Precision technologies offer new tools to monitor individual pigs in group housing, improving health, welfare, and productivity
An invited review in Applied Animal Science examines how sensors, robotics, and data analytics have the potential to advance swine management, including barriers to their widespread adoption
Champaign, IL, June 1, 2026—As the global swine industry manages larger herds and a growing consumer demand for improved animal welfare and sustainability, producers face a growing challenge: how to keep a close eye on the health and welfare of individual animals housed in groups. A comprehensive new invited review published in Applied Animal Science surveys the precision livestock farming technologies that are making that possible, from in-barn cameras and cough-detecting microphones to wearable accelerometers and data analysis powered by artificial intelligence (AI).
“Pigs are typically housed in groups ranging from 10 to over 100 individuals, and current monitoring systems predominantly focus on groups, which makes collecting data on each animal a real challenge,” explained lead author Giovanni Buonaiuto, PhD, of the Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences at the University of Bologna, Italy. “That means management decisions on health and production are often conducted on the group level, which may not always be optimal for individual welfare, productivity, and efficiency.” The team’s review set out to explore the current state of new precision technologies in swine production to understand how they might impact productivity, health, and welfare.
The review analyzed peer-reviewed scientific research published between 1990 and 2024. The authors examined precision technology applications across several categories: camera-based monitoring systems that track behavior, posture, body condition, and even temperature via thermal imaging; sound analysis tools that detect coughing, stress vocalizations, and signs of aggression; wearable sensors such as accelerometers and ear-tag devices that classify activity; radio-frequency identification tagging systems and electronic feeding stations that track individual feed and water intake in group settings; and predictive maintenance systems that help prevent equipment failures in ventilation, feeding, and water delivery.
“One of the most promising developments is the ability to combine multiple data streams, such as camera images, sound recordings, and sensor readings, into a single management dashboard,” said Buonaiuto. “This integrated approach gives producers a more complete picture of herd health and welfare than any single technology can provide on its own--it presents a flood of data in an accessible format that can result in actionable insights.”
Caption: Despite remaining barriers to adoption, an invited review in Applied Animal Science found that precision livestock farming tech has demonstrated its potential to improve productivity, health, and welfare through early disease detection, automated feeding, and environmental control (Credit: Eleonora Nannoni).
Overall, the review found that the adoption of precision technologies in swine production can support more efficient and proactive herd management, with practical applications ranging from real-time health monitoring via sensor-based systems, early disease detection via sound and image analysis, and improved resource efficiency with automated feeding and climate control. “New technologies give producers a way to detect problems earlier and respond more precisely, whether that means identifying a sick pig, spotting the early signs of tail biting, or adjusting barn climate before animals become stressed, reducing production losses and optimizing management strategies,” concluded Buonaiuto.
Bill Weiss, PhD, PAS, Dipl. ACAS, editor in chief of Applied Animal Science, commented on the review’s significance. “This review discusses new and evolving technologies that allow group-housed swine to be monitored as individuals, which will improve animal welfare and productivity. These technologies include the use of cameras and microphones located within barns, along with improvement of AI-based analyses. As the technology improves, widespread application will be beneficial to both the animal and the producer.”
The review concludes that while precision technologies represent a promising path forward for swine production, broader adoption will require more cost-effective solutions, interdisciplinary collaboration between engineers and animal scientists, and a focus on making these tools practical and user-friendly for everyday farm use.
The article appears in the June 2026 issue of Applied Animal Science.
Notes for editors
“Invited Review: Precision livestock farming technologies in swine intensive production,” by G. Buonaiuto, E. Nannoni, L. Sardi, S. Belperio, C. Sanzò, and G. Martelli (https://doi.org/10.15232/aas.2025-02699), Applied Animal Science, volume 42, issue 3 (June 2026), published by FASS and Elsevier.
This article is openly available at https://doi.org/10.15232/aas.2025-02699.
To schedule an interview with the author(s), please contact Eleonora Nannoni at eleonora.nannoni2@unibo.it.
About Applied Animal Science
Applied Animal Science (AAS) is a gold open access, peer-reviewed scientific journal and the official publication of the American Registry of Professional Animal Scientists (ARPAS). In continuous publication since 1985, AAS is a leading outlet for animal science research. It has a Journal Impact Factor and is indexed by Scopus, Clarivate, CABI, and AGRICOLA. AAS caters to a wide and comprehensive audience, and its readers are typically university, extension, animal-industry, and government employees; members of professional societies and related organizations; producers, commodity organizations, and related feed and foods industries; researchers and students; and consultants and companies providing products and services in animal agriculture. The journal welcomes novel manuscripts on applied technology, reviews on the use or application of research-based information on animal agriculture, commentaries on contemporary issues, short communications, and technical notes. Topics that will be considered for publication include (but are not limited to) feed science, farm animal management and production, dairy science, meat science, animal nutrition, reproduction, animal physiology and behavior, disease control and prevention, microbiology, agricultural economics, and environmental issues related to agriculture. Themed special issues also will be considered for publication. www.appliedanimalscience.org
About the American Registry of Professional Animal Scientists (ARPAS)
The American Registry of Professional Animal Scientists (ARPAS) is the organization that provides certification of animal scientists through examination, continuing education, and commitment to a code of ethics. Continual improvement of individual members is catalyzed through publications (including the AAS journal) and by providing information on educational opportunities. ARPAS is affiliated with five professional societies: American Dairy Science Association, American Meat Science Association, American Society of Animal Science, Equine Science Society, and Poultry Science Association. www.arpas.org
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