Smart Pig Farms: Integration and Application of Digital Technologies in Pig Production

The prediction that the world population will reach almost 10 billion people by 2050 means an increase in pork production is required. Efforts to meet increased demand have made pig production one of the most technologically advanced branches of production and one which is growing continuously. Precision Livestock Production (PLF) is an increasingly widespread model in pig farming and describes a management system based on the continuous automatic monitoring and control of production, reproduction, animal health and welfare in real time, as well as the impact of animal husbandry on the environment. Today, a wide range of technologies is available, such as 2D and 3D cameras to assess body weight, behavior and activity, thermal imaging cameras to monitor body temperatures and determine estrus, microphones to monitor vocalizations, various measuring cells to monitor food intake, body weight and weight gain, and many others. By combining and applying the available technologies, it is possible to obtain a variety of data that allow livestock farmers to automatically monitor animals and improve pig health and welfare as well as environmental sustainability. Nevertheless, PLF systems need further research to improve the technologies and create cheap and affordable but accurate models to ensure progress in pig production.