Animal Welfare Management Support System and Animal Welfare Management Support Method

Abstract

To non-destructively execute sex determination at an early stage of incubation with high accuracy, and manage accurately and efficiently animal welfare based on a result of the sex determination.SOLUTION: An animal welfare management support system 10 communicates with each terminal of a series of business operators related to production to sales of hen eggs, acquires and manages, from the terminal, information on operations executed in accordance with animal welfare regulations in each business operator, verifies the information on operations to determine that hen egg sales have been managed in accordance with the animal welfare regulations, issues a certification vote according to the result of the determination, returns a percentage according to the contribution to management in accordance with the animal welfare regulations, of the proceeds collected from the sales of hen eggs that have been given the certificate vote, to the business operators that carried out the management.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an animal welfare management support system and an animal welfare management support method.

Background Art

[0002] Laying hens have their sex determined by feather discrimination after hatching (on the 21st day after incubation). As a result of the determination, male chicks are usually culled. In recent years, it is estimated that 100 million male chicks are culled annually in Japan and 6 billion male chicks are culled worldwide. Culling male chicks after hatching has become a major problem from the perspective of animal welfare. Therefore, as a method for sex determination before hatching, a method is known in which a hole of 0.3 mm or less is formed in the eggshell of an egg on about the 9th day after incubation using a laser beam, allantoic fluid is collected through the hole, and estrone sulfate in the allantoic fluid is detected by a colorimetric method to determine the sex.

[0003] For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a method for determining the state of an egg, including a step of irradiating a plurality of optical pulses having a wavelength in the range of 400 to 1500 nm, a width in the range of about 0.5 to about 500 picoseconds, and an intensity in the range of about 0.1 to about 100 mJ, a step of detecting at least a part of the reflected light of the plurality of optical pulses, and a step of analyzing the detected reflected light and classifying it into at least one sex. The technique is shown.

[0004] Further, Patent Document 2 discloses a non-invasive method for detecting the current state of a chicken egg, including a step of obtaining a test measurement image by measuring the amount of light of at least one predetermined wavelength corresponding to the reflected light or transmitted light of the chicken egg using a hyperspectral camera, a step of comparing the test measurement image with a control measurement image, a step of obtaining at least one of the spectra of the chicken egg in a predetermined wavelength region using the hyperspectral camera, and a step of using a neural network algorithm to analyze the spectra. A technique including a step of comparing kurtosis and a step of evaluating the current state of a chicken egg using the result of the comparison is shown.

[0005] Furthermore, Patent Document 3 discloses a non-destructive inspection apparatus for a seed egg, which includes a light irradiation unit that irradiates the seed egg with light, a light detection unit that detects the intensity of the light transmitted through the seed egg, and a sex discrimination unit that discriminates in advance based on the intensity of the light transmitted through the seed egg at a first time point after a predetermined period has elapsed since the start of incubation.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0006]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Patent Document 3

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0007] As described above, methods for determining the sex of chicken eggs before hatching are known. However, there are several problems with conventional sex determination methods. For example, in the case of a method of forming a hole in the eggshell to collect allantoic fluid for sex determination, the hatching rate of the chicken egg may decrease due to the formation of the hole and / or the collection of allantoic fluid. On the other hand, the techniques shown in Patent Documents 1 to 3 can perform sex determination by non-destructive spectroscopic means. However, in the case of the method described in Patent Document 1, it is necessary to irradiate light pulses and detect reflected light over a wide wavelength range from the visible light region to the near-infrared light region, which may take a long time to implement. In addition, in the case of the method described in Patent Document 2, special means such as measurement by a hyperspectral camera and processing by a neural network algorithm are required, so the cost required for introduction and implementation may be excessive.

[0008] ​ In addition, it has been difficult to perform highly accurate sex determination before the 7th day after hatching by any non-destructive method. In the case of chickens, since the embryo is considered to acquire pain sensation after the 7th day after hatching, even if a non-destructive conventional technique is adopted, ultimately, the problem from the perspective of animal welfare is not solved. That is, a method for sex determination in the early stage of incubation has not been established.

[0009] On the other hand, although there is a trend globally to strengthen the obligation of production in accordance with animal welfare, both the egg industry and consumers have a low awareness of animal welfare. Therefore, it can be said that a major social issue remains in terms of how to widely penetrate animal welfare.

[0010] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a technique for non-destructively performing highly accurate sex determination at an early stage of incubation and achieving accurate and efficient animal welfare management based on the result of the sex determination.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0011] The animal welfare management support system of the present invention for solving the above problems includes communication means for communicating with the terminals of each of a series of operators related to the production, distribution, and sale of chicken eggs, means for acquiring and managing information on operations carried out in accordance with predetermined animal welfare regulations regarding the chicken eggs from each of the operators via the terminals, means for determining, when selling the chicken eggs, that management in accordance with the animal welfare regulations has been carried out by verifying the information on the operations, and issuing a certification ticket according to the result of the determination regarding the chicken eggs, According to the number of pieces of information on the business corresponding to the identification information indicated by the certification ticket, specify the degree of contribution of the operator who carried out the business to management in accordance with the animal welfare regulations. Among the proceeds collected from the sale of the chicken eggs to which the certification ticket is attached, The means for returning a proportion according to the degree of contribution to the operator who carried out the management, and is characterized by comprising the above. In addition, the animal welfare management support method of the present invention is for the terminals of each of a series of operators related to the production, distribution, and sale of chicken eggs In the system including For each of the said operators, information on operations regarding the said chicken eggs carried out in accordance with predetermined animal welfare regulations, communicate with each other among the terminals a step of acquiring and managing; and when selling the said chicken eggs, determining by verifying the said information on operations that management in accordance with the said animal welfare regulations has been carried out As a result, a step of issuing a certification label accordingly; According to the number of pieces of information on the business corresponding to the identification information indicated by the certification ticket, specify the degree of contribution of the operator who carried out the business to management in accordance with the animal welfare regulations. among the proceeds collected from the sale of the said chicken eggs to which the said certification label is attached, The a step of redistributing a proportion according to the degree of contribution to the said operator who carried out the said management, characterized by including.

Advantages of the Invention

[0012] According to the present invention, it is possible to non-destructively perform highly accurate male-female determination at an early stage of incubation and to achieve accurate and efficient animal welfare management based on the results of the male-female determination.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0013]

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Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0014] <Configuration Example of Animal Welfare Management Support System> Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration example of the animal welfare management support system 10 of the present embodiment. The animal welfare management support system 10 shown in FIG. 1 includes, in addition to the male-female determination device 100, an incubation tray 2 on which chicken eggs 1 are placed and which is responsible for the incubation process, an incubator 3 equipped with the incubation tray 2, a control mechanism 4 of the incubator 3, a light source 11, a visible light camera 12, and the light source 11. It may further include a terminal 150, an image collection server 200, and an operator system 300 in this configuration.

[0015] According to the animal welfare management support system 10 having such a configuration, highly accurate male-female determination can be non-destructively performed at an early stage of incubation, and accurate and efficient animal welfare management can be achieved based on the result of the male-female determination.

[0016] In a system configuration such as that shown in FIG. 1, the chicken egg 1 is the object of production, distribution, and sales, and in this embodiment, it is the chicken egg to be sex-determined. This chicken egg 1 is placed on the incubation tray 2 of the incubator 3 and will be managed under appropriate conditions. The chicken egg 1 placed on the incubation tray 2 is irradiated with light of an appropriate wavelength by the light source 11.

[0017] It is assumed that the incubator 3 can perform a conveying operation of picking up the chicken eggs on the incubation tray 2 and discharging them outside the incubator by the control mechanism 4. This conveying operation is, for example, a conveying operation of the chicken egg 1 determined to be male to an appropriate business operator system 300 such as a poultry farmer.

[0018] It is assumed that the incubator 3 can perform a conveying operation of picking up the chicken eggs on the incubation tray 2 and discharging them outside the incubator by the control mechanism 4. This conveying operation is, for example, a conveying operation of the chicken egg 1 determined to be male to an appropriate business operator's business operator system 300 such as a poultry farmer or a sales / processing operator. Alternatively, an instruction for manufacturing liquid eggs to the business operator system 300 may be included in the above-described conveying operation.

[0019] The light source 11 is, for example, a light-emitting unit including an LED (Light Emitting Diode) element. The light emitted by this light source 11 is visible light (light that can be captured by the imaging element of the visible light camera 12), and for example, light with a wavelength around 520 nm is assumed. However, such a wavelength is just an example and is not limited as long as it is light that can be photographed by the visible light camera 12.

[0020] In addition, as another example of the light source 11, a light irradiation element selected from the group consisting of a halogen lamp and an EverGlo ceramic can be assumed. can be assumed.

[0021] On the one hand, the reflected light of the light from the light source 11 generated in the chicken egg 1 is captured by the imaging element of the visible light camera 12. That is, the visible light camera 12 will photograph the chicken egg 1. As the imaging element, for example, a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) or a CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) may be adopted, but it is not limited thereto.

[0022] Note that the chicken egg 1 to be the object of the above-mentioned male-female determination in the animal welfare management support system 10 of the present embodiment is within 6 days from the start of incubation. It is very meaningful from the perspective of animal welfare to perform the male-female determination before the 7th day from the start of incubation, that is, before the embryo in the chicken egg 1 acquires pain sensation, that is, before the chicken egg 1 (a concept including the embryo grown in it and the subsequent chick) feels pain.

[0023] On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 1, the male-female determination device 100 of the present embodiment is communicably connected to the terminal 150, the image collection server 200, and the business operator system 300 via the network 5. Therefore, these may be collectively referred to as the animal welfare management support system 10.

[0024] The male-female determination device 100 of the present embodiment can be said to be a service providing device that appropriately obtains information from the constituent devices of the animal welfare management support system 10 as described above and performs the male-female determination of the chicken eggs 1 placed on the incubation tray 2 of the incubator 3.

[0025] On the one hand, the terminal 200 is a device or the terminal of a person in charge that performs highly accurate male-female determination by an algorithm different from that of the male-female determination device 100 of the present embodiment. Specifically, a personal computer, a smartphone, a tablet terminal, etc. can be assumed. The algorithm for performing this highly accurate male-female determination will be described later.

[0026] In addition, the image collection server 200 is a server that acquires image data obtained by photographing the chicken egg 1 with the visible light camera 12 from the visible light camera 12 (or its control system, etc.), and stores and manages it in association with attribute information such as the visible light camera 12 and shooting conditions.

[0027] Every time the image collection server 200 obtains image data from the visible light camera 12, or every time acquisition and storage are performed during a certain period, the obtained image data is distributed to the male-female determination device 100 via the network 5.

[0028] Note that at least the above-described male-female determination device 100 and the business operator system 300 shall also be able to function as distributed ledger nodes constituting a distributed ledger network. Therefore, each of the male-female determination device 100 and the business operator system 300 issues a transaction addressed to other distributed ledger nodes, and after undergoing a predetermined consensus formation process, stores the transaction in the distributed ledger in its own storage.

[0029] In addition, in accordance with the storage of such a transaction, the latest information of the distributed ledger, that is, the information of the stored transaction, is stored in the state DB. Regarding the configuration and functions themselves related to such distributed ledger technology, known ones shall be appropriately adopted and operated.

[0030] In addition, the relationship between the business operator operating the business operator system 300 and other business operators is shown in FIG. 2. The business operators shown here and the relationships between them are associated with the connections in each business such as the distribution, processing, and sales of chicken eggs that have undergone male-female determination.

[0031] In the example shown here, the male-female determination software created by the applicant of the present application is provided to the manufacturers of incubators and egg inspection devices, and these manufacturers of incubators and egg inspection devices manufacture male-female determination devices and sell them to incubation operators. On the other hand, breeding operators breed breeding birds and sell them to layer breeders. In addition, layer breeders raise egg-laying hens and sell them to incubation operators.

[0032] In addition, the hatcher identifies the eggs of female chicks and sells them to the poultry farmer. This poultry farmer collects eggs from the above-mentioned female chickens and sells them to the sales and processing operator. The sales and processing operator sells the eggs that have been appropriately processed, such as cooked, to the retailer. Also, the retailer sells eggs to consumers.

[0033] When each of these operators conducts business, the lot number included in the transaction issued by the hatcher becomes the identification information of the target eggs for that business. Therefore, each operator such as the poultry farmer, the sales and processing operator, and the retailer manages the lot number of the eggs that are the target of the business they conduct and associates it with the transaction issued along with that business. <Hardware Configuration: Male-Female Discrimination Device> Also, the hardware configuration of the male-female discrimination device 100 that constitutes the animal welfare management support system 10 of the present embodiment is as follows in FIG. 3.

[0034] That is, the male-female discrimination device 100 includes a storage 101, a memory 103, a CPU 104, a communication device 105, and a print unit 120. Also, the male-female discrimination device 100 may further include the above-mentioned light source 11 and visible light camera 12.

[0035] Among these, the storage 101 is composed of an appropriate non-volatile memory element such as an SSD (Solid State Drive) or a hard disk drive.

[0036] Also, the memory 103 is composed of a volatile memory element such as a RAM.

[0037] Also, the CPU 104 is a CPU that reads the program 102 held in the storage 101 into the memory 103 and executes it to perform overall control of the device itself and various determination, calculation, and control processes.

[0038] Also, the communication device 105 is assumed to be a network interface card or the like that connects to the network 5 and is responsible for communication processing with the terminal 150 and the image collection server 200.

[0039] In addition, when the male-female determination device 100 is a stand-alone machine, it is preferable to further include an input device that accepts key input or voice input from the user, and an output device such as a display that displays processed data.

[0040] In addition, in the storage 101, in addition to the program 102 for implementing the functions necessary for the male-female determination device 100 of the present embodiment, at least a learning data DB 1013, a determination result DB 1014, a threshold parameter 1015, a determination method setting parameter 1016, a dispersion ledger 110, and a state DB 111 are stored. However, details of these databases and parameters will be described later.

[0041] Further, the program 102 shall include a model creation engine 1011 and a male-female determination model 1012. Although details will be described later, the model creation engine 1011 executes machine learning using shooting data (image data and its conditions, etc.) related to a large number of chicken eggs and the label (determination result of either male or female) of the chicken eggs targeted for the shooting as learning data, and becomes an engine that generates a male-female determination model 1012 for determining the gender of chicken egg 1. The male-female determination model 1012 is a model created by the above-described model creation engine 1011. <Hardware Configuration: Image Collection Server> In addition, the hardware configuration of the image collection server 200 of the present embodiment is as follows in FIG. 4. That is, the image collection server 200 includes a storage 201, a memory 203, a CPU 20 4, and a communication device 205.

[0042] Among these, the storage 201 is composed of an appropriate non-volatile memory element such as an SSD (Solid State Drive) or a hard disk drive.

[0043] The memory 203 is composed of a volatile memory element such as a RAM.

[0044] Further, the CPU 204 reads the program 202 stored in the storage 201 into the memory 203 and executes it to perform overall control of the apparatus itself, and also performs various determinations, calculations, and control processes.

[0045] Further, the communication device 205 is assumed to be a network interface card or the like that connects to the network 5 and is responsible for communication processing with the male-female determination device 100.

[0046] Further, in the storage 201, in addition to the program 202 for implementing the functions necessary for the image collection server 200 of the present embodiment, at least the photographed image DB 2011 is stored. However, details of the photographed image DB 2011 will be described later. <Hardware Configuration: Operator System> Further, the hardware configuration of the operator system 300 of the present embodiment is as follows in FIG. 5. That is, the operator system 300 includes a storage 301, a memory 303, a CPU 304, a communication device 305, and a printing unit 320.

[0047] Among these, the storage 301 is composed of an appropriate non-volatile memory element such as an SSD (Solid State Drive) or a hard disk drive.

[0048] Further, the memory 303 is composed of a volatile memory element such as a RAM.

[0049] Further, the CPU 304 reads the program 302 stored in the storage 301 into the memory 303 and executes it to perform overall control of the apparatus itself, and also performs various determinations, calculations, and control processes.

[0050] Further, the communication device 305 is assumed to be a network interface card or the like that connects to the network 5 and is responsible for communication processing with the male-female determination device 100.

[0051] In addition, in the storage 301, in addition to the program 302 for implementing the functions necessary for the operator system 300 of the present embodiment, at least the distributed ledger 310 and the state DB 311 are stored.

[0052] Note that the printing unit 320 is, for example, a mechanism that prints the certification ticket 330 in response to an instruction from the sex determination device 100. This certification ticket 330 is to be attached to the object (including not only the chicken egg 1 but also products used for sex determination of chicken eggs, etc.) for which manufacturing and trading have been carried out as a result of the business being conducted in compliance with the animal welfare regulations.

[0053] The certification ticket 330 shall have, for example, a two-dimensional code indicating the identification information of the object. When this two-dimensional code is read by a corresponding reader or the like, the ID of the object (e.g., manufacturing number, lot number, etc.) can be extracted. Therefore, by performing information retrieval in the state DB using such an ID as a key, it is possible to identify which operator carried out what kind of target business before the certification ticket 330 was attached.

[0054] Also, based on the number of records hit in the above information retrieval, that is, the number of transactions, it is also possible to determine the degree of contribution of the operator who carried out the business to compliance with the animal welfare regulations (for example, taking the value of the corresponding number of transactions as the ratio occupied among operators, that is, the degree of contribution).

[0055] The degree of contribution serves as the basis for calculating the reduction ratio of the consideration recovered when the final product such as the chicken eggs handled in the business is purchased by the consumer. For example, when the profit when a certain chicken egg is purchased is 10,000 yen and the contribution degree of a certain operator is 30%, 3,000 yen is returned to the operator. <Example of data structure> Subsequently, various information used by the sex determination device 100 of the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 6 shows an example of the learning data DB 1013 in the present embodiment.

[0056] The learning data DB1013 of this embodiment associates the image data distributed from the image collection server 200 with the male / female determination results (obtained from the terminal 150) regarding the chicken eggs that are the subjects of the image data, and stores and manages them as learning data in machine learning, that is, the learning data of the model creation engine 1011.

[0057] This learning data DB1013 is, for example, a collection of linked records that associate data such as the serial number, the start date of incubation, the number of days of incubation, the type of eggs, the file name, the camera, the light source, the intensity of light, the temperature, and the humidity.

[0058] Among these, the number of days of incubation is the number of days elapsed since the start date of incubation. Also, the type of eggs indicates whether the shell of the target chicken eggs is white or red. Also, the file name indicates the name (or its storage location) of the image data obtained by photographing the chicken eggs with a visible light camera.

[0059] Also, the camera indicates the identification information of the camera arranged around the incubation tray 2 of the incubator 3 for photographing the chicken eggs on the incubation tray 2.

[0060] Also, the light source indicates the identification information of the light source used for photographing the chicken eggs on the incubation tray 2. Also, the intensity of light indicates the intensity of the light irradiated by the above-mentioned light source. Also, the temperature indicates the temperature near the incubation tray 2 at the time of photographing, and the humidity indicates the humidity in the same area.

[0061] Also, the male / female determination is the result of a highly accurate male / female determination input by the operator of the terminal 150 or the like. The details of this male / female determination will be described later.

[0062] FIG. 7 shows an example of the threshold parameter 1015 in this embodiment. The threshold parameter 1015 of this embodiment designates a plurality of shooting methods and shooting dates for the chicken egg 1, and is a value that defines the determination threshold and weighting for each of those patterns.

[0063] Such threshold parameter 1015 is composed of values of each of the photographing / data collection method, day number, female determination threshold, and weighting. Among these, the photographing / data collection method indicates the type of visible light camera. Also, the day number is a value that designates on which day after the start of incubation the photographing is to be performed.

[0064] Also, the female determination threshold is a threshold for determining a female when the confidence level of the male / female determination model 1012 is a result equal to or higher than the female determination threshold. Also, the weighting is a value (unit: %) for weighted determination in the comprehensive determination described later.

[0065] The above-mentioned female determination threshold is changeable, and by operating in such a way, it is possible to coexist the contribution to animal welfare and the economic effect by this system. For example, by setting the female determination threshold lower than a certain standard, even if there is a certain possibility or more that male chicken eggs are mixed in the chicken eggs 1 determined to be female, it is possible to respond to the need to quickly determine male and female anyway. Even if there is a certain possibility or more that male chicken eggs are mixed in the chicken eggs 1 determined to be female, it is possible to respond to the need to quickly determine male and female anyway.

[0066] Or, by setting the female determination threshold higher than a certain standard, even if it may take a certain number of days (however, within 6 days from the start of incubation), it is possible to respond to the need to keep the possibility of male chicken eggs being mixed in the chicken eggs 1 determined to be female extremely low.

[0067] Also, by performing an operation such as making the weighting value smaller for the male / female determination result in a period shortly after the start of incubation (for example, until the 3rd day) than the weighting value for the male / female determination result in the subsequent period (for example, from the 4th day to the 6th day), it is possible to perform male / female determination that emphasizes higher accuracy.

[0068] FIG. 8 shows an example of the determination method setting parameter 1016 in the present embodiment. The determination method setting parameter 1016 of the present embodiment is a value that defines the male / female determination algorithm executed in the male / female determination device 100.

[0069] This determination method setting parameter 1016 is composed of a serial number, a set value, and a default value. Among these, the set value indicates a user-specified algorithm used for male / female determination. In the example of the figure, the value of "comprehensive determination (weighted determination)" is set. This algorithm performs male / female determination based on, for example, the male / female determination results of all specified shooting dates and the "weighting" value of the threshold parameter 1015.

[0070] In addition to this, algorithms such as immediate determination (if a male determination is made on any shooting date, the chicken egg is determined to be a male chicken egg) and comprehensive determination (majority vote) can also be assumed. The algorithm of comprehensive determination (majority vote) takes a majority vote on the male / female determination results of all specified shooting dates, for example, to determine the male / female of the chicken egg.

[0071] Also, FIG. 9 shows a configuration example of the determination result DB1014 in this embodiment. This determination result DB1014 is a database that stores the male / female determination results of chicken egg 1 by the male / female determination model 1012 of the male / female determination device 100 in this embodiment.

[0072] This determination result DB1014 is composed of records including values of a serial number, a lot number, a target chicken egg, shooting / data collection methods 1... shooting / data collection methods n, and the final determination.

[0073] Among these, the lot number is identification information of the lot to which the target chicken egg belongs. Also, the target chicken egg is a value indicating the position on the incubation tray 2 of the incubator. For example, it indicates the number of stages of the incubation tray 2 and the arrangement coordinates of chicken egg 1 on the incubation tray 2 at that stage (the same concept as coordinate values in a coordinate space).

[0074] Also, the value in the shooting / data collection method column indicates the result of the male / female determination made by the male / female determination model 1012 regarding the image data obtained by shooting under the conditions corresponding to the values in each column of the shooting / data collection method in the threshold parameter 1015 of FIG. 7.

[0075] In addition, the value in the final judgment column is a value indicating the result of the final judgment made by the male / female judgment algorithm such as immediate judgment or comprehensive judgment.

[0076] Fig. 10 shows an example of the state DB 111 in the present embodiment. The state DB 111 of the present embodiment is a database held and stored in distributed ledger nodes such as the male / female determination device 100 and the operator system 300.

[0077] This state DB 111 stores the latest information on the transactions issued by each distributed ledger node. As its structure, it is an aggregate of records having values such as a lot number, an operator name, compliance with animal welfare regulations, target business, and the date and time of issuance of the certification ticket, with the operator ID that uniquely identifies the operator who is the transaction issuer as the key. Among these, the lot number is a value indicating the destination lot from which the target chicken eggs are derived. <Flow example: Model creation> Hereinafter, the actual procedure of the male / female determination method in the present embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. Various operations corresponding to the male / female determination method described below are realized by a program that the male / female determination device 100 reads into a memory or the like and executes. And this program is composed of codes for performing various operations described below.

[0078] Fig. 11A is a diagram showing a flow example of the male / female determination method in the present embodiment. Here, first, the generation flow of the male / female determination model 1012 will be described.

[0079] In this case, the male / female determination device 100 irradiates the chicken eggs on the hatching tray 2 of the incubator 3 with light of a predetermined wavelength by controlling, for example, the light source 11 (s1). The wavelength of this light is as described above.

[0080] Subsequently, the male / female determination device 100 detects the light emitted outside the chicken eggs due to the light passing through the chicken eggs or reflecting inside the chicken eggs as a result of the irradiation by the light source 11 (s2). This detection is assumed to be performed by, for example, a light detection element. This light detection means is silicon, PbS (lead sulfide) It shall be composed of a photodetector selected from the group consisting of InGaAs (indium gallium arsenide) and arsenide.

[0081] Also, in this detection, the sex determination device 100 shall acquire the visible and near-infrared spectra of the detected light by a spectroscopic instrument.

[0082] Also, the sex determination device 100 controls the visible light camera 12 to perform photographing on the above-mentioned chicken eggs (s3), and stores the image data in the image collection server 200. Alternatively, the visible light camera 12 stores the image data of the photographed chicken eggs in the image collection server 200 (s4).

[0083] Subsequently, the sex determination device 100 determines the sex of the chicken egg based on the image data of the chicken egg and the visible and near-infrared spectra obtained so far (s5). The determination result here will be stored in the "sex determination" column in the learning data DB1013.

[0084] In this case, the sex determination device 100 determines the sex of the chicken egg based on the spectral data in the wavelength range of 1700 to 2500 nm in the visible and near-infrared spectra.

[0085] The details of the sex determination method based on such visible and near-infrared spectra are as follows, and it consists of a light irradiation step, a light detection step, a spectrum acquisition step, and a sex determination step.

[0086] Among these, the light irradiation step is a step of irradiating the chicken egg 1 with light having a wavelength belonging to the visible light region to the near-infrared light region. Here, "visible light" is light having a wavelength belonging to the wavelength region of 400 to 900 nm, including the wavelength region of 400 to 750 nm corresponding to visible light. Also, "near-infrared light" means light having a wavelength belonging to the wavelength region of 900 to 2500 nm.

[0087] For example, "light having a wavelength belonging to the visible light region to the near-infrared light region" means light having a wavelength belonging to the wavelength region of 400 to 2500 nm.

[0088] The light irradiated in this step (hereinafter, also referred to as "irradiation light") preferably has a wavelength belonging to the wavelength region of 400 to 2500 nm, and more preferably has a wavelength belonging to the wavelength regions in the ranges of 400 to 900 nm and 170 to 2500 nm.

[0089] The irradiation light may be light that continuously has all wavelengths belonging to the wavelength region within the above range, or may be light having some wavelengths (for example, specific wavelengths) belonging to the wavelength region within the above range. By irradiating light having a wavelength belonging to the wavelength region within the above range, highly accurate sex determination can be performed in the sex determination step described below. Also, by selectively irradiating light having wavelengths belonging to the wavelength regions in specific ranges, for example, 400 to 900 nm and 1700 to 2500 nm, the wavelength sweep range can be narrowed and the time required for the implementation of this step can be shortened.

[0090] In this step, the irradiation light can be irradiated on the chicken egg from various directions. For example, in one embodiment, the irradiation light is irradiated on a chicken egg arranged such that the major axis connecting the blunt end and the sharp end is perpendicular to the horizontal plane, from above the chicken egg in an arbitrary direction (for example, in a direction within the range of 0 to 50° with respect to the major axis, particularly on a plane parallel to the vertical plane including the major axis and in a direction parallel to the major axis) so as to pass through the animal pole or the embryo (hereinafter, also referred to as "the first embodiment"). In another embodiment, the irradiation light is irradiated on a chicken egg arranged such that the major axis connecting the blunt end and the sharp end is parallel to the horizontal plane, from the side of the chicken egg in an arbitrary direction (for example, in a direction within the range of 0 to 90° with respect to the major axis, particularly on a horizontal

[0091] plane including the major axis and in a direction parallel to the major axis) so as to pass through the animal pole or the embryo. The light is irradiated in a direction perpendicular to the major axis on a plane parallel to the surface (hereinafter, also referred to as "the second or fourth embodiment").

[0092] In another embodiment, the irradiation light is directed in an arbitrary direction (for example, in a direction within a range of 40 to 90° with respect to the major axis, particularly in a direction perpendicular to the major axis on a plane parallel to the vertical plane including the major axis) so as to pass through the animal pole or embryo from above the chicken egg arranged such that the major axis connecting the blunt end and the sharp end is parallel to the horizontal plane. (Hereinafter, also referred to as "the third or sixth embodiment").

[0093] In another embodiment, the irradiation light is directed in an arbitrary direction (for example, in a direction within a range of 40 to 90° with respect to the major axis, particularly in a direction perpendicular to the major axis on a plane parallel to the vertical plane including the major axis) so as to pass through the animal pole or embryo from below the chicken egg arranged such that the major axis connecting the blunt end and the sharp end is parallel to the horizontal plane. (Hereinafter, also referred to as "the fifth embodiment").

[0094] In a preferred first embodiment, the irradiation light is directed in a direction parallel to the major axis on a plane parallel to the vertical plane including the major axis so as to pass through the animal pole or embryo from above the chicken egg arranged such that the major axis connecting the blunt end and the sharp end is perpendicular to the horizontal plane.

[0095] In a preferred second or fourth embodiment, the irradiation light is directed in a direction perpendicular to the major axis on a plane parallel to the horizontal plane including the major axis so as to pass through the animal pole or embryo from the side of the chicken egg arranged such that the major axis connecting the blunt end and the sharp end is parallel to the horizontal plane.

[0096] In a preferred third or sixth embodiment, the irradiation light is directed in a direction perpendicular to the major axis on a plane parallel to the vertical plane including the major axis so as to pass through the animal pole or embryo from above the chicken egg arranged such that the major axis connecting the blunt end and the sharp end is parallel to the horizontal plane. The light is irradiated.

[0097] In a preferred fifth embodiment, the irradiation light is light that is irradiated in a direction orthogonal to the major axis line on a plane parallel to the vertical plane including the major axis line so as to pass through the animal pole or the embryo from below the chicken egg with respect to the chicken egg arranged such that the major axis line connecting the blunt end portion and the sharp end portion is parallel to the horizontal plane.

[0098] In each of the embodiments exemplified above, it is preferable to previously confirm the position of the animal pole or the embryo of the chicken egg with an egg candler and arrange the chicken egg so that the animal pole or the embryo is in the incident direction of the irradiation light. By carrying out this step so that the irradiation light passes through the animal pole or the embryo, information on the blood and / or various components contained in the animal pole or the embryo can be obtained in each of the steps described below, and sex determination can be performed with high accuracy.

[0099] In this embodiment, "parallel", "perpendicular" and "orthogonal" mean that the straight line and / or plane are in a completely or substantially parallel, perpendicular or orthogonal positional relationship.

[0100] Usually, this step is carried out with the chicken egg fixed in order to place the chicken egg 1 and the irradiation light in the positional relationship described above. For this reason, in this step, it is preferable to use the incubator 3 and its incubation tray 2 in order to place the chicken egg in the above-described arrangement. When using the incubation tray 2, the chicken egg is placed, for example, on the upper surface of the incubation tray 2.

[0101] In this embodiment, "so as to pass through the animal pole or the embryo" and "so as to pass through the yolk" mean that the light passes through at least a part of the animal pole or the embryo, or the yolk, inside the chicken egg.

[0102] The position where it passes through the animal pole or the embryo means, for example, a range of 15 to 30 mm, typically a range of 17 to 25 mm, from the sharp end of the chicken egg. Also, the position where it passes through the yolk means, for example , a range of 20 to 60 mm, typically a range of 27 to 52 mm, from the sharp end of the chicken egg.

[0103] This process is preferably carried out by irradiating light inside a housing member that houses chicken eggs and an incubation tray 2. The housing member is preferably a member that can substantially block external light like a light-tight box. By carrying out this process inside the housing member, the influence of external light can be substantially suppressed, and sex determination can be performed with higher precision.

[0104] In addition, in the light detection process, the light emitted outside the chicken egg by the light irradiated in the above-described light irradiation process passing through the chicken egg 1 may be described as "transmitted light", and the light emitted outside the chicken egg by the light irradiated in the light irradiation process reflecting inside the chicken egg may be described as "reflected light".

[0105] Although the transmitted light and the reflected light can be selected based on the combination of the light irradiation position in the light irradiation process and the light detection position in this process, it is difficult to strictly separate the transmitted light and the reflected light from each other. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the transmitted light may contain the reflected light at a certain ratio, and the reflected light may contain the transmitted light at a certain ratio.

[0106] In addition, in the present embodiment, an embodiment in which the transmitted light emitted outside the chicken egg is detected for sex determination may be described as the "transmission method", and an embodiment in which the reflected light emitted outside the chicken egg is detected for sex determination may be described as the "reflection method".

[0107] The transmitted light or the reflected light detected in this process preferably has wavelengths belonging to the wavelength range of 400 to 2500 nm, and more preferably has wavelengths belonging to the wavelength ranges of 400 to 900 nm and 1700 to 2500 nm.

[0108] The transmitted light or the reflected light may be light having all wavelengths belonging to the wavelength range described above continuously, or may be light having some wavelengths (for example, specific wavelengths) belonging to the wavelength range described above.

[0109] By detecting transmitted light or reflected light having a wavelength belonging to the wavelength region within the above range, highly accurate sex determination can be performed in the sex determination step described below. Further, by selectively detecting transmitted light or reflected light having a wavelength belonging to a wavelength region within a specific wavelength range, for example, in the range of 400 to 900 nm and in the range of 1700 to 2500 nm, the wavelength scanning range can be narrowed and the time required for carrying out this step can be shortened.

[0110] In this step, light emitted in various directions with respect to the chicken egg can be detected. For example, in one embodiment, the detected light is light (transmitted light) emitted to the side of the chicken egg by passing through a chicken egg arranged such that the long axis connecting the blunt end and the sharp end is orthogonal to the horizontal plane, and is light (transmitted light) emitted in an arbitrary direction (for example, in a direction within the range of 40 to 90° with respect to the long axis, particularly in a direction orthogonal to the long axis on a horizontal plane orthogonal to the long axis) so as to pass through the egg yolk of the chicken egg (hereinafter, also referred to as "the first embodiment").

[0111] In another embodiment, the detected light is light (transmitted light) emitted downward of the chicken egg by passing through a chicken egg arranged such that the long axis connecting the blunt end and the sharp end is parallel to the horizontal plane, and is light (transmitted light) emitted in an arbitrary direction (for example, in a direction within the range of 40 to 90° with respect to the long axis, particularly in a direction orthogonal to the long axis on a plane parallel to the vertical plane including the long axis) so as to pass through the egg yolk of the chicken egg (hereinafter, also referred to as "the second or third embodiment").

[0112] In another embodiment, the detected light is light (transmitted light) emitted to the side of the chicken egg by passing through a chicken egg arranged such that the long axis connecting the blunt end and the sharp end is parallel to the horizontal plane, and is light emitted in an arbitrary direction (for example, in a direction within the range of 0 to 90° with respect to the long axis, particularly in a direction orthogonal to the long axis on a plane parallel to the horizontal plane including the long axis) so as to pass through the egg yolk of the chicken egg. (hereinafter, also referred to as "the fourth embodiment").

[0113] In another embodiment, the detected light is light (reflected light) that is emitted downward from the chicken egg by reflecting inside the chicken egg arranged such that the major axis connecting the blunt end and the sharp end is parallel to the horizontal plane, and is emitted in an arbitrary direction (for example, in a direction within a range of 40 to 90° with respect to the major axis, particularly in a direction of 45° with respect to the major axis on a plane parallel to the vertical plane including the major axis) so as to pass through the egg yolk of the chicken egg. (Hereinafter, it is also described as the "fifth embodiment").

[0114] In another embodiment, the detected light is light (reflected light) that is emitted upward from the chicken egg by reflecting inside the chicken egg arranged such that the major axis connecting the blunt end and the sharp end is parallel to the horizontal plane, and is emitted in an arbitrary direction (for example, in a direction within a range of 40 to 90° with respect to the major axis, particularly in a direction orthogonal to the major axis on a plane parallel to the vertical plane including the major axis) so as to pass through the egg yolk of the chicken egg. (Hereinafter, it is also described as the "sixth embodiment").

[0115] In a preferred first embodiment, the detected light is light (transmitted light) that is emitted laterally from the chicken egg by passing through the chicken egg arranged such that the major axis connecting the blunt end and the sharp end is orthogonal to the horizontal plane, and is emitted in a direction orthogonal to the major axis on a horizontal plane orthogonal to the major axis so as to pass through the egg yolk of the chicken egg.

[0116] In a preferred second or third embodiment, the detected light is light (transmitted light) that is emitted downward from the chicken egg by passing through the chicken egg arranged such that the major axis connecting the blunt end and the sharp end is parallel to the horizontal plane, and is emitted in a direction orthogonal to the major axis on a plane parallel to the vertical plane including the major axis so as to pass through the egg yolk of the chicken egg.

[0117] In a preferred fourth embodiment, the detected light is light (transmitted light) that is emitted to the side of the chicken egg by passing through a chicken egg arranged such that the major axis line connecting the blunt end and the sharp end is parallel to the horizontal plane, and is light emitted in a direction perpendicular to the major axis line on a plane parallel to the horizontal plane including the major axis line so as to pass through the egg yolk of the chicken egg.

[0118] In a preferred fifth embodiment, the detected light is light (reflected light) that is emitted downward of the chicken egg by reflecting inside a chicken egg arranged such that the major axis line connecting the blunt end and the sharp end is parallel to the horizontal plane, and is light (reflected light) emitted in a direction of 45° with respect to the major axis line on a plane parallel to the vertical plane including the major axis line so as to pass through the egg yolk of the chicken egg.

[0119] In a preferred sixth embodiment, the detected light is light (reflected light) that is emitted upward of the chicken egg by reflecting inside a chicken egg arranged such that the major axis line connecting the blunt end and the sharp end is parallel to the horizontal plane, and is light (reflected light) emitted in a direction perpendicular to the major axis line on a plane parallel to the vertical plane including the major axis line so as to pass through the egg yolk of the chicken egg.

[0120] In each of the embodiments exemplified above, it is preferable to confirm in advance the position of the egg yolk of the chicken egg with an egg candler and arrange the chicken egg so that the transmitted light or the reflected light passes through the egg yolk. By performing this step so that the transmitted light or the reflected light passes through the egg yolk, information on blood and / or various components contained in the animal pole or embryo can be obtained in each step described below, and sex determination can be performed with high accuracy. Also, the above step is preferably performed by detecting light inside the housing member described above. By performing this step inside the housing member, the influence of external light can be substantially suppressed, and sex determination can be performed with higher accuracy.

[0121] Subsequently, the spectrum acquisition step is a step of acquiring the visible and near-infrared spectra of the light detected in the above-described light detection step.

[0122] This project is implemented by generating visible and near-infrared spectra based on the light detected in the light detection process. As means for generating visible and near-infrared spectra, visible and near-infrared spectroscopic devices commonly used in the technical field can be cited.

[0123] Normally, a data analysis device for storing a spectrum data analysis program is connected to the visible and near-infrared spectroscopic device in addition to the control program of the visible and near-infrared spectroscopic device. Therefore, by using the visible and near-infrared spectroscopic device, visible and near-infrared spectra can be generated in a short time and the spectrum data can be analyzed.

[0124] The visible and near-infrared spectra obtained in this process may be spectra in their original state or second derivative spectra obtained by subjecting the spectra to second derivative processing. Since the influence of baseline changes and the like can be reduced, it is preferably a second derivative spectrum. By obtaining a second derivative spectrum in this process, the sex of the chicken egg 1 can be determined with high accuracy.

[0125] Subsequently, the sex determination process is a process in which the sex determination device 100 determines the sex of the chicken egg 1 based on the spectrum data of the visible and near-infrared spectra obtained in the above-described spectrum acquisition process.

[0126] In this process, as means for determining the sex of the chicken egg 1 based on the spectrum data, for example, multivariate analysis known in the technical field can be applied. Examples of multivariate analysis include, for example, principal component analysis and PLS discriminant analysis (Partial least square discriminant analysis, PLS-DA).

[0127] When this step is carried out using principal component analysis, it may be carried out according to the following procedure. First, create a male-female determination model. Using a predetermined number of chicken eggs with known genders, perform a light irradiation step, a light detection step, and a spectrum acquisition step to obtain the standard visible and near-infrared spectra for each of the male and female.

[0128] The visible and near-infrared spectra to be obtained are preferably second derivative spectra. The determination of the genders of the chicken eggs used to obtain the standard visible and near-infrared spectra may be carried out by applying gender determination means known in the art.

[0129] Examples of known gender determination means include, for example, a genetic analysis method in which samples of the embryo and blood of a chicken egg are collected, and gender determination is performed by multiplex PCR using gender-specific primers with the DNA extracted from the collected samples, and a method in which the collected samples are instrumentally analyzed and gender determination is performed based on the component concentrations (for example, hormone concentrations) in the samples.

[0130] The gender determination means exemplified above may be carried out by cracking the chicken eggs used after obtaining the standard visible and near-infrared spectra, collecting samples. Next, perform principal component analysis on the standard spectrum data groups for each of the male and female. In the standard principal component spaces for each of the male and female, it is preferable to detect outliers using the Mahalanobis distance and obtain a principal component score plot excluding the outliers. The obtained principal component score plot can be used as a male-female determination model.

[0131] Next, for the chicken eggs to be measured, perform a light irradiation step, a light detection step, and a spectrum acquisition step to obtain visible and near-infrared spectra. The visible and near-infrared spectra to be obtained are preferably second derivative spectra. Perform principal component analysis on the spectral data of the obtained visible and near-infrared spectra, and apply the obtained principal component scores to the principal component space of the male-female determination model to determine the genders.

[0132] In this case, examples of the means for applying the principal component scores of the eggs to be measured to the principal component space of the male / female discrimination model include, for example, the residual dispersion method in the principal component space, the maximum distance method based on wavelength, and the Mahalanobis distance in the principal component space.

[0133] In this step, the creation of the male / female discrimination model by multivariate analysis and the male / female discrimination of the object to be measured may be performed, for example, using a data analysis device such as a computer installed with commercially available multivariate analysis software commonly used in the technical field, or using a data analysis device such as a computer connected to the visible and near-infrared spectroscopic device used in the spectrum acquisition step. Usually, a program for performing multivariate analysis of spectral data is stored in the data analysis device connected to the visible and near-infrared spectroscopic device. Therefore, by performing this step using the data analysis device connected to the visible and near-infrared spectroscopic device, male / female discrimination can be performed at low cost.

[0134] In this step, the creation of the male / female discrimination model by multivariate analysis may be performed each time this step is carried out. However, it is preferable to store the data of the previously created model in the storage 101 of the male / female discrimination device 100 and call it for use when performing this step on the eggs to be measured. In the case of this embodiment, the time for male / female discrimination can be shortened.

[0135] In this step, it has been found that male / female discrimination can be performed with high accuracy by performing male / female discrimination based on spectral data in the wavelength range of 1700 to 2500 nm. The wavelength range of the spectral data used in this step is in the range of 1700 to 2500 nm, preferably in the range of 1700 to 2200 nm or 1800 to 2500 nm, and more preferably in the range of 1800 to 2200 nm. is even more preferable.

[0136] ​The spectral data used in this process may be spectral data of light having all wavelengths continuously within the wavelength range described above, or may be spectral data of light having some wavelengths (for example, specific wavelengths) within the wavelength range described above.

[0137] The wavelength range belongs to the near-infrared light region on the long-wavelength side. From the spectral data in the wavelength range on the long-wavelength side, information on various components such as proteins and fats contained in the eggshell and inside the chicken egg can be obtained. It is considered that there are slight differences in the composition of various components contained inside the chicken egg, particularly in the animal pole or embryo of the egg yolk, between males and females. Therefore, by performing this process based on the spectral data in the near-infrared light region on the long-wavelength side within the above range, sex determination can be performed with high accuracy based on the slight differences in the composition of various components contained in the eggshell and inside the chicken egg.

[0138] Subsequently, the processing by the model creation engine 1011 in the sex determination device 100 will be described based on the flow in FIG. 11B. In this case, the sex determination device 100 associates the image data of the chicken egg 1 obtained in s3 and s4 in the flow of FIG. 11A described above with the sex determination result (high-precision by another algorithm) obtained in s5 as a label (s10).

[0139] Subsequently, the sex determination device 100 performs appropriate processing such as deleting unnecessary data and emphasizing feature data on the image data with the label associated in s10 to create learning data (s11). Note that the sex determination device 100 stores the learning data created here in the learning data DB 1013.

[0140] Further, the sex determination device 100 gives the learning data obtained in s11 to the model creation engine 1011 and proceeds with machine learning to create a sex determination model 1012 (s12), and ends the processing. Note that the sex determination device 100 stores and holds the sex determination model 1012 created here in the storage 101. <Flow example: Sex determination> The processes according to the flows shown in FIGS. 11A and 11B above were performed on a large number of chicken eggs within 6 days after the start of incubation, and were for generating the male / female determination model 1012. On the other hand, a flow for accurately determining the sex of the chicken eggs 1 at the initial stage of incubation start using such a male / female determination model 1012 will be described based on FIGS. 12 to 14.

[0141] Here, the sex determination device 100 shall execute this flow for each of the chicken eggs 1 on the incubation tray 2 in the incubator 3 for all the number of photographing days (that is, a total of 6 days from the start of incubation to the 6th day).

[0142] The sex determination device 100 detects, for example, whether a specified incubation day number such as the 2nd to 3rd day from the start of incubation has been reached for the chicken eggs on the incubation tray 2, or obtains information on the incubation day number from a system for incubation management or the like (s30).

[0143] Subsequently, the sex determination device 100 transmits an instruction for collecting photographing data of the chicken egg images to the visible light camera 12 (photographing / data collection methods 1 to n) (s31). In response to this, the visible light camera 12 executes photographing of the chicken eggs 1 by each method (s32) and obtains image data.

[0144] Also, the sex determination device 100 acquires the image data of the chicken eggs 1 from the above-described visible light camera (s33). In this case, it can be assumed that the management system of the visible light camera 12 distributes the image data to the sex determination device 100 via the network 5.

[0145] Subsequently, the sex determination device 100 refers to the set value of the determination method setting parameter 1016 and specifies the algorithm for sex determination (s34).

[0146] As a result of the above determination, if the algorithm to be adopted is "immediate determination" (s34: YES), the sex determination device 100 executes a series of immediate determination processes shown in the flow of 13 FIG. (s35).

[0147] In this case, the sex determination device 100 inputs the image data of the chicken egg 1 at the corresponding incubation days by the corresponding visible light camera 12 in accordance with the values specified in each column of the threshold parameter 1015 shown in FIG. 7 7

[0148]

[0149]

[0150]

[0151]

[0152] In this case, the sexing device 100 inputs image data obtained by each photographing and data collection method on each day as shown in the flow in FIG. 10 into the sexing model 1012 to obtain the sexing result (s361 to s363).

[0153] The sexing device 100 then performs a comprehensive sexing process (s364) for each sexing result obtained up to s363, according to the "female determination threshold" and "weighting" defined in the threshold parameter 1015 in Fig. 5. This process performs sexing based on whether the image data on the third day is 90% or more in terms of femininity, and also evaluates the sexing result (e.g., " For example, a process of multiplying a weighting value by "1" for a male or "0" for a female is performed for each image data obtained up to the day obtained so far, and if, for example, the average value of the multiplication results obtained for each day is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold value, the sex of the egg 1 is determined to be female (s365: female), and the process ends.

[0154] On the other hand, if the result of the above-mentioned judgment is that the average value is below the predetermined threshold value, the sex of the egg 1 is judged to be male (s365: male), and the egg 1 is marked as not to be incubated, or is removed from the incubation tray 2 and delivered to a liquid egg manufacturer, or a process is executed to sell the egg 1 to the above-mentioned liquid egg manufacturer (s367), and the process is terminated. <Animal welfare management flow> An example of the flow of the animal welfare management method of this embodiment is shown in Figure 15. Here, the process of issuing and storing transactions and printing the certification ticket 330, which are executed by distributed ledger nodes such as the sexing device 100 and the business operator system 300, is shown.

[0155] In each of the flows shown in FIGS. 12 to 14, when any business is performed, the business operator system 300 that has performed the business issues a transaction and notifies each distributed ledger node. That is, in S40 to S45 in the flow of FIG. 15, the business operator system 300 of each business operator issues transaction data as a transaction, and stores it in its own distributed ledger 110 after obtaining agreement formation. At this time, the state DB 111 is also updated.

[0156] In addition, in the business of selling chicken eggs by a retailer, which is the end point of a series of operations related to chicken eggs, the business operator system 300 of the retailer, for example, receives an instruction to issue a certification ticket from the sex determination device 100, and prints the certification ticket 330 with the printing unit 320 (S45).

[0157] This certification ticket 330 is to be attached to the object (in addition to chicken egg 1, products used for sex determination of chicken eggs, etc.) for which manufacturing and transactions have been carried out as a result of operations being performed in compliance with animal welfare regulations.

[0158] The certification ticket 330 shall have, for example, a two-dimensional code indicating the identification information of the object. When this two-dimensional code is read by a corresponding reader or the like, information such as the ID of the object (e.g., manufacturing number, lot number, etc.) and the fact that it is a certified product that complies with animal welfare regulations can be extracted.

[0159] The consumer can obtain such an ID through a two-dimensional code reading operation using their own smartphone, and use this as a key to perform an information search in the state DB 311 in the business operator system 300 of the retailer. As a result of this information search, the business operator system 300 responds to the above-mentioned consumer's smartphone with information on which business operator performed what target business before the certification ticket 330 was attached.

[0160] When the product to which the certification ticket 330 is attached is purchased, the information is stored, for example, in the distributed ledgers and state DBs of the business operator systems 300 of each business operator and the sex determination device 100 by the issuance of a transaction by the business operator system 300 of the retailer.

[0161] That is, certified products that comply with animal welfare regulations are sold by a certain retailer, and information indicating that corresponding profits have been made is stored and managed by each business operator.

[0162] Therefore, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 16, a mechanism is implemented to distribute and refund the obtained profits according to the contribution degrees of the participating business operators. In this case, for example, every time a certain period elapses or a transaction for profit acquisition is stored, the sex determination device 100 totals the number of records for each "business operator name" in the state DB 111 (s50).

[0163] The sex determination device 100 determines the contribution degree of the business operator who has carried out the relevant business to compliance with animal welfare regulations based on the number of records hit in the above extraction, that is, the number of transactions (s51). This determination is, for example, taking the value of the corresponding number of transactions as the ratio occupied among business operators, that is, the contribution degree.

[0164] The contribution degree serves as the basis for calculating the refund ratio of the consideration recovered when the final products such as chicken eggs handled in the relevant business are purchased by consumers.

[0165] Subsequently, the sex determination device 100 calculates, for example, the profit amount of chicken eggs that can be sold in a certain period based on, for example, the transactions of the target business "retail", and multiplies this calculated value by the contribution degree determined in s51 above to calculate the refund amount to be distributed to each business operator (s52).

[0166] For example, when the profit from chicken egg sales in a certain period is 100,000 yen and the contribution degree of a certain business operator is 30%, the refund amount to be distributed to the business operator can be calculated as 30,000 yen.

[0167] Subsequently, the sex determination device 100 remits the refund amount calculated in s52 to the target business operator using a predetermined financial service (s53) and ends the process.

[0168] As described above, the best mode for carrying out the present invention has been specifically described. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and various modifications can be made without departing from the gist thereof.

[0169] According to such an embodiment, it is possible to efficiently perform chicken egg production in accordance with animal welfare and value management of animal welfare brand chicken eggs produced by such production, and to return the profits recovered from consumers as the consideration for the brand to stakeholders such as production and distribution of the chicken eggs. As a result, it becomes possible to non-destructively perform highly accurate sex determination in the early stage of incubation and to achieve accurate and efficient animal welfare management based on the result of the sex determination. This leads to the solution of problems such as a shortage of sex determination workers, animal welfare measures against culling male chicks, and reduction of egg hatching costs and culling costs, which are issues in the egg production industry.

[0170] From the description of this specification, at least the following is clarified. That is, in the animal welfare management support system of the present embodiment, the means for acquiring and managing the information of the business from the terminal may be such that each terminal of the business operator receives a transaction issued in accordance with the implementation of the business, and stores it in a distributed ledger through a predetermined consensus formation regarding the transaction.

[0171] According to this, it becomes possible to securely manage the history of operations related to chicken eggs in accordance with animal welfare regulations by a distributed ledger such as a blockchain. As a result, it becomes possible to non-destructively perform highly accurate sex determination in the early stage of incubation and to achieve accurate and more efficient animal welfare management based on the result of the sex determination.

[0172] Moreover, the animal welfare management support system of this embodiment may further comprise: an irradiation means for irradiating each egg within a predetermined period from the start of incubation with light of a predetermined wavelength during the production of the eggs; an imaging means for photographing each irradiated egg; a means for generating a sexing model using the results of a separate determination of the sex of each of the eggs and image data obtained by the imaging of the eggs as learning data; and a means for determining the sex of a new target egg by inputting image data obtained by the irradiation means and the imaging means into the sexing model.

[0173] According to this, highly accurate sex determination can be performed non-destructively at an early stage of incubation, and the sex determination can be performed This will enable more accurate and efficient animal welfare management based on the results.

[0174] Moreover, in the animal welfare management support system of this embodiment, the irradiating means irradiates light with a wavelength belonging to the visible light region to the near-infrared light region, and the imaging means may be a visible light camera.

[0175] This enables simple and low-cost operation using a visible light camera, which is a common imaging method, and ultimately enables highly accurate sexing to be performed non-destructively at an early stage of incubation, enabling accurate and more efficient animal welfare management based on the results of the sexing.

[0176] In the animal welfare management support system of the present embodiment, light detection means for detecting light emitted outside the chicken egg by the light transmitted through the chicken egg or reflected inside the chicken egg by the irradiation means; spectrum acquisition means for acquiring the visible and near-infrared spectra of the light detected by the light detection means; and sex determination means for determining the sex of the chicken egg based on the spectral data in the wavelength range of 1700 to 2500 nm in the visible and near-infrared spectra acquired by the spectrum acquisition means, may be further provided, and the determination result by the sex determination means may be used as the separately determined result.

[0177] According to this, it leads to a highly accurate sex determination model. As a result, it becomes possible to non-destructively perform highly accurate sex determination in the early stage of incubation and to achieve accurate and more efficient animal welfare management based on the result of the sex determination.

[0178] In the animal welfare management support method of the present embodiment, the step of acquiring and managing the information of the business from the terminal may be such that each terminal of the business operator receives a transaction issued in accordance with the implementation of the business, and stores it in the distributed ledger after going through a predetermined consensus formation regarding the transaction.

[0179] In the animal welfare management support method of the present embodiment, in the production of chicken eggs, an irradiation step of irradiating each chicken egg within a predetermined period from the start of incubation with light of a predetermined wavelength; a photographing step of photographing each irradiated chicken egg; a step of generating a sex determination model using, as learning data, the separately determined result regarding the sex of each chicken egg and the image data obtained by the photographing of the chicken egg; and a step of determining the sex of the target chicken egg by inputting the image data obtained by the irradiation step and the photographing step into the sex determination model for a new target chicken egg for sex determination, may be further provided.

[0180] Also, in the animal welfare management support method of the present embodiment, the irradiation step may irradiate light having a wavelength belonging to the visible light region to the near-infrared light region, and the imaging step may be imaging by a visible light camera.

[0181] Further, in the animal welfare management support method of the present embodiment, a light detection step of detecting light emitted outside the chicken egg by the light irradiated in the irradiation step passing through the chicken egg or reflecting inside the chicken egg; a spectrum acquisition step of acquiring the visible and near-infrared spectra of the light detected in the light detection step; and a male / female determination step of determining the gender of the chicken egg based on the spectrum data in the wavelength region of 1700 to 2500 nm in the visible and near-infrared spectra acquired in the spectrum acquisition step, may be further provided, and the determination result by the male / female determination step may be used as the separately determined result.

Explanation of Signs

[0182] 1 Chicken egg 2 Incubation tray 3 Incubator 4 Control mechanism 5 Network 10 Animal welfare management support system 11 Light source (irradiation means) 12 Visible light camera (imaging means) 100 Male / female determination device 101 Storage 1011 Model creation engine 1012 Male / female determination model 1013 Learning data DB 1014 Judgment result DB 1015 Threshold parameter 1016 Judgment method setting parameter 102 Program 103 Memory 104 CPU 105 Communication device 110 Distributed ledger 111 State DB 120 Print Unit 130 Authentication Ticket 150 Terminal 200 Image Collection Server 201 Storage 2011 Photographed Image DB 202 Program 203 Memory 204 CPU 205 Communication Device 300 Operator System 301 Storage 302 Program 303 Memory 304 CPU 305 Communication Device 310 Distributed Ledger 311 State DB 320 Print Unit 330 Authentication Ticket

Claims

1. Communication means for communicating with the terminals of each of a series of operators related to the production, distribution, and sales of chicken eggs, Means for obtaining and managing, from the terminals, information on operations carried out in accordance with predetermined animal welfare regulations regarding the chicken eggs by each of the operators, Means for, when selling the chicken eggs, determining, by verifying the information on the operations, that management in accordance with the animal welfare regulations has been carried out, and issuing a certification ticket according to the result of the determination regarding the chicken eggs, Means for specifying the degree of contribution to management in accordance with the animal welfare regulations by the operator who carried out the operation according to the number of the information on the operations corresponding to the identification information indicated by the certification ticket, and returning, to the operator who carried out the management, a proportion corresponding to the degree of contribution out of the proceeds collected from the sale of the chicken eggs to which the certification ticket was attached, An animal welfare management support system, characterized by comprising the above.

2. The means for obtaining and managing the information on the operations from the terminals is such that each terminal of the operators receives a transaction issued in response to the implementation of the operation, and stores it in a distributed ledger through a predetermined consensus formation regarding the transaction. The animal welfare management support system according to claim 1, characterized by the above.

3. When producing the chicken eggs, Irradiation means for irradiating each chicken egg within a predetermined period from the start of incubation with light of a predetermined wavelength, Imaging means for imaging each irradiated chicken egg, Means for generating a male / female determination model using, as learning data, the result of separately determining the male / female of each of the chicken eggs and the image data obtained by the imaging regarding the chicken eggs, Means for determining the male / female of the target chicken eggs for new male / female determination by inputting the image data obtained by the irradiation means and the imaging means into the male / female determination model. The animal welfare management support system according to claim 2, further characterized by comprising the above.

4. The irradiation means irradiates light having a wavelength belonging to the visible light region to the near-infrared light region, The imaging means is a visible light camera. The animal welfare management support system according to claim 3, characterized by the above.

5. Light detection means for detecting light emitted outside the chicken eggs by the light irradiated by the irradiation means passing through the chicken eggs or reflecting inside the chicken eggs Spectrum acquisition means for acquiring the visible and near-infrared spectra of the light detected by the light detection means; Sex determination means for determining the sex of the chicken eggs based on the spectral data in the wavelength range of 1700 to 2500 nm in the visible and near-infrared spectra acquired by the spectrum acquisition means; It further comprises, and the determination result by the sex determination means is used as the separately determined result. The animal welfare management support system according to claim 4, characterized in that.

6. In a system including terminals of each of a series of operators related to the production, distribution, and sale of chicken eggs, A process of mutually communicating and acquiring and managing information on operations carried out in accordance with predetermined animal welfare regulations regarding the chicken eggs by each of the operators through the terminals; A process of issuing a certification ticket according to the result of determining, by verifying the information on the operations, that management in accordance with the animal welfare regulations has been carried out when selling the chicken eggs; Specify the degree of contribution to management in accordance with the animal welfare regulations by the operator who carried out the operation according to the number of the information on the operations corresponding to the identification information indicated by the certification ticket, and of the price collected by selling the chicken eggs to which the certification ticket is attached, a process of returning a proportion corresponding to the degree of contribution to the operator who carried out the management; An animal welfare management support method characterized by including.

7. The process of acquiring and managing the information on the operations from the terminals is Each terminal of the operators receives a transaction issued in response to the implementation of the operation, and after going through a predetermined consensus formation regarding the transaction, stores it in a distributed ledger. The animal welfare management support method according to claim 6, characterized in that.

8. When producing the chicken eggs, An irradiation step of irradiating each chicken egg within a predetermined period from the start of incubation with light of a predetermined wavelength; A photographing step of photographing each of the irradiated chicken eggs; A step of generating a sex determination model using, as learning data, the result of separately determining the sex of each of the chicken eggs and the image data obtained by the photographing regarding the chicken eggs; A step of determining the sex of the target chicken eggs by inputting the image data obtained by the irradiation step and the photographing step into the sex determination model for the target chicken eggs for new sex determination. The animal welfare management support method according to claim 7, further comprising

9. The irradiation step irradiates light having a wavelength belonging to the visible light region to the near-infrared light region, The photographing step is photographing by a visible light camera, The animal welfare management support method according to claim 8, characterized in that

10. A light detection step of detecting light emitted outside the chicken egg by the light irradiated in the irradiation step passing through the chicken egg or reflecting inside the chicken egg; A spectrum acquisition step of acquiring the visible and near-infrared spectra of the light detected in the light detection step; A male / female determination step of determining the sex of the chicken egg based on the spectrum data in the wavelength region of 1700 to 2500 nm in the visible and near-infrared spectra acquired in the spectrum acquisition step; further comprising, and using the determination result by the male / female determination step as the separately determined result, The animal welfare management support method according to claim 9, characterized in that

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