Development of an electronic sow liquid feeding system using RFID (1) - Development and performance test of the prototype

Autor: Sang Cheol Kim, Kyu Hong Choi, Hyuck Joo Kim, Jong Tae Hong, Byeong Kee Yu, Hong Hee Chang
Rok vydání: 2012
Předmět:
Zdroj: Journal of Biosystems Engineering. 37:373-384
ISSN: 1738-1266
DOI: 10.5307/jbe.2012.37.6.373
Popis: Purpose: In EU, the animal welfare regulations are strengthening. Also, in Korea, for strengthening of animal protection laws, animal welfare farm certification scheme is being prepared to enforce. To get the certification of animal welfare farm, especially for sows, individual specific feeding in sow group is necessary in accordance with the animal welfare regulation. Also, liquid feeding is reported to be more effective for farrowing as well as dry sow. Therefore, in this study, a electronic liquid sow feeder using RFID which could be fed to farrowing sow simultaneously is developed. Methods : We manufactured a prototype of appropriate elements which were evaluated in the preliminary test for selecting RFID tag, supply pump, mixing type, etc. With the prototype, the performance test for liquid feeding gilt was done in group raising training barn. Results : The performance test result shows the C.V.(coefficient of variation) of liquid mixing and feeding is 0.77~1.97% and 2.4~5.3%, respectively, which means the system could feed sows uniformly. The feeding time of pneumatically activated ball valve is 2 seconds per 0.9 kg of liquid feed. The eating time for gilt were 65 seconds in average. Conclusions : The prototype could feed sow uniformly, and deliver the liquid feed 9 times for a sow continuously. Also, total eating time for a sow was 18 minutes in one visit to the prototype of feeding station.
Databáze: OpenAIRE