Infra-red thermography and radio frequency identification for detection of stress in lairage

Summary

​Distressed, diseased and injured animals in abattoirs have the potential to jeopardise animal welfare and product yield and quality. This project aimed to develop automated systems for the detection of these animals, through remote measurement of body temperature using infrared thermography and auto-drafting systems. The project consisted of trials with cattle at research farms and commercial abattoirs. Trials at commercial abattoirs recorded animals prior to slaughter with associated body temperature and indicators of stress in blood and meat via eating quality. Body temperature measured with infrared cameras was significantly but weakly correlated to indicators of stress and thus further refinement of the technology is required to be useful under commercial conditions. A pilot automated system to identify, send an alarm and segregate sick and stressed animals with high body temperature was developed.