How UWB Technology Can Revolutionize Animal Welfare: A Case Study on Chickens

The integration of technology in animal welfare has opened new doors to understanding and improving the lives of animals, whether in farms, zoos, or rehabilitation centers. Ultra-Wideband (UWB) technology, often associated with tracking forklifts or enhancing visitor experiences in museums, has recently been adapted to monitor animals in real-time. Locatify, an Icelandic software company specializing in Sewio UWB systems, collaborated with researchers at Queen’s University Belfast at the Institute For Global Food Security department. They studied how UWB can be used to enhance animal well-being in the context of commercial chicken farming and Locatify programmed a statistical analysis of the data.  

In this article, we delve into how this technology is being used in chicken sheds, the insights it has provided, and the potential it holds for improving animal welfare across various applications.

Understanding Chicken Welfare Challenges

Commercial chicken farms are immense, with sheds stretching over three-quarters the length of a football field and housing around 28,000 broiler chickens. These chickens are bred for meat production and grow to slaughter weight in a rapid six-week cycle. Given the scale, monitoring the well-being of individual chickens is nearly impossible without advanced tools.

Traditional methods rely on observing smaller samples of chickens and extrapolating the results to the entire flock. While practical, these approaches fail to capture the nuanced experiences of individual birds. To address this limitation, the research team sought a solution that could provide real-time insights into the behavior and movement of individual chickens in their environment.

The Role of UWB Tracking Technology

Ultra-Wideband (UWB) tracking technology emerged as a game-changer for this challenge. UWB works by calculating the time it takes for a signal to travel between a transmitter and a receiver, enabling precise location tracking to within 30 centimeters.

Typically used for tracking assets in warehouses or people in offices, UWB technology was adapted for chickens by incorporating small tags into specially designed backpacks. These tags allowed researchers to monitor the location and movement of chickens over several weeks, offering unprecedented insights into their behavior.

Key Findings from the Study

The research revealed surprising variations in the movement patterns of chickens, challenging the assumption that broilers are a homogeneous group.

Individual Behavior Patterns

• One chicken spent most of its time within 10 meters of where it was tagged, while another explored over 97% of the house in a week.
• This diversity in behavior suggests that chickens have individual preferences and personalities, which were previously overlooked.

Return to Familiar Areas

• When tagged chickens were penned and then released, some returned to their original spots, while others did not. This indicates that some chickens form attachments to specific areas, while others prefer to explore.

Influences on Movement

• Factors such as weight, age, and leg health were analyzed, but no clear patterns emerged.
• Individual behavior appeared to be influenced more by personality traits, such as boldness or fearfulness, than by physical characteristics.

Implications for Animal Welfare

These findings highlight the need to move beyond a one-size-fits-all approach to animal welfare. By recognizing and accommodating the individual needs of animals, farms can create environments that cater to the well-being of both the group and individual animals.

Practical Applications of UWB in Chicken Welfare

• Improved Housing Design: Data from UWB tracking can help design sheds with better lighting, perches, and layouts that align with the preferences of individual chickens.
• Targeted Interventions: Farmers can identify less active or distressed chickens and provide them with additional care or resources.
• Behavioral Studies: Understanding individual behaviors can inform breeding practices that prioritize not only productivity but also well-being.

Challenges and the Path Forward

Despite its promise, implementing UWB technology in animal welfare comes with challenges.

• Cost: Equipping thousands of animals with UWB tags can be expensive, although the investment may pay off in the long term through improved welfare and productivity.
• Data Management: Tracking large numbers of animals generates vast amounts of data, requiring robust systems for analysis and storage but Locatify created a statistical analysis of the data. 
• Ethical Considerations: Ensuring that the technology does not cause discomfort or harm to animals is paramount.

Addressing these challenges will require collaboration between technology providers like Locatify, researchers, and animal welfare organizations.

Conclusion: Transforming Animal Welfare with UWB

UWB technology has the potential to revolutionize animal welfare by providing detailed insights into the behavior and needs of individual animals. In the case of broiler chickens, it has already challenged assumptions about their homogeneity and opened new avenues for improving their living conditions.

By expanding the use of UWB across various animal welfare applications, we can create environments that promote health, happiness, and productivity—not just for chickens, but for all animals under human care.

At Locatify, we are proud to contribute to this groundbreaking work, and we look forward to seeing how UWB technology continues to shape the future of animal welfare.

Scientific Report by Mary Baxter and Niamh E. O’Connell