Full text
| |
| Author(s): |
Erica Moura Pereira
Total Authors: 1
|
| Document type: | Doctoral Thesis |
| Press: | Campinas, SP. |
| Institution: | Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Faculdade de Engenharia Agrícola |
| Defense date: | 2012-10-17 |
| Examining board members: |
Irenilza de Alencar Nääs;
Leda Gobbo de Freitas Bueno;
Mario Mollo Neto;
Rodrigo Garófallo Garcia;
Marta dos Santos Baracho
|
| Advisor: | Irenilza de Alencar Nääs |
| Abstract | |
The regulations of standards, standardization of farms in the welfare, and the demands of consumption are causing a major change in the production of broiler chickens in Brazil. With these changes are occurring with the development of new technological tools, which are used together in animal production systems, can aid in decision support systems, focused on the estimation of animal welfare. Thus, the vocalization of the animals was shown to be an important analytical tool, providing information in a non-invasive way, and enabling its use in an automated manner. The vocalization of the animals shows the expression of its condition, and it may occur spontaneously or as a result of some external event, e.g., pain, hunger, thirst. The objective of this study was to implement a pattern recognition analysis of broiler chickens, including sex, and to relate these patterns as an indicative of welfare. This research took place in two stages and during the first days of life of birds. The birds were divided into two groups, the first group and the second with 15 birds with 10 birds were provided food and water ad libitum. They were then placed in a semi-anechoic chamber and vocalization was recorded using a unidirectional microphone coupled to a digital recorder. In the experiment of gender, 120 chicks Cobb® and Ross® were used, and they were previously sexed using the characteristics of the feathering of the chicks. The vocalizations were observed within an average of two minutes. Analyzes were performed on the acoustic structure of vocalizations of chicks, and we calculated the "Pitch" intensity, and the 1st and 2nd formant. In the first experiment, the results showed that different birds vocalize when isolated and in groups. The chicks, when isolated, emit a high sound intensity that is identified as "call of danger". The amount of signal energy is influenced by the weight of the birds. As the results of the identification of gender, the vocalizations of both sexes were statistically different. The results of the vocalizations of day-old chicks indicated that there is difference between the vocalization of males and females (AU) | |
| FAPESP's process: | 10/09153-6 - The use of vocalization patterns of broilers to estimate welfare |
| Grantee: | Erica Moura Pereira |
| Support Opportunities: | Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate |