Farmers often gain valuable insights into the welfare of their animals through close observation in the pen, yet most existing tools primarily focus on assessing physical health. Emotional well-being, a key component of overall welfare, is rarely measured on farms.
European scientists have now developed an AI algorithm to interpret pig sounds, aiming to help farmers enhance animal welfare. The tool, co-led by behavioral biologist Elodie Mandel-Briefer at the University of Copenhagen, could alert farmers to pigs’ negative emotions, thereby improving their well-being.
Decoding Emotional Signals
Researchers from six European universities in Denmark, Germany, Switzerland, France, Norway, and the Czech Republic analyzed thousands of pig sounds from various scenarios, including play, isolation, and food competition. They discovered that grunts, oinks, and squeals indicate distinct positive or negative emotions.
Short grunts usually signify positive emotions, whereas longer grunts often indicate discomfort, such as when pigs jostle each other at the trough. High-frequency sounds, like screams or squeals, typically suggest stress, often arising from pain, fighting, or separation from one another.
The scientists utilized these findings to develop an AI-based algorithm. The algorithm showed that pigs on outdoor, free-range, or organic farms—where they have space to roam and dig—produced fewer stress calls compared to those in conventional settings.
Researchers believe that, once fully developed, this method could support farm labeling, allowing consumers to make informed choices. They added that, with a functioning tool, farmers could use an app on their phones to interpret their pigs’ emotions.
