in the cage 11, abnormalities in the eggs E, abnormalities in the egg collection belt 13, etc., based on two-dimensional image data obtained from an imaging sensor such as a camera or line sensor.

[0048] <Effects of the First Embodiment> According to the laying hen rearing system 100 of the first embodiment, an egg storage section 14 is provided between the cage row 12 and the egg collection belt 13 (i.e., outside the cage row 12), and by storing eggs E in the egg storage section 14, problems such as laying hens C pecking or stepping on the eggs E and breaking them, or the eggs being soiled by chicken droppings, can be reduced.

[0049] Furthermore, it becomes clear that the eggs E stored in the egg storage unit 14 were laid between the previous operation and the current operation of the egg transfer unit 15, providing useful information for livestock management.

[0050] Furthermore, by keeping the shut-off section 151 of the egg transfer section 15 in a shut-off state P until the entire egg transfer operation by the egg collection belt 13 is completed, the number of eggs E to be transferred does not increase during the operation of the egg collection belt, and the optimal number of eggs E can be supplied to the processing device in the next process.

[0051] Furthermore, in the first embodiment, since the eggs in the egg storage section 14 are detected by the egg sensor 2, it is easier to secure an observation field of view, and the eggs E can be detected with higher accuracy compared to the case where eggs E remain inside the cage 11.

[0052] <Second Embodiment> Next, as shown in Figures 4 and 5, the egg-laying hen rearing system 100 of the second embodiment differs from that of the first embodiment in the configuration of the egg information analysis device 20.

[0053] Specifically, as shown in Figure 4, the egg information analysis device 20 includes an egg sensor 2 installed at one end (downstream end) of the cage row 12 (i.e., the egg storage section 14) to detect eggs E being transported to the other end (downstream end) by the egg collection belt 13, and a control calculation device 3 that calculates egg information such as the egg distribution in each cage row 12 based on the detection signal from the egg sensor 2.

[0054] As shown in Figure 4, the egg sensor 2 is positioned at one end (downstream end) of the cage row 12 to detect eggs E on the egg collection belt 13. In this embodiment, the egg sensor 2 is located at the downstream end of the egg collection belt 13, between the furthest downstream cage 11 of the cage row 12 and the belt drive device 16. The egg sensor 2 can also be, for example, an imaging sensor such as a camera or line sensor, an ultrasonic sensor, an optical sensor (e.g., a through-beam or reflective photoelectric sensor), a capacitive sensor, or a mechanical switch (limit switch).

[0055] As shown in Figure 5, the control calculation device 3 includes an egg transfer control unit 32 that controls the cutoff unit 151 of the egg transfer unit 15, and a belt control unit 33 that controls the belt drive motor of the egg collection belt 13. In addition, the control calculation device 3 also includes an egg detection unit 34, a recording unit 35, and an egg information generation unit 37, similar to the embodiment described above. The control calculation device 3 executes the following operation control modes using the egg transfer control unit 32 and the belt control unit 33.

[0056] The belt control unit 33 performs a single transport operation (hereinafter referred to as the full delivery operation) that completes one full rotation of the egg collection belt 13. This operation transports all the eggs on the egg collection belt 13, including the eggs E that have come out of the upstreammost cage 11 (terminal cage), to one end (downstream end) of the cage row 12 and transfers them to another egg collection device 17. In addition, the egg sensor 2 detects all the eggs E on the egg collection belt 13 during this single full delivery operation.

[0057] Furthermore, before the start of egg collection, the egg transfer control unit 32 sets the shut-off unit 151 of the egg transfer unit 15 to a shut-off state P, and in this state, the egg collection belt 13 is empty, as the previous full delivery operation has been completed.

[0058] Prior to the start of egg collection, the egg transfer control unit 32 switches the blocking section 151, which is in the blocked state P, to the passing state Q, thereby transferring the eggs E in the egg storage section 14 to the egg collection belt 13, and then sets the blocking section 151 back to the blocked state P. Next, the belt control unit 33 starts the belt drive motor and begins the full delivery operation by the egg collection belt 13. The egg transfer control unit 32 keeps the blocking section 151 of the egg transfer section 15 in the blocked state P until the full delivery operation is completed.

[0059] Depending on the time of day when egg laying is at its peak, the egg transfer control unit 32 may switch the blockage unit 151 of the egg transfer unit 15 from a blocked state P to a passing state Q during the entire transfer operation. This switching timing may be set in advance, or the egg storage unit 14 may be equipped with, for example, an optical storage amount sensor to detect the amount of stored eggs, and the egg transfer control unit 32 may control the system based on the detection signal from this storage amount sensor.

[0060] Thus, if the blocking unit 151 switches back from the blocked state P to the passing state Q during the entire delivery operation, causing a second transition operation, the recording unit 35 identifies and records the cage 11 where the eggs E transferred in the first transition operation and the eggs E transferred in the second transition operation overlap, based on the transport information of the egg collection belt 13. The belt control unit 33 also changes the total delivery distance of the egg collection belt 13 until the eggs E transferred in the second transition operation are discharged. With this configuration, the cage 11 where the eggs E transferred in the first transition operation and the eggs E transferred in the second transition operation overlap is identified and recorded, allowing for accurate management of the eggs E from each cage 11 transported by the egg collection belt 13. Furthermore, all eggs E transferred in the second transition operation can be discharged.

[0061] <Modified Embodiment of the Invention> However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above.

[0062] For example, the egg storage section 14 may have a configuration in which each storage space corresponding to each cage 11 has a partition section 14K between adjacent cages, as shown in Figure 6. This partition section 14K separates adjacent cages 11 at the front of the exit side of the cage row 12.

[0063] With this configuration, when eggs E are turned from each cage 11 to the egg storage unit 14, they roll forward to the adjacent cage 11, preventing them from mixing with eggs E in adjacent cages 11. As a result, by moving the egg sensor 2 along the egg storage unit 14 as in the first embodiment, the number of eggs E laid by each cage 11 can be detected with high accuracy, and egg-laying information of the laying hens C can be collected on a cage-by-cage basis.

[0064] In the above embodiment, the egg transfer section 15 was configured to block the eggs E falling down the downward-sloping egg storage section 14. However, as shown in Figure 7, if the egg storage section 14 has a horizontal bottom surface, for example, the transfer section may have a push-out section 152 that pushes the eggs in the egg storage section 14 toward the egg collection belt 13. In Figure 7, the push-out section 152 is configured using the blocking section 151 of the above embodiment, but the push-out section 152 may be configured separately from the blocking section 151. Alternatively, the bottom surface of the egg storage section 14 may be configured as a conveyor structure so that the eggs E move from the egg storage section 14 toward the egg collection belt 13.

[0065] In the first embodiment described above, eggs E in the egg storage section 14 are detected by the scanning operation of the egg sensor 2. However, during this scanning operation, new eggs may enter the egg storage section 14 from the cage 11, potentially causing errors in the egg information. For this reason, an introduction blockage may be provided on the entrance side of the egg storage section 14 (for example, at or near the egg outlet section 11h of the cage 11).

[0066] Furthermore, although the above embodiment provides the egg information generation unit 37 in a control calculation device 3 that is separate from the egg sensor 2, the egg information generation unit 37 and the egg sensor 2 may be integrated into a single unit.

[0067] Furthermore, the egg information generation unit 37 may calculate the physical properties of the egg E (for example, the volume, weight, shape, or appearance of the egg) as egg information by processing two-dimensional image data from the imaging sensor, which is the egg sensor 2.

[0068] The control calculation device 3 of the egg information analysis device 20 in the above embodiment and the control device of the egg-laying hen house 10 may be integrated to configure a system that controls the egg-laying hen house 10 and the egg information analysis device 20 together.

[0069] Furthermore, it goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various modifications are possible without departing from its spirit. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0070] 100... Egg-laying hen house system E ···Chicken eggs 11 ···Cage 12 ···Cage row 13 ···Egg collection belt 14 ···Egg storage section 14K...partition section 15 ···Egg transition zone 151... Blocking section P ···Blocking position Q...Open position 20 ···Cage Anomaly Detection Device 2 ···Egg sensor 35 ···Records Department

Claims

1. A row of cages consisting of multiple cages for housing laying hens, An egg collection belt for transporting eggs laid by the egg-laying hens to the processing unit in the next step, An egg storage section is provided between the cage row and the egg collection belt for storing eggs from each cage, An egg-laying hen rearing system comprising: an egg transfer unit for transferring eggs stored in the egg storage unit to the egg collection belt.

2. The egg storage section has a partition between adjacent cages in the storage space corresponding to each cage, as described in claim 1.

3. The egg transfer unit has a blocking unit that switches between a blocking state in which eggs are stored in the egg storage unit and a passing state in which eggs are passed from the egg storage unit to the egg collection belt. The egg-laying hen rearing system according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising an egg sensor that moves along the cage row in the blocked state and detects eggs stored in the egg storage section.

4. The egg-laying hen rearing system according to claim 3, comprising an operating control mode in which, after the egg sensor moves along the cage row and detects eggs stored in the egg storage section, the blocking section enters the pass-through state, transferring the eggs stored in the egg storage section to the egg collection belt, and then returns to the blocking state.

5. The egg-laying hen rearing system according to claim 3, wherein the timing of switching between the blocked state and the pass-through state is controlled based on known time-specific egg-laying information of the blocking unit.

6. The egg transfer unit has a blocking unit that switches between a blocking state in which eggs are stored in the egg storage unit and a passing state in which eggs are passed from the egg storage unit to the egg collection belt. The egg-laying chicken rearing system further includes an egg sensor located downstream of the egg collection belt for detecting eggs being transported by the egg collection belt. Before the start of egg collection, the blocking section is in the blocked state, and the egg collection belt is empty after the entire delivery operation has been completed. An egg-laying chicken rearing system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein prior to the start of egg collection, the blocking section, which is in a blocked state, switches to a passing state, transferring the eggs stored in the egg storage section to the egg collection belt, and then returns to the blocked state, after which the egg collection belt starts full delivery operation.

7. A method for analyzing egg information in an egg-laying hen rearing system according to claim 1 or 2, The egg transfer unit has a blocking mechanism that switches between a blocking state in which eggs are stored in the egg storage unit and a passing state in which eggs are passed from the egg storage unit to the egg collection belt. A method for analyzing chicken egg information, comprising maintaining the blocking unit in a blocked state from the time the detection of chicken eggs from the starting cage in the cage row begins until the detection of chicken eggs from the ending cage is completed, using a chicken egg sensor.

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