Precision Livestock Farming research group

Goal

The aim of the Precision Livestock Farming research group is to facilitate smarter and more efficient farming (smart farming) and to use data for more precise operational management. By collecting more information about the individual animal, it is easier to prevent illness, reduce the amount of raw materials and antibiotics needed, and to increase the animal’s performance. More and, specifically, better knowledge of the animal’s behaviour and health status can improve its well-being.

Research programme

The Precicion Livestock Farming research group focusses on the animal sector and specifically the technology and data that play a key role in animal husbandry. The research group also looks to other industries for inspiration. 

New role livestock farmer 

The livestock farmer is getting a new role: instead of identifying abnormalities (something that a sensor is often better at and is able to do continuously), the livestock farmer can demonstrate their expertise by making the right decisions based on all the information they receive. This enables more precise management of animals that have something wrong with them. This approach is more efficient and problems are detected much sooner. 

Lines of reserach

Animal husbandry relies increasingly on technology to continuously monitor animal behaviour, animal health, production and environmental impact. The aim is to detect abnormalities early on and improve animal health, animal welfare and efficiency of animal production. The predicted outcome is an improvement in sustainability throughout the entire system.

Research is performed on two levels within the research group:

- Using existing sensors for animal assessment, involving research on the feasibility, efficiency and usability of the sensors.

- Developing and verifying sensors used for animal assessment and results analysis, with specific focus on the relationship between sensor measurements and animal health and welfare.

There are four lines of research within the research group which are defined by the animal sectors:

- Dairy cows: research on health and welfare, which involves analysis of sensor data from activity trackers, automated body condition scoring and breath analysis. There is a specific research topic ‘behaviour and social interactions’, which involves analysis of sensor data taken from the positioning system (walking routes, ranking, preference tests). In this research topic we are studying questions about ranking and friendship bonds between cows, working with scripts and sensor data from the positioning system. Another  research topic focuses on heat stress, which relates manual measurements of cow health and heat stress to sensor data and climate measurements (THI). Finally, the topic ‘breath analysis’ cow health around calving to parameters in breathing air and blood, among others, with the ultimate goal of developing a sensor for breath in dairy cows.

 - Pigs: research on application of data and sensors in the pig chain. This involves monitoring pig behaviour and health on pig farms and using sensors to assess environmental factors such as ammonia, CO₂ and draughts. Noise is also measured. The aim is to use sensor data to monitor health and welfare.

- Poultry: research into the application of data and sensors in poultry farming. This involves assessing the behaviour and health of laying hens and broilers in poultry houses and measuring environmental factors such as litter quality, climate and light. In addition, noise is measured. Once again, the aim is to use sensor data to monitor health and welfare.

- Domestic animals and horses: this line of research aims to provide more data-based insight into the lives of domestic animals and horses when interlinked with the lives of humans. By collecting more information on the individual animal, it’s possible to gain more insight into its behaviour and health status and use this information to improve the animal’s welfare. The main priority is animal welfare. Domestic animals and horses live in close proximity to humans, so good animal welfare is vital to this relationship.

On-the-job-training companies

The Precision Livestock Farming research group works closely with 2 on-the-job-training companies: 

Hoeve Boveneind 

On-the-job training dairy farm Hoeve Boveneind in Herwijnen is owned and run by Wilfred de Bruijn. Here, HAS green academy is able to link the cows’ behaviour and activity to their location, using technology from Nedap. Also, a SmaXtec rumen bolus enables researchers to measure the activity, temperature and pH in the stomachs of some of the cows. This and other data collected on-site offer considerable possibilities for this research group to carry out practical research.  

Pels Melkvee 

The research conducted by HAS green academy at Pels in Empel focuses primarily on mapping out the activity and fitness of cows in meadows. These parameters are measured using IDAs and the Body Condition Score camera from DeLaval. The research group The research group conducts research at Pels Melkvee that looks into the relationship between condition, social interactions and ranking of the cows. 

Inauguration speech

Publication inauguration speech professor Lenny van Erp, October 2016

Thesis

• E. van Erp-van der Kooij, 2003. Coping behaviour in pigs – consequences for welfare and performance. Verdediging op 11 december 2003 te Utrecht. Faculteit Diergeneeskunde, Utrecht Universiteit.

Journal articles

• 'Different precision, overlapping technologies', Mikroniek, nr. 6 2016

Scientific articles

• J.B.Roelofs and E. van Erp-van der Kooij, 2015. Estrus detection tools and their applicability in cattle: recent and perspectival situation. Animal Reproduction 12 (3), p. 498-504.
• G.H. Meen, M.A. Schellekens, M.H.M. Slegers, N.L.G. Leenders, E. van Erp-van der Kooij and L.P.J.J. Noldus, 2015. Sound analysis in dairy cattle vocalisation as a potential welfare monitor. Computers and Electronics in Agriculture 118, p. 111-115.
• J.M. Shephard, S. Rycken, O. Almalik, K. Struyf and E. van Erp-van der Kooij, 2015. Migration strategies revealed by satellite tracking among descendants of a population of European white stork (Ciconia ciconia) reintroduced to Belgium. Journal of Ornithology 156 (4): 943-953.
• E. van der Steen, V. Boomer, V. Snijders en E. van Erp-van der Kooij, 2014. Stress bij asielkatten. Tijdschrift voor Diergeneeskunde nr. 8, augustus 2014, p. 40-43.
• E.van Erp-van der Kooij, A.H.Kuijpers, F.J.C.M. van Eerdenburg and M.J.M.Tielen, 2003. Coping characteristics and performance in fattening pigs. Livestock Production Science 84: 31-38.
• E.van Erp-van der Kooij, A.H.Kuijpers, F.J.C.M. van Eerdenburg, S.J. Dieleman, D.M. Blankenstein and M.J.M.Tielen, 2003. Individual behavioural characteristics in pigs – influences of group composition, but no differences in cortisol responses. Physiology and Behaviour 78: 479-488.
• E.van Erp-van der Kooij, A.H.Kuijpers, J.W. Schrama, F.J.C.M. van Eerdenburg, W.G.P. Schouten and M.J.M.Tielen, 2002. Can we predict behaviour in pigs? – searching for consistency in behaviour over time and across situations. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 75 (4) p. 293-305.
• E. van Erp-van der Kooij, A.H. Kuijpers, F.J.C.M. van Eerdenburg and M.J.M.Tielen, 2001. A note on the influence of starting position, time of testing and test order on the backtest in pigs. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 73 (4), p. 263-266.
• E.van Erp-van der Kooij, A.H.Kuijpers, J.W.Schrama, E.D.Ekkel and M.J.M. Tielen, 2000. Individual behavioural characteristics in pigs and their impact on production. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 66, p. 171-185
• E.A.M. Graat, E. van der Kooij, K. Frankena A.M. Henken, J.F.M. Smeets and M.T.J. Hekerman, 1998. Quantifying risk factors of coccidiosis in broilers using on-farm data based on a veterinary practice. Preventive Veterinary Medicine 33, p. 297-308.
• E. van der Kooij, H. Kindahl and H. Gustafsson, 1994. Effects of endotoxin-contaminated FSH-preparations in heifers. Acta Veterinaria Scandinavia 35 (4), p. 449-451.

Contribute to congresses

• E. van Erp-van der Kooij, J.B. Roelofs, J.S. Johnson, D. Hovden and L.P.J.J. Noldus. Monitoring body temperature and activity in sows using a sensor-based telemetric system. In: Proceedings of the 7^th International Conference of the Assessment of Animal Welfare at Farm and Group level, Ede, the Netherlands, 5-8 September 2017 (poster presentation), p. 50.
• E. van Erp-van der Kooij, J.B. Roelofs, J.S. Johnson, D. Hovden and L.P.J.J. Noldus. Monitoring body temperature and activity in sows using a sensor-based telemetric system. In: Proceedings of Precision Livestock Farming 2017, Nantes, France, 12-14 September 2017 (oral presentation and paper), p. 656-665.
• E. van Erp-van der Kooij, M. van de Brug en J.B. Roelofs. Validation of Nedap Smarttag Leg and Neck to assess behavioural activity level in cattle. Precision Dairy Farming 2016, Leeuwarden, 21-23 juni 2016 (oral presentation and extended abstract)
• E. van Erp-van der Kooij. Het gebruik van telemetrie in de agrarische sector. Landelijke Telemetrie dag 2016, Wageningen, 17 maart 2016.
• G.H. Meen, M.A. Schellekens, M.H.M. Slegers, N.L.G. Leenders, E. van Erp-van der Kooij, and L.P.J.J. Noldus. Sound analysis of dairy cows. In: Proceedings of the ISAEBenelux meeting 2014, Eersel, the Netherlands, 8 October 2014 (poster presentation)
• G.H. Meen, M.A. Schellekens, M.H.M. Slegers, N.L.G. Leenders, E. van Erp-van der Kooij, and L.P.J.J. Noldus. Sound analysis of dairy cows. In: Proceedings of Measuring Behaviour 2014, Wageningen, the Netherlands, 27-29 August 2014 (poster presentation)
• E. van Erp-van der Kooij, E.C.J. Mijdam, O. Almalik and F.J.C.M. van Eerdenburg. Lying behavior of dairy cows in cubicles. In: Proceedings of the ISAEBenelux meeting 2013, Sterksel, the Netherlands, 10 October 2013 (poster presentation)
• E. van Erp-van der Kooij, O. Almalik and F.J.C.M. van Eerdenburg. Lying behavior of dairy cows in cubicles. In: Proceedings of Measuring Behaviour 2012, Utrecht, the Netherlands, 28-31 August 2012 (poster presentation)
• E. van Erp-van der Kooij, and F.J.C.M. van Eerdenburg. Lying behavior in cubicles – improving dairy welfare by improving management. In: Proceedings of the Minding Animals 2012 Conference, Utrecht, the Netherlands, 4-6 July 2012 (poster presentation)
• E. van Erp-van der Kooij, D. Hovinga en P. Smulders. Evaluating animal lessons: attitude and knowledge in children age 4-12. In: Proceedings of the Minding Animals 2012 Conference, Utrecht, the Netherlands, 4-6 July 2012 (oral presentation)
• E. van Erp-van der Kooij, A.H. Kuijpers, F.J.C.M. van Eerdenburg, S.J. Dieleman, D.M. Blankenstein and M.J.M. Tielen. Stress, coping behaviour and immunity in pigs. In: Proceedings of the Second International Swine Housing Conference. Raleigh, NC, USA, 12-15 October 2003 (oral presentation).
• E. van Erp-van der Kooij, A.H. Kuijpers, F.J.C.M. van Eerdenburg and M.J.M. Tielen. Group composition can influence coping behaviour in pigs. In: Proceedings of the 37^th Congress of the International Society for Applied Ethology, p.44. Abano Terme, Italy, 24-28 June 2003 (oral presentation).
• E. van Erp-van der Kooij, A.H. Kuijpers, E.D. Ekkel and M.J.M. Tielen, 2002. Individual behavioural and immunological differences in pigs. In: Proceedings of the 36^th Congress of the International Society for Applied Ethology, p. 198. Egmond aan Zee, the Netherlands, 6-10 August 2002 (poster).
• E. van Erp-van der Kooij, A.H. Kuijpers, E.D. Ekkel and M.J.M. Tielen, 2001. Individual behavioural characteristics in pigs: a comparison of different behavioural tests. In: Proceedings of the 35nd Congress of the International Society for Applied Ethology. Davis, California, 4-8 August 2001 (poster).
• E. van Erp-van der Kooij, A.H. Kuijpers, F.J.C.M. van Eerdenburg and M.J.M. Tielen, 2000. Coping behaviour and health in fattening pigs . In: Proceedings of the International Society of Animal Hygiene. Maastricht, the Netherlands, 2-6 July 2000 (oral presentation).
• E. van Erp-van der Kooij, A.H. Kuijpers, F.J.C.M. van Eerdenburg and M.J.M. Tielen, 2000. Individual characteristics in pigs: variation in and validation of the backtest. In: Proceedings of the International Society of Animal Hygiene. Maastricht, the Netherlands, 2-6 July 2000 (poster).
• E. van Erp-van der Kooij, A.H. Kuijpers, E.D. Ekkel and M.J.M. Tielen, 1998. Individual behavioural characteristics in pigs and their impact on production. In: Proceedings of the 10th International Conference on Production Diseases in Farm Animals. Utrecht, the Netherlands, 24-28 August 1998. Paper A48 (oral presentation).
• E. van Erp-van der Kooij, A.H. Kuijpers, E.D. Ekkel and M.J.M. Tielen, 1998. Coping styles and stereotypies in sows. In: Proceedings of the 32nd Congress of the International Society for Applied Ethology, p. 183. Clermont-Ferrand, France, 21-25 July 1998 (poster).
• E. van Erp-van der Kooij, A.H. Kuijpers, E.D. Ekkel and M.J.M. Tielen, 1997. Individual behavioural characteristics in pigs and their impact on production. In: Proceedings of the 48th annual meeting of the EAAP, p. 339, paper P5.5. Vienna, Austria, 25-28 august 1997 (oral presentation).