Precision livestock farming and technology in pig husbandry

Understanding an individual pig's quality of life is central to assessing and improving the welfare of pigs on commercial farms. Rapid advances in sensors and machine learning are moving toward the commercialisation of technologies that will enable monitoring and management of pigs at the level of the individual animal. This precision livestock farming (PLF) approach should facilitate continuous, real-time assessment of pig welfare using a variety of animal-based responses. However, the many individual technologies under development need to be integrated into holistic systems that are usable by farmers and provide actionable information. PLF needs to be developed in the context of social and ethical concerns around objectification of animals, reduced human-animal interactions, and responsibilities to care for animals. Data ownership, privacy, and security concerns must also be balanced against the potential for greater transparency and traceability in pork production to meet the public's demand for sustainable agriculture and our obligations to care well for the pigs we raise.