15AGRITECHCAT4: Development and validation of a system for automatic detection of lameness in sheep

This project aims to address challenge of lameness in sheep, one of the biggest cause of poor health, welfare and economic loss on sheep farms in UK and globally. By developing innovative hardware (acclerometer ), integrated software and algorithms specifically suited for automated lameness detection in sheep we aim to reduce the lameness levels. Such system will be innnovative and will facilitate farmers to effectively manage lameness by providing an automated system for early detection. This will bring economic and welfare benefits across the food supply chain and creating new jobs in production of innovative hardware and software products.

This project aims to address challenge of lameness in sheep, one of the biggest cause of poor health, welfare and economic loss on sheep farms in UK and globally. By developing innovative hardware (acclerometer), integrated software and algorithms specifically suited for automated lameness detection in sheep we aim to reduce the lameness levels. Such system will be innnovative and will facilitate farmers to effectively manage lameness by providing an automated system for early detection. This will bring economic and welfare benefits across the food supply chain and creating new jobs in production of innovative hardware and software products.

Possible outcomes of this research include;
A) Development of algorithms to classify lameness in sheep and other behaviors
B) Validation of those algorithms with data, and quantify impact of lameness on various activities of sheep e.g lying , grazing

Main beneficiaries of the research and how will they benefit;
1. Farmers - through a system of automated early lameness detection , effective lameness control leading to significant economic savings and improved welfare
2. Businesses - Dunbia and Farm Wizard to have wider access to market by rendering the system and lameness alert services and by boosting the sale of existing platforms
3. The sheep industry and Dunbia - through improved sustainability, production and welfare by reducing lameness. It will allow farmers to follow recommendations and drive the national average of flock to <2% as recommended by the Farm Animal Welfare Council.
4. Veterinary surgeons and farm advisors - through being able to use this as a platform to implement advice
5. Consumers - through consuming a product associated with improved sheep welfare and with improved farming sustainability.
6. UK PLC - through improved efficiency of sheep farming and economic returns.