DEVELOPMENT OF A FEEDING COMPETITION INDEX FOR BROILER CHICKENS IN COMMERCIAL POULTRY HOUSES BASED ON COMPUTER VISION
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.66104/5pycx116Keywords:
Evaporative cooling, Feeding competition index, Animal welfareAbstract
Thermal stress is one of the main challenges in poultry production in tropical regions, compromising the productive performance and welfare of broiler chickens. In this context, the use of automated tools for behavioral monitoring has emerged as an efficient alternative to traditional methods. Therefore, the present study aimed to evaluate the behavior of broiler chickens in commercial poultry houses under different thermal conditions and to develop a feeding competition index using computer vision techniques. The research was conducted in six commercial poultry houses in Rio Verde, GO, Brazil, with identical tunnel ventilation and fogging systems, differing by the presence of water spraying on the roof in three treatments. Digital images were continuously captured in two poultry houses between 24 and 45 days of age and processed using Scilab software with the application of the Bayes method for segmentation. Relative (ICRC) and effective (ICEC) feeding competition indices at the feeder were developed and correlated with the Black Globe Temperature and Humidity Index (BGTHI). The results indicated that water spraying reduced BGTHI and improved thermal comfort. The treatment without spraying showed a higher concentration of birds at the feeders and increased feeding competition. The ICEC proved to be more accurate than the ICRC, with a mean error of 11.6% compared to manual counting. In addition, the system with water spraying showed lower feed conversion and mortality rates. It is concluded that computer vision is an effective tool for evaluating feeding behavior, and the ICEC is a reliable indicator. The adoption of cooling strategies, such as roof water spraying, significantly contributes to bird welfare and productive performance.
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