Egg management support system

Abstract

An egg management support system (1) of the present invention comprises a reception unit (11) and a storage unit (12). The reception unit (11) receives, from an information processing device (2) in a hatchery (4), biological information on an egg measured before hatching and an incubation result for a chick incubated from the egg. The storage unit (12) stores the biological information and the incubation result in association with each other. In this way, an egg management support system that can effectively utilize information obtained from the hatchery can be provided.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an egg management support system. [Background technology]

[0002] One example of an egg management support system is one that uses temperature information around the eggshell obtained from a temperature sensor attached to a tray placed in an incubator (see, for example, Patent Document 1). This egg management support system compares the current temperature inside the incubator with a target temperature inside the incubator, and controls the environment inside the incubator to bring the temperature closer to the target temperature inside the incubator. In conventional systems, feedback is performed in the same incubator where temperature information is collected. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] U.S. Patent No. 7,950,350 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] With the recent advancement and sophistication of information technology, there has been a noticeable trend in various fields to analyze information obtained from testing equipment and other sources as so-called big data and use it to develop new products and services. Even in the field of egg incubation, there is a need to utilize information obtained from hatcheries to manage eggs.

[0005] Until now, there has been no system that can meet these needs, and each hatchery has had to rely on its experience and intuition to manage eggs. Therefore, the object of the present invention is to effectively utilize the information obtained from hatcheries. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The egg management support system of the present invention includes a reception unit and a memory unit. The reception unit receives, from an information processing device at a hatchery, biological information of eggs measured before hatching and incubation performance information obtained for chicks hatched from the eggs. The memory unit stores the biological information and the incubation performance information in association with each other.

[0007] Here, "egg biological information" refers to information that differs from egg to egg, even for eggs from the same lot, and that can be measured using a measuring unit. Examples include egg weight, eggshell temperature, egg shape coefficient (the egg's minor axis divided by its major axis multiplied by 100), air cell height, air cell volume, eggshell thickness, eggshell strength, embryonic movement, and heart rate.

[0008] "Egg hatching performance" refers to information after hatching, and is the identifiable condition of chicks during the period from hatching to shipping. Examples include hatchability, hatch window, and chick quality. Incubation performance may be information on an individual chick, or may be information on a lot-by-lot basis. The hatch window is generally an index that represents the time interval between the first chick being laid and the last chick being laid. This is due to the fact that there are differences in the timing of hatching among multiple eggs placed in a specific hatcher tray. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] According to the present invention, an egg management support system can be provided that can effectively utilize information obtained from hatcheries.

[0010] The above and other objects, features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the chick production process in a typical hatchery. [Figure 2] 1 is a diagram showing an overview of an egg management support system according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3]FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an overview of the egg management support system according to the embodiment. [Figure 4] 10 is a table showing the contents stored in a storage unit according to the embodiment. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an outline of an egg management support system according to a modified example of the present invention. [Figure 6] 10 is a table showing the contents stored in a storage unit according to a modified example of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. At a breeding company, a farm where breeding hens, the parents of commercial chickens, are raised is called a breeding farm. Eggs laid at this breeding farm are first collected in an egg storage area at the hatchery 4, as shown in Figure 1, and then undergo a process called pre-warming before being placed (set) in an incubator 3 to begin incubation. Inspection is carried out on the 18th or 19th day after the eggs are set in the incubator 3, and the eggs hatch approximately 21 days after setting. After hatching, the chicks are sorted in a chick processing unit 5 and shipped to the farm. The chicks are counted in the chick processing unit 5. In the chick processing unit 5, the chicks are sorted into males and females, and even females with bent legs, weak bodies, or deformities are sorted out. Sorting is done using photographs of the chicks or by hand.

[0013] In this embodiment, an egg management support system 1 used at multiple hatcheries 4 is applied to the environment of the hatchery 4 as shown in Figures 2 and 3. The egg management support system 1 uses a computer system to store information for each hatchery 4 and calculates information that can be used to produce better chicks. Furthermore, this egg management support system 1 uses cloud computing to support the production management of eggs in the process of hatching that have been placed in an incubator 3. Here, "eggs in the process of hatching" refers to eggs that have been placed in the incubator 3 until they are hatched, and X days after being placed in the incubator 3 is referred to as "incubation day X" or "Day X."

[0014] 2 and 3, information acquired at the hatchery 4 is stored in the egg management support system 1 via the information processing device 2. The incubator 3 equipped with the sensor 31, the information processing device 2, and the egg management support system 1 are interconnected so as to be able to communicate with each other via a network such as the Internet.

[0015] Egg management support system 1 includes a reception unit 11, a memory unit 12, and an information generation unit 13. Reception unit 11, memory unit 12, and information generation unit 13 may be configured as a physically integrated computer, or may each be configured as a physically separate computer. Egg management support system 1 is communicatively connected to a plurality of information processing devices 2, incubators 3, or chick processing devices 5 via a network. As shown in Figures 2 and 3, a plurality of incubators I, II, III,...N are each installed in a different hatchery 4.

[0016] The reception unit 11 receives, from the information processing devices 2 of the hatcheries 4, biometric information on eggs measured on multiple days leading up to hatching and incubation performance information on chicks hatched from those eggs. Specifically, the reception unit 11 receives biometric information, incubation performance, attribute information, environmental information, and the like from the information processing devices 2 via the network. The biometric information includes, for example, egg weight, eggshell temperature, egg shape coefficient, air cell height, air cell volume, eggshell thickness, eggshell strength, and embryonic movement and heart rate. Incubation performance includes hatching rate (whether eggs hatched or not, or the proportion of eggs that hatched in a group), hatch window (whether eggs hatched early or late, or the narrowness of the hatch window for a group of eggs; indicated as "HW" in the figure), chick quality (whether the chicks are of good quality), and sex (male or female, or the proportion of eggs of one sex in a group). Attribute information is common to eggs from the same lot and includes genetic information and growth information. Genetic information includes the breed of chicken, etc. Growth information includes the age of the parent chicken, the date and time of egg laying, the type of feed, the parent chicken's medical history, and vaccination history, etc. Environmental information includes the temperature and humidity of the incubator 3. Biological information and environmental information are obtained from the sensor 31, and each piece of information is associated with date and time information.

[0017] The storage unit 12 is a cloud storage that can be accessed via a network by authorized information processing devices 2, including chick breeders. The storage unit 12 stores biological information and incubation performance in association with each other. The storage unit 12 also stores attribute information and environmental information in association with these. The storage unit 12 also stores information generated by the information generation unit 13.

[0018] The information generation unit 13 generates environmental control information for controlling the indoor environment of the incubator 3 based on the biological information and the incubation performance.

[0019] The incubators 3 installed in the hatchery 4 are equipped with various sensors 31. The sensors 31 measure, for example, the condition of the eggs (eggshell temperature, heart rate, etc.), and biological information can be obtained from these sensors 31. Other sensors 31 measure, for example, the environment of the incubator 3 (temperature, humidity, etc. inside the incubator 3), and environmental information can be obtained from these sensors 31. The hatching timing can be obtained from the sensor 31 that measures the humidity of the incubator 3, and the incubation results can be obtained.

[0020] The chick processing device 5 installed in the hatchery 4 is equipped with various sensors 51. The sensors 51 measure, for example, the condition of the chicks, and the incubation performance can be obtained from these sensors 51. The incubation performance may be input as a result of observation by an operator.

[0021] The attribute information is input by an operator. The attribute information may be obtained by reading a barcode provided on a tray containing eggs with a reader.

[0022] Information processing device 2 includes transmission unit 21, temporary recording unit 22, and processing unit 23. Transmission unit 21 transmits information received from sensors 31, 51, calculation results in processing unit 23, information input by operators, and the like to egg management support system 1. Temporary recording unit 22 temporarily records the information to be transmitted to transmission unit 21. Processing unit 23 performs calculation processing using data from temporary recording unit 22 according to a predetermined program. Processing unit 23 also controls incubator 3 based on the environmental control information generated by information generation unit 13.

[0023] Next, a method for using the egg management support system 1 will be described. First, on Day 0, when eggs are placed in the incubator 3, a barcode on the tray is read by a reader. The barcode is linked to the tray ID and the breed of chicken. The tray ID and breed information read by the reader are recorded in the temporary recording unit 22 of the information processing device 2 and transmitted to the egg management support system 1 via the network.

[0024] The heart rate and egg weight of each of multiple eggs in a single tray are measured. An egg ID is assigned to each measured egg. The heart rate is measured by shining light onto the egg and detecting the light diffused inside the egg. The heart rate is measured over several days until hatching, for example, every few days or every 24 or 12 hours. The egg weight is measured, for example, with a weighing scale. The egg weight is measured over several days until hatching, for example, every few days or every 24 or 12 hours. The measured heart rate and egg weight are recorded in the temporary recording unit 22 of the information processing device 2 and are transmitted to the egg management support system 1 via the network as appropriate.

[0025] The room temperature is measured by a thermometer installed inside the incubator 3. The room temperature is measured, for example, every 24 hours or every 12 hours. The measured room temperature is recorded in the temporary recording unit 22 of the information processing device 2 and is transmitted to the egg management support system 1 via the network as appropriate.

[0026] After the eggs are moved (transferred) from the setter to the hatcher on Day 18, they hatch around Day 21. As the eggs hatch in the hatcher, the humidity rises, and the hatch window is calculated based on information measured by a hygrometer installed in the incubator 3. After hatching, the chicks are sorted by the chick processing device 5. The chick processing device 5 counts the chicks and calculates the hatch rate. The chick processing device 5 quantifies the chick quality using images. The hatch window, hatch rate, and chick quality are recorded in the temporary recording unit 22 of the information processing device 2 and transmitted to the egg management support system 1 via the network. Note that egg IDs and tray IDs are used to associate these incubation results with biological information.

[0027] In egg management support system 1, reception unit 11 stores, for each egg ID, biological information, incubation results, attribute information, and environmental information received from multiple hatcheries 4. Users who can access egg management support system 1 can use the various information stored in egg management support system 1.

[0028] One example of use is to control the indoor environment of the incubator 3 using the environmental control information generated by the information generation unit 13 of the egg management support system 1. The environmental control information is calculated by the information generation unit 13 using the information stored in the memory unit 12 regarding changes in biological information and environmental information to improve incubation performance.

[0029] As explained above, the egg management support system 1 according to this embodiment comprises a reception unit 11 and a memory unit 12. The reception unit 11 receives, from the information processing devices 2 of hatcheries 4 at multiple locations, biological information on eggs measured on multiple days before hatching and incubation performance obtained for chicks hatched from those eggs. The memory unit 12 stores the biological information and incubation performance in association with each other. As a result, information from multiple hatcheries 4 can be used effectively.

[0030] The egg management support system 1 further includes an information generation unit 13 that generates environmental control information for controlling the indoor environment of the incubator 3 based on the biological information and the incubation performance. Therefore, even an operator without know-how can appropriately control the incubator 3 and improve the incubation performance.

[0031] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and a modification of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0032] 5, the egg management support system 1 may be one that manages biological information and incubation performance of eggs in a single hatchery 4 (single farm). That is, this egg management support system 1 stores biological information and incubation performance of eggs in a single hatchery 4 in association with each other.

[0033] The biological information of the eggs is measured for eggs in one incubator 3 provided in a single hatchery 4. Alternatively, the biological information of the eggs is measured for eggs in multiple incubators 3 provided in a single hatchery 4.

[0034] Hatching performance is obtained for chicks hatched from eggs at a single hatchery 4 and processed in one processing unit 5. Alternatively, hatching performance is obtained for chicks hatched from eggs at a single hatchery 4 and processed in multiple processing units 5.

[0035] As shown in Figure 6, the egg management support system 1 may also be one in which the biological information of eggs is measured on a specific day before hatching. The egg management support system 1 stores the biological information of eggs in a single or multiple hatcheries 4 in association with the incubation performance. The egg biological information is measured for each egg in an incubator on a specific day before hatching. The incubation performance is obtained for chicks hatched from the eggs.

[0036] For a particular day, in FIG. 6, the day on which the heart rate was measured, the day on which the egg weight was measured, and the day on which the room temperature was measured are each represented as "Day." The measurement days may be the same for multiple measurement items, or may be different for multiple measurement items. For example, the day on which the heart rate was measured may be Day 18, the day on which the egg weight was measured may be Day 0, and the day on which the room temperature was measured may be Day 10.

[0037] Similarly, even if multiple measurement dates are set, the number of measurements and timing of measurements for each measurement item may be the same or different.

[0038] The storage unit 12 is not limited to being provided on a cloud, and may be any device that can store biological information and incubation information in association with each other. The storage unit 12 may also receive and store various information via email.

[0039] The biological information is not limited to being measured when the eggs are on the tray inside the incubator 3, but may be measured when the tray is removed from the incubator 3 or when the eggs are removed from the tray. For example, the biological information may be measured when the eggs are transferred from the setter to the hatcher.

[0040] The embodiments disclosed herein are examples and are not intended to be limiting. The present invention is defined by the scope of the claims, not the scope described above, and is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope of the claims. [Industrial Applicability]

[0041] The present invention can be used in an egg management support system. [Explanation of symbols]

[0042] 1. Egg management support system 11. Reception 12...Storage section 13...Information generation section 2...Information processing device 4… Hatchery

Claims

1. A receiving unit that receives, from an information processing device of a hatchery, biological information of eggs measured before hatching and incubation results obtained for chicks hatched from said eggs; A memory unit that stores the biological information and the incubation performance in association with each other; An egg management support system comprising an information generation unit that generates control information for controlling an incubator based on the biological information and the incubation performance.

2. a reception unit that receives, from an information processing device of the hatchery, biological information of the eggs measured before hatching and the incubation performance of the chicks hatched from the eggs; A memory unit that stores the biological information and the incubation performance in association with each other; An egg management support system comprising an information generation unit that generates environmental control information for controlling the indoor environment of the incubator based on the biological information and the incubation performance.

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