Founded by ACCIO
Animal welfare and production efficiency are key challenges in modern livestock farming. In the pig sector, farrowing is one of the most critical stages, posing risks to both sows and piglets. DeepCare4Pigs (DC4P) addresses this challenge by utilizing artificial intelligence to assist farmers and veterinarians in monitoring sow farrowing.
DC4P is a collaborative project between AWEC and CTRL4enviro, with international partners SEGES (Denmark) and Interface Élevage (France).
What is the objective?
The main objective of DC4P is to automate the monitoring of sows and their piglets during farrowing using an intelligent platform based on image and video analysis.
The project focuses on three key aspects:
- Predicting farrowing onset (12–24h before), to adapt the environment and staff availability.
- Detecting farrowing problems in real time, to intervene only when it’s necessary.
- Reducing piglet crushing risk, one of the main causes of piglets’ mortality.
All this information is integrated into a digital platform that sends automatic alerts to the farmer or veterinarian, facilitating more efficient management of the farm.
What makes DC4P unique?
The main novelty of the project is that it is not an isolated sensor or a one-off solution, but a complete tool that integrates several functions into a single intelligent system.
Key innovations:
- The use of advanced artificial intelligence (3D video analysis) to interpret animal behavior in real time.
- A preventive approach, the ability to anticipate problems instead of reacting when they have already occurred.
- The combination of different indicators (sow posture, sow and piglet behavior, and piglet vitality) to achieve a more accurate assessment of the animal’s condition.
- Validation on real farms, which guarantees its practical utility and ease of use.
There is currently no tool on the market that combines all these capabilities in the swine industry, which makes DC4P a pioneering solution.
Improved animal welfare
The system detects pain, stress, or difficulties during farrowing, facilitating faster and more appropriate interventions. This translates into a higher success rate and fewer losses.
Reduced economic losses
It is estimated that the tool could:
- Reduce piglet mortality by 40% to 60%.
- Decrease the sow replacement rate due to reproductive problems.
This represents direct savings for farms and increased profitability.
DC4P does not replace the farmer but supports him:
- Reducing the need for constant monitoring.
- Better organization of time and tasks.
- Reducing stress associated with critical moments.
Adapting to New Social Demands
Society increasingly demands sustainable and humane animal production. This project contributes to:
- Improving the sector’s image. It facilitates certification processes and transparency testing for pig production.
- Adapting to future European regulations on animal welfare.
- Promoting more responsible production systems.
A Step Towards the Livestock of the Future
DC4P represents a new way of understanding livestock farming: more technological, more efficient, and more focused on animal welfare. Thanks to artificial intelligence, farmers will be able to make better-informed decisions, reduce risks, and improve their results.
Ultimately, this project demonstrates that innovation can become a key ally for a more competitive, sustainable, and future-proof pig sector.
This project has been developed with the support of ACCIÓ – Agency for Business Competitiveness of the Generalitat de Catalunya, within the framework of the call for grants for R&D projects (Resolution EMT/1050/2023).
