Livestock Welfare Assessment via Vocalization Audio Signal Analysis
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current Precision Livestock Farming (PLF) technologies lack effective automated methods for assessing livestock welfare through the analysis of vocalization audio signals, which is crucial for preventing animal welfare issues and improving production efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that utilize audio sensors to capture vocalization audio signals from livestock, processing these signals to extract specific acoustic features such as Mel-Frequency Cepstral Coefficients (MFCCs), pitch, and vocalization rate, which are then used to predict animal welfare and productivity indicators like weight, feed intake, and body temperature.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional monitoring methods are used to assess livestock welfare, then the system is simple to implement, but the measurement precision and automation extent are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual welfare assessment methods with automated acoustic monitoring systems. Audio sensors capture livestock vocalizations, which are then processed through signal processing algorithms to extract welfare indicators, eliminating the need for direct physical observation and significantly improving measurement precision while maintaining manageable system complexity through automated processing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces acoustic signals as an intermediary medium to assess livestock welfare. Instead of directly measuring physiological parameters or observing animal behavior, the system uses vocalization sounds as an indirect indicator of welfare status, enabling non-invasive monitoring with high precision through audio analysis.
2Extent of automation
If automated vocalization analysis is implemented, then the extent of automation and productivity improve, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service automation where the system automatically captures, processes, and analyzes vocalization signals without continuous human intervention. The automated processing pipeline extracts acoustic features, compares them against reference databases, and generates welfare assessments independently, maximizing automation extent while managing complexity through standardized processing algorithms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs preliminary action by pre-processing acoustic signals to extract relevant features before welfare assessment. The system pre-establishes reference databases of normal vocalization patterns and pre-configures analysis algorithms, enabling automated real-time monitoring without requiring complex real-time decision-making, thus improving automation while controlling system complexity.
3Reliability
If continuous monitoring is performed, then the reliability of welfare assessment improves, but the energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic monitoring of livestock vocalizations rather than truly continuous monitoring. The system analyzes audio signals at regular intervals to assess welfare status, which maintains reliable detection of welfare changes while significantly reducing energy consumption compared to constant monitoring. This periodic approach captures sufficient welfare information without excessive energy use.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3a~3b
Figure 4a~4b
AI summary
The present invention relates to a novel method for assessing livestock welfare, especially poultry birds, based on the analysis of animals' vocalization audio signals. With a set of five acoustic features (the Mel-frequency cepstral coefficients MFCC3, MFCC4 and MFCC6, the number of livestock animal vocalizations per unit of time, and the pitch feature), the method of the invention provides with real-time or short time forecast of one or more livestock animal productive indicators. This allows them to monitor and control animal welfare in a non-invasive and continuous way at any given time, taking better and faster corrective actions to guarantee animal well-being and high-quality products while maximizing productivity and profit. In addition, the method of the invention allows farmers to guarantee the welfare state of the livestock animal/s sold to a customer both prior (main location) and during transportation (secondary location).