Animal welfare and health
Today's farms have a high degree of automation, which makes them similar in their operation to the production processes in factories. Under these conditions, automatic monitoring systems using thermography help to optimize production and reduce costs. It monitors temperature changes on the farm, the health of the animals and the condition of the facilities, among other things.
Livestock farms
Increasingly, livestock farms are investing in technology to improve their performance and the welfare of their animals. Thanks to the use of infrared thermography we will be able to detect alterations in the temperature of the animals, so that we will be able to discover if they have fever or any type of infection that harms their health or growth. On the other hand, we will also be able to control in real time the environmental conditions of our facilities, thus improving their comfort.
Examples of applications
Poultry farms
The importance of broiler thermal comfort is well known in the industry. Through automated thermography systems it is possible to control in real time the environmental conditions and the distribution of heating and cooling in the farms, achieving a much more precise control and improving the performance of the breeding of these animals.
Dairy cattle farms
Using thermography and machine vision algorithms, intramammary infections, such as mastitis, are automatically detected thanks to the increase in mammary temperature that is generated. It is possible to identify the affected animal early and thus be able to apply more efficient treatments and minimize production loss.
Sheep farms
Automated thermography for early detection of fever and Sheep Respiratory Complex (ORC) in fattening lambs. Thanks to artificial vision techniques, it is possible to estimate with high accuracy the rectal temperature of lambs as a function of the animal's eye temperature - measured by the camera - and environmental conditions.
Pig farms
With automatic systems we are able to monitor animal temperature and control environmental temperature and humidity to combat heat stress, one of the main causes of production losses in hot climates, both in the finishing phase on the farm and during rest in the slaughterhouse prior to slaughter.
Competition animals
An animal destined for competition requires a training plan and diet just like an elite athlete. In the same way, animals can also suffer from injuries, such as joint inflammation or muscle tears, which can seriously impair their health and performance during training and competitions. Thanks to the use of infrared thermography it is possible to monitor the animals, so that possible injuries can be detected before they occur.
Application example
Equine thermography
In competition horses, the most common applications are injury prevention and purchase tests, but it is also used for saddle fittings, joint inflammation and early detection of laminitis. By thermographic analysis of the horse, injuries can be detected 1 to 2 weeks before claudication manifests itself.
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Domestic animals
Pet owners always strive to achieve the maximum possible welfare of their pets, trying to ensure that they recover satisfactorily from their illnesses and injuries. If we apply thermography to our pets we will achieve the early detection of muscular injuries and it will allow us to perform an optimal follow-up of any treatment the animal is undergoing.
Application example
Small animals
In small animals, thermography achieves early detection of muscle and peripheral nerve injuries. It improves the analysis of inflammation, and in animals undergoing physical rehabilitation, it allows monitoring the response to treatment.