Veredlung

Background and Objective

Pork and poultry meat are the most produced and consumed meats in the European Union. The farming systems for pigs and poultry are also among the most intensive in the EU. This means high stocking densities, closed housing systems and the use of breeds specifically bred for fast growth and efficient feed conversion. While livestock systems are optimised for resource efficiency and profitability, there are problems associated with intensive production systems. For example, high stocking densities and rapid growth often have a negative impact on poultry welfare, and sheds can pollute the environment and human health through emissions and waste. Therefore, the focus of the aWish project is to improve animal welfare in fattening pig and broiler production by means of automated monitoring of animal welfare indicators at slaughterhouse level to enable conclusions on animal welfare throughout the value chain (Animal Welfare Indicators at the Slaughterhouse).

To measure these indicators, new types of sensors and accompanying decision support and artificial intelligence algorithms are being developed and tested so that the data can be collected continuously and automatically.

The aim is to use the animal welfare data collected to provide feedback and best practice advice to those responsible for the chickens and pigs throughout their lives (farmer, catching team, transporter, slaughterhouse). This approach will be developed and evaluated in close collaboration with all stakeholders involved in the value chain, from livestock farmers to policy makers and citizens.

Approach

The project focuses on six regional chicken and pig pilot farms/slaughterhouses distributed throughout Europe (FR, PL, ES, NL, AT, RS), in which the aWish developments are to be tested and validated.

First, the indicators to be collected are determined in consultation with all the partners involved, then the data is collected in various work packages, which are prepared, structured and checked for completeness in the economic work package for the calculation in the calculation model. Economic, ecological and social effects of the tested measures are analysed and evaluated.