Quantification of preparturition restlessness in crated sows using ultrasonic measurement

This study presents the nonvideo, noninvasive, automatic, and on-site monitoring system employing ultrasonic transducers to detect the behavior in sows before, during and after parturition. An ultrasonic transmitting/receiving (T/R) circuit of 40kHz is mounted above a conventional parturition bed. The T/R units use ultrasonic time-of-flight (TOP) ranging technology to measure the height of the confined sows at 8 predetermined locations. It is suggested that the system could be applied to automatic prediction of sow parturition, with automatic notification of remote management personnel so human attendance at the birth could reduce rates of sow and piglet mortality.