title: Preliminary evaluation of a nest usage sensor to detect double nest occupations of laying hens.
abstract: Conventional cage systems will be replaced by housing systems that allow hens to move freely. These systems may improve hens' welfare, but they lead to some disadvantages: disease, bone fractures, cannibalism, piling and lower egg production. New selection criteria for existing commercial strains should be identified considering individual data about laying performance and the behavior of hens. Many recording systems have been developed to collect these data. However, the management of double nest occupations remains critical for the correct egg-to-hen assignment. To limit such events, most systems adopt specific trap devices and additional mechanical components. Others, instead, only prevent these occurrences by narrowing the nest, without any detection and management. The aim of this study was to develop and test a nest usage "sensor", based on imaging analysis, that is able to automatically detect a double nest occupation. Results showed that the developed sensor correctly identified the double nest occupation occurrences. Therefore, the imaging analysis resulted in being a useful solution that could simplify the nest construction for this type of recording system, allowing the collection of more precise and accurate data, since double nest occupations would be managed and the normal laying behavior of hens would not be discouraged by the presence of the trap devices.
authors: Faculty of Agriculture, Università Telematica San Raffaele Roma, Via di Val Cannuta 247, 00166 Rome, Italy. mauro.zaninelli@unisanraffaele.gov.it.
authors: Mauro
authors: M
authors: Zaninelli
authors: Department of Health, Animal Science and Food Safety (VESPA), Università Degli Studi di Milano, Via Celoria 10, 20133 Milan, Italy. annamaria.costa@unimi.it.
authors: Annamaria
authors: A
authors: Costa
authors: Department of Health, Animal Science and Food Safety (VESPA), Università Degli Studi di Milano, Via Celoria 10, 20133 Milan, Italy. francesco.tangorra@unimi.it.
authors: Francesco Maria
authors: FM
authors: Tangorra
authors: Department of Health, Animal Science and Food Safety (VESPA), Università Degli Studi di Milano, Via Celoria 10, 20133 Milan, Italy. luciana.rossi@unimi.it.
authors: Luciana
authors: L
authors: Rossi
authors: Department of Health, Animal Science and Food Safety (VESPA), Università Degli Studi di Milano, Via Celoria 10, 20133 Milan, Italy. alessandro.agazzi@unimi.it.
authors: Alessandro
authors: A
authors: Agazzi
authors: Department of Health, Animal Science and Food Safety (VESPA), Università Degli Studi di Milano, Via Celoria 10, 20133 Milan, Italy. giovanni.savoini@unimi.it.
authors: Giovanni
authors: G
authors: Savoini
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D015374:Biosensing Techniques; D002645:Chickens; D004531:Eggs; D005260:Female; D006799:Housing, Animal
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