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Collaborative project: Optimization of light management in husbandry of fattening turkeys. Subproject 3 (OptiLiMa)
Project
Project code: 28RF3096, FLI-ITT-08-Ce-0086
Contract period: 01.10.2020
- 30.09.2023
Budget: 221,335 Euro
Purpose of research: Experimental development
Keywords: animal husbandry, prevention, animal welfare, animal health, stable building, poultry, husbandry techniques
OptiLiMa develops an innovative lighting system based on LED technology for keeping fattening turkeys, which scientifically analyzes animal behaviour under lighting with different spectral composition and flicker frequency in order to develop animal-friendly lighting that prevents abnormal behaviour such as feather pecking and cannibalism demonstrated under field conditions in a fattening stable. Based on scientific studies, spectra of natural lighting serving animal welfare are defined and simulated with the aid of an LED-based, spectrally controllable lighting system. The behaviour of fattening turkeys under different lighting scenarios and flicker frequencies is scientifically analysed by observation and the detection of stress hormones. In addition, the behaviour of the turkeys is recorded by video cameras and their movement profiles are created and evaluated by image processing using AI algorithms in order to detect cannibalism and feather pecking automatically and to react to it with an adapted light control. In addition, different light zones are set up in a fattening house to simulate a natural habitat in order to identify the preferences of the fattening turkeys and, if necessary, to set up protection zones for turkeys injured by conspecifics that are unattractive for other birds of the same flock by means of active light control.
Section overview
Subjects
- Animal Husbandry
- Agricultural Technology Animal Production
- Animal health
- Special animal species
Framework programme
Funding programme
Excutive institution
FLI - Institute for Animal Welfare and Animal Husbandry (FLI - ITT)