NL2021267B1

NL2021267B1 - Method and system for suppressing stress in livestock

Info

Publication number: NL2021267B1
Application number: NL2021267A
Authority: NL
Inventors: Obers Paul
Original assignee: P L Invest Bv
Priority date: 2018-07-09
Filing date: 2018-07-09
Publication date: 2020-01-15
Also published as: WO2020011671A1

Abstract

20 METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR SUPPRESSING STRESS IN LIVESTOCK ABSTRACT 5 In a first aspect, the current invention concerns a method for suppressing stress in livestock, wherein a plurality of animals is accommodated in a barn, said method comprises gathering information relating to one or more of the animals, and/or relating to one or more barn conditions, on the basis of which information a stress level is determined and wherein, where the stress level is indicating a stressed 10 state for at least one of the animals, one or more stress-suppressing stimuli are activated and/or amplified, which stimuli comprise a sound stimulus and/or an electromagnetic stimulus. In further aspects, the invention provides a system for suppressing stress in livestock, and a barn that is provided with such a system.

Description

Technical field

The invention pertains to the technical field of methods and systems for suppressing stress in livestock.

Background

Cows, pigs, chickens and other livestock animals are kept by humans on an industrial scale. Quite often, a plurality of individual animals is accommodated in a single barn.

Such animals, when subjected to high levels of stress, are restless. The corresponding animal production (e.g. in terms of milk quantity, meat growth, egg laying) is thereby lowered. Moreover, stress can further affect the quality (e.g. taste and/or structure) of animal products.

It has been observed that one stressed animal can increase stress levels of animals in its proximity. In extreme cases, stressed animals can even behave aggressively, thereby hurting themselves and others. Chronic stress may further result in suppression of the immune system, and therefore to an increased susceptibility to all kinds of diseases. Medication levels thus have to be raised in case of persistently high stress levels.

For most animal species, stress information can be derived from blood analyses, e.g. on the basis of hormone balances in the blood. This obviously constitutes a highly invasive method. Moreover, it allows for determining the separate stress level of individual animals only.

US 8 915 215 Bl relates to a system having a plurality of sensors for monitoring poultry in a barn. To this end, the sound generated by the animals is analyzed. Important deviations with respect to standard values are indicative of unhealthy poultry. The operator may then interfere by remedying the adverse barn conditions that are causing this situation.

Training dairy heifers to respond to a sound stimulus in a T-maze setup (Green et al., 2016) further describes that the behavior of cattle can be influenced via acoustic signals.

Effects of auditory and physical enrichment on 3 measurements of fear and stress (tonic immobility duration, heterophil to lymphocyte ratio, and fluctuating asymmetry) in several breeds of layer chicks (Davila et al., 2011) states that stress in poultry can be decreased via auditory enrichment, for instance by playing classical music at regular, fixed intervals. The effect of physical enrichment, via stimulus objects was found to be rather limited, because of habituation.

The present invention aims to provide a method and system for suppressing stress in livestock. A primary goal is thereby to reduce animal suffering, and to enhance animal production, both in terms of quantity and quality.

Summary of the invention

In a first aspect, the invention discloses a method according to claim 1, for suppressing stress in livestock. A stress level is determined and, in case latter stress level indicates a stressed state for at least one of the animals, one or more stress-suppressing stimuli are activated and/or amplified. These stimuli at least comprise a sound stimulus and/or an electromagnetic stimulus. Latter electromagnetic stimulus may be a light stimulus.

Quite advantageously, information can be gathered through non-invasive measurement techniques. Such information can serve as a basis for determining stress levels by which stressed states can be identified with reasonably good probabilities. Most importantly, certain stimuli are only activated and/or amplified depending on whether stress is actually detected and/or on the amount of stress. As such, the stimuli are most efficiently deployed, and there is preferably no unnecessary exposal of animals to these stimuli. Consequently, habituation to these stimuli can be excluded, or at least delayed. In doing so, the invention attempts lowering both acute and chronic stress levels, thereby reducing animal suffering. Destructive stress, possibly giving rise to aggressive behavior and even cannibalism is especially targeted.

Optionally, at least one of the stress-suppressing stimuli comprises a time-variable spectrum and/or a time-variable intensity. Risk of habituation to this stimulus is thereby further lowered.

In further aspects, the invention concerns a system according to claim 16, for suppressing stress in livestock, and a barn according to claim 22, which barn is provided with a system according to any of claims 16-21.

Detailed description of the invention

The present invention concerns a method and a system for suppressing stress in livestock. The invention further concerns a barn that is provided with such a system.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms used in disclosing the invention, including technical and scientific terms, have the meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. By means of further guidance, term definitions are included to better appreciate the teaching of the present invention.

As used herein, the following terms have the following meanings:

A, an, and the as used herein refers to both singular and plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. By way of example, a compartment refers to one or more than one compartment.

About as used herein referring to a measurable value such as a parameter, an amount, a temporal duration, and the like, is meant to encompass variations of +/20% or less, preferably +/-10% or less, more preferably +/-5% or less, even more preferably +/-1% or less, and still more preferably +/-0.1% or less of and from the specified value, in so far such variations are appropriate to perform in the disclosed invention. However, it is to be understood that the value to which the modifier about refers is itself also specifically disclosed.

Comprise, comprising, and comprises and comprised of as used herein are synonymous with include, including, includes or contain, containing, contains and are inclusive or open-ended terms that specifies the presence of what follows e.g. component and do not exclude or preclude the presence of additional, non-recited components, features, element, members, steps, known in the art or disclosed therein.

The recitation of numerical ranges by endpoints includes all numbers and fractions subsumed within that range, as well as the recited endpoints. The expression % by weight, weight percent, %wt or wt%, here and throughout the description unless otherwise defined, refers to the relative weight of the respective component based on the overall weight of the formulation.

In a first aspect, the invention provides a method for suppressing stress in livestock, wherein a plurality of animals is accommodated in a barn, said method comprises gathering information relating to one or more of the animals, and/or relating to one or more barn conditions, on the basis of which information a stress level is determined and wherein, where the stress level is indicating a stressed state for at least one of the animals, one or more stress-suppressing stimuli are activated and/or amplified, which stimuli comprise a sound stimulus and/or an electromagnetic stimulus.

The term barn should be interpreted in a broad fashion, as referring to any infrastructure that allows for accommodating a plurality animals within an enclosed area. Preferably, a barn at least comprises one or more side structures, and optionally a floor and/or roof structure. However, this is not necessarily the case.

The term livestock, as used herein, may refer to any type (optionally species) of animal that is kept by humans, at least for animal production. The terms animal and animals thereby further refer to (an) individual specimen(s) of such type/species. Preferably, these animals can be kept on an industrial scale. Such animals may comprise cattle, pigs, sheep, goats, chickens, turkeys, geese, ducks, rabbits, donkeys, horses, ostriches, emus, deer, kangaroos, camels, dromedaries, and/or lamas.

The present invention provides a method for suppressing stress in animals. To such purpose information is gathered, allowing for the determination of a stress level. In a possible embodiment, said stress level may be a value that expresses the general amount of stress the animals are one average subjected to. In another, possible embodiment, said stress level may comprise one or multiple values that express the individual amount of stress that one or multiple, respective animals is subjected to. The stress level may thus be one- or multidimensional, comprising either one value or multiple values. In a possible embodiment, the stress level can only take values 0 and 1, indicating no stressed state and at least one stressed state respectively. However, invention is by no means limited to any of these embodiments.

In possible embodiments, the stress level may only indirectly relate to the amount of stress that one or more animals is subjected to. Non-limiting examples of the latter comprise stress levels derived from the air ammonia content (a barn condition), or from the animal activity as registered by means of video cameras (an animal condition). These and other examples are elaborated upon below.

The information is preferably gathered in a non-invasive fashion; i.e. the animals are not hindered at all, or they are only negligibly hindered. Preferably, the information is gathered remotely; i.e. without contacting the animals.

Preferably, the information is gathered continuously and/or repetitively. It is thereby possible to continuously/repetitively update the stress level. Knowledge on (recently) updated stress levels allows for taking action as fast as possible, preferably in real-time. Advantageously, it is thereby possible to already intervene in an early stage, when detecting the first symptoms of stress. Its further spreading can thus be prevented.

Optionally, the stress level may comprise history information that relates to the amount of stress that one or more animals was subjected to in the past. On the one hand, animals that were stressed-out previously are often more susceptible to stress. A correspondingly swift and thorough action may thus be required. On the other hand, history information may smoothen possible control systems via PD control, PI control, PID control, and/or other control techniques, as is known in the field of control systems engineering.

In the event that the stress level indicates a stressed state for at least one of the animals, action is taken through activation/amplification of one or more, stresssuppressing stimuli. As already mentioned in the background section, a stressed state may be objectively defined, for instance on the basis of blood analysis. Optionally, proper prerequisites such as substance occurrences and/or threshold concentrations are thereby defined. These and other measurement and interpretation techniques for defining stressed states are known in the art. At least some of these techniques (e.g. blood analysis) are highly invasive.

Quite advantageously, the present invention rather employs a stress level that indicates whether (a) at least one of the animals is in a stressed state, or (b) none of the animals is in a stressed state. Preferably said stress level is determined via information that is gathered in a non-invasive and/or remote fashion, as described above. Alternatively, said stress level may at least partly be derived from an invasive measurement technique, for instance from blood analysis.

In a non-limiting embodiment, the stress level indicating a stressed state for at least one of the animals, corresponds to a probability of at least 50% that at least one of the animals is in a stressed state, preferably a probability of at least 60%, more preferably at least 70%, more preferably at least 80%, more preferably at least 90%. Moreover, a stress level indicating not indicating a stressed state for at least one of the animals, corresponds to a probability of at least 50% that none of the animals is in a stressed state, preferably a probability of at least 60%, more preferably at least 70%, more preferably at least 80%, more preferably at least 90%.

A stimulus, as used herein, is a change in the environment (e.g. within the barn) having certain characteristics, and/or exceeding certain thresholds, such that it can be detected by at least one of the animals (i.e. it at least affects those animals; whether or not they are indeed aware of said stimulus is of lesser importance). When exposed to a stress-suppressing stimulus, as used herein, the animals generally so respond that their average stress level is reduced, or at least so that one or more stress-symptoms are suppressed. In a possible embodiment, an animal previously in a stressed state will no longer reside in a stressed state when being exposed to a stress-suppressing stimulus for a sufficiently long time.

Throughout its activation time (e.g. in stress situations), the stimulus will cause the environment to be changed as compared to the standard situation (where the stress level does not indicate a stressed state for at least one of the animals). For instance the environment is lighter, darker, louder, quieter, etc. as compared to the standard situation. The degree of difference, as compared to latter standard situation is more pronounced when amplifying the stimulus. Conversely, the degree of difference becomes less pronounced when weakening the stimulus. In particular, the above-mentioned, stress-suppressing stimuli comprise a sound stimulus and/or an electromagnetic stimulus. Latter electromagnetic stimulus may be a visible light stimulus. However, it may equally comprise other electromagnetic wavelengths, such as IR and UV, and is not limited to such wavelengths.

Preferably, any sound stimulus should at least comprise frequencies that lay within the hearing range of the animal(s) in question. Alternatively, the general hearing range of the corresponding animal species at least partly covers the sound stimulus frequency content. Sound stimulus and auditory stimulus may thereby be seen as equivalent. The hearing range for most animal species has already been mapped. For instance, the hearing range of cattle stretches from about 25 Hz to about 35 kHz; the hearing range of pigs stretches from about 42 Hz to about 40,5 kHz; the hearing range of sheep stretches from about 100 Hz to about 30 kHz; the hearing range of goats stretches from about 78 Hz to about 37 kHz; and the hearing range of poultry stretches from about 9,1 Hz to about 7,2 kHz.

The background section already mentions that acoustic signals can influence the behavior of cattle. Furthermore, it was mentioned that stress in poultry can be decreased by playing classical music at regular, fixed intervals. In general, through hearing, impulses are given to the brain stem and to the hypothalamus. Wellchosen sound stimuli may thereby decrease stress, either directly or indirectly. For example, well-chosen sound stimuli may simply distract attention from possible stressors. The inventors for instance found that poultry freezes at high-intensity, low-frequency sounds (e.g. a nearby and active diesel engine). Such sounds may also be employed for immobilizing animals that suffer from chronic stress and show aggressive behavior. Alternatively, a sound stimulus constituting a background sound of chilled-out animals may suppress general stress levels.

However, in further or alternative embodiments, said sound stimulus mainly comprises frequencies that not necessarily fall within the hearing range of the animals, such as ultrasound frequencies. It is known that such frequencies can influence the behavior of living organisms, for instance via ultrasound-mediated, non-invasive brain stimulation.

In a similar fashion is known that electromagnetic fields may affect the behavior of living organisms, for instance through electrical brain stimulation. Non-invasive electrical brain stimulation has previously been tested on rats, as discussed in Noninvasive electrical brain stimulation: from acute to late-stage treatment of central nervous system damage (Henrich-Noack et al., 2017). Research is also being performed on electrical brain stimulation for stress relieving purposes.

Optionally the aforementioned, electromagnetic stimulus is a light stimulus. Preferably, any light stimulus should at least comprise frequencies that lay within the visible spectrum of the animal(s) in question. Alternatively, the general visible spectrum of the corresponding animal species at least partly covers the light stimulus frequency content. Light stimulus and visual stimulus may thus be seen as equivalent for the purpose of the invention. The visible spectrum for most animal species has already been mapped. For instance, pigs can see red, green, and blue wavelengths. Domestic poultry even responds to near ultraviolet (UV-A) light, and has a visible spectrum ranging from about 315 nm to about 750 nm, with multiple sensitivity peaks. Cattle, on the other hand, can only see yellow and blue wavelengths, in addition to gray and black.

The inventors found that light stimuli allow for altering the behavior of animals, and for decreasing stress levels in animals. In case of pigs, for example, red wavelengths can mask blood and wounds to a certain extent, such that aggressive behavior towards already wounded animals is no longer encouraged. Moreover, both predominantly blue light and dimmed light have a calming effect on poultry. Red light, on the other hand, will incite poultry to stand up, to walk around, and to feed, thereby being distracted from possible stressors. In a similar fashion as is the case for pigs, predominantly red light prevents or suppresses aggressive behavior (for instance caused by stress) in poultry. Ultraviolet light enhances communication in poultry, thereby increasing social contact in between animals, and thereby decreasing the general stress level.

Optionally, the nature of at least one of the stimuli depends on the stress level height. In possible embodiments, the intensity of at least one of the stimuli is a function of the stress level height. Optionally, the stimulus intensity continuously evolves with the stress level height.

In a further or alternative embodiment, at least one of the stimuli comprises a variable spectrum. At least one frequency component of the stimulus thereby varies in time. In a further or alternative embodiment, at least one of the stimuli comprises a variable intensity. In both embodiments, the stimuli constitute a changed environment w.r.t. the standard environment, whereby the degree and/or nature of change varies in time. Preferably, latter variability is such that it can be perceived by the animals, whereby the corresponding temporal sensitivity and resolution of the animals are taken into account. The stimulus thus causes an enrichment (e.g. auditory or visual) that varies in time. Because of its variability, such stimuli can have a more pronounced, stress-suppressing effect. Most importantly, habituation of the animals to the stimuli is excluded or delayed.

In a further or alternative embodiment, said stimuli at least comprise a sound stimulus having a variable sound spectrum and/or having a variable sound intensity. Its sound spectrum and/or intensity thereby vary in time, throughout activation of the stimulus. Sound intensity, as used herein, should be understood as the sound intensity level, expressed in decibel (dB). Possible embodiments include playing stress-suppressing music, and/or playing a background sound of chilled-out animals whenever the stress level is indicating a stressed state.

In a further or alternative embodiment, said stimuli at least comprise a light stimulus having a variable light spectrum and/or having a variable light intensity. Its light spectrum and/or sensitivity thereby vary in time, throughout activation of the stimulus. Possible embodiments include producing light having a time-varying color range, and/or producing pulsating light.

A light stimulus may optionally comprise a position-varying light spectrum and/or intensity, whereby different positions are illuminated at different intensities and/or using different colors. While cattle, for instance, is rather insensitive to color, they tend to be very sensitive to contrasts in color. A position-varying light stimulus may therefore provoke a strong response.

In a further or alternative embodiment, said stimuli further comprise a physical stimulus. Preferably a physical stimulus, as used herein, comprises objects that can be seen and/or touched by the animals. The objects thereby cause a physical enrichment in the animal environment. In particular, such objects may increase the complexity of the animal environment, and they may provide shelter to one or more animals. Activation of a physical stimulus should be understood as making the objects (e.g. toys, boxes ...) visible or accessible to the animals. Optionally, such objects are only activated when the stress level is indicating a stressed state for at least one of the animals. As such, habituation of the animals to the stimulus is excluded or delayed. In possible embodiments, an uncovering, unfolding and/or descending mechanism may to this end be employed.

Optionally, the physical stimulus comprises a sound-affecting object. For instance, the object may comprise an acoustically damping structure, a sound-reflecting structure, an acoustically resonating structure, an anechoic structure, or any combination thereof. In a non-limiting embodiment, acoustically damping structures provide shelter for poultry that has already been calmed down, while stressed animals still running around are fully exposed to the high-intensity, low-frequency sounds discussed above.

Optionally, the physical stimulus comprises a light-affecting object. For instance, the object may comprise a light-absorbing surface, a light-reflecting surface, a colored surface, a glittering surface, a light-diffractive surface, or any combination thereof. In a non-limiting embodiment, one or more objects featuring large color contrasts will distract cattle from possible stressors.

In a further or alternative embodiment, said stimuli further comprise a chemical or biochemical stimulus. Some chemical substances may indeed have a stresssuppressing effect. Biochemical stimuli may for instance comprise odors, pheromones, and/or oxygen.

In a further or alternative embodiment, at least one of the stimuli is weakened and/or deactivated, where the stress level is no longer indicating a stressed state for at least one of the animals. Preferably, throughout activation of the stimuli, stress monitoring is continued. An advantage is that habituation to these stimuli can be avoided, by deactivating or at least by weakening the stimuli as soon as possible stressors are removed and/or stress levels have been sufficiently lowered.

In a further or alternative embodiment, at least one of the stimuli is weakened and/or deactivated, as soon as a predetermined time interval has lapsed. Latter time interval can be tailored to the stimulus in question, thereby avoiding habituation. Poultry for instance, will relatively soon habituate to physical stimuli, while it will only very slowly habituate to classical music. More generally, the abovementioned time intervals can be set accordingly.

In a further or alternative embodiment, at least one of the stimuli is activated for no more than 24 hours. In a further or alternative embodiment, any stimulus is generated for no more than 50% of the time. As such, habituation is delayed or excluded.

In a further or alternative embodiment, the stress level is at least determined on the basis of sound information. To this end, sound recorded in and/or around the barn is analyzed. In a non-limiting embodiment, the stress level relates to sound intensity, whereby the stressed state is indicated by an intensity surpassing a preset threshold. Of course, other embodiments may additionally or alternatively consider the sound-silence ratio, the presence of any meaningful sounds that relate to stress, or any other sound information. Poultry, for instance, is especially sensitive to pitch, tone and rhythm changes. The animals use very specific sounds, songs and calls in stressful situations. In a possible embodiment, stresssuppressing stimuli are activated and/or amplified upon detection of any of such sounds/songs/calls.

In a further or alternative embodiment, the stress level is at least determined on the basis of an ammonia content, a CO₂ content, a temperature, and/or an animal activity. When combining multiple data, the stress level as determined will generally be more reliable.

It is known that increased ammonia contents can be indicative of stressed states. Moreover, stress may be identified from increased body temperatures (e.g. via IR thermometry, corrected for the type of animal), for instance when the animals exhibit acute stress-induced hyperthermia. In any case, the body activity of stressed animals is often increased. CO₂ emissions correspondingly increase, giving rise to higher CO₂ contents inside the barn. Additionally or alternatively the animal activity, which could be an indicator of stress, can be measured via time-correlation of images. However, in no way the invention is limited to any of these.

In a further or alternative embodiment, the barn comprises two or more zones, whereby the stress level is determined zonally. There need not be a physical separation in between these zones; the subdivision into different zones may be purely conceptual. Optionally, zones that are particularly prone to stress outbreaks can thus be identified, and possible stressors can be remedied locally. In some cases, stress starts locally and spreads. Optionally local outbreaks of stress can now be isolated by providing an actual, physical separation. In such embodiments, any further spreading of stress is hindered.

In a further or alternative embodiment, the stimuli are activated and/or amplified zonally. Advantageously, stress is only remedied zonally where required. Animals in other zones are not exposed to these stimuli. These animals thus not risk habituation.

In a further or alternative embodiment, the method according to the first aspect is a computer-implemented method. Preferably, said method is at least partly automated, via a plurality of sensors that gather the information, and via a processor that processes the information and that actuates means for generating stress-suppressing stimuli. In a non-limiting embodiment, an alert message is sent to a mobile user device (e.g. a smartphone, tablet, laptop, etc.) each time that a new stressed state is identified.

In a further or alternative embodiment, said animals are cattle, pigs, sheep, goats, and/or poultry. Said poultry may comprise chickens, ducks, geese, turkeys, and optionally any other poultry. In another, non-limiting embodiment, said animals are poultry such as chickens, ducks, turkeys, geese, and/or any other poultry. In a further embodiment, said animals are chickens, ducks, turkeys, and/or geese. Preferably said animals comprise poultry. More preferably said animals consist of poultry.

In a second aspect, the invention provides a system for suppressing stress in livestock, configured for being installed in a barn accommodating a plurality of animals, wherein said system comprises a plurality of sensors for gathering information relating to one or more of said animals, and/or relating to one or more barn conditions, and wherein the system is configured for determining a stress level on the basis of the information gathered. In particular, the system further comprises means for activating and/or amplifying one or more stress-suppressing stimuli, which stimuli comprise a sound stimulus and/or an electromagnetic stimulus. Latter electromagnetic stimulus may optionally be a light stimulus, as specified in respect of the above method.

Preferably, said system is capable of performing the method according to the first aspect, whereby the same characteristics and corresponding advantages can be repeated.

In a further or alternative embodiment, said system further comprises a processor, configured for reading out the aforementioned sensors, and for determining the stress level. Preferably, said system is an automated system. Optionally, said system comprises a communication module for sending alert messages as discussed above.

In a further or alternative embodiment, said sensors are configured for registering sound information, an ammonia content, a CO₂ content, a temperature and/or an animal activity. In a further or alternative embodiment, said system is a computerimplemented system.

In a third aspect, the invention provides a barn, configured for accommodating a plurality of animals. In particular, said barn is provided with a system according to the second aspect of the invention, for suppressing stress in livestock.

The invention is further described by the following non-limiting examples and figures which further illustrate the invention, and are not intended to, nor should they be interpreted to, limit the scope of the invention.

Example 1

In a non-limiting embodiment, a barn having a floor structure, a roof structure, and four wall structures is internally provided with 12 microphones for registering sounds produced by poultry accommodated in 12 corresponding zones. These zones correspond to floor areas lying in the neighborhood of the aforementioned microphones. The system particularly identifies any specific, stress-related sounds, through comparison with a predetermined sound database. Sound stimuli are activated within a certain zone, as soon as any of such stress-related sounds are individually detected more than ten 10 times in the preceding minute, via the corresponding microphone. The zonal stress level is correspondingly set to 1. Latter sound stimuli comprise a bird sound compilation featuring relaxed poultry only. Moreover its activation is maintained until 15 minutes have passed, or until not a single stress-related sound is registered during 2 minutes, whichever falls earlier. The stress level corresponding to the zone in question is then again set to 0. The timeframes mentioned herein may of course be optimized for specific species of poultry.

Example 2

In a non-limiting embodiment, about 200 pigs are accommodated in a single barn. The stress level is calculated via time-correlation of video images, and corrected for ammonia content in the air, taking continuous values between 0% and 100%. Whenever the stress level surpasses a threshold of 50%, the light in the barn is automatically dimmed by 20% with respect to the standard light intensity value. This calming environment is then maintained during 8 minutes. Red lights are activated if, within this timeframe, sound intensities are detected that are indicative of stress-aggressive behavior. This makes it harder for the pigs to discern blood, such that aggressive behavior is no longer encouraged. This environment is maintained for 4 minutes maximum, after which the system is reset.

Example 3

In a non-limiting embodiment, about 28 cows are accommodated in a closed barn that is provided with a climate control system. The temperature of the cows is continuously monitored through infrared thermometry. As soon as at least one of the cows has a body temperature surpassing 39,5°C, an alert message is sent to a mobile user device of an operator. Simultaneously, speakers are activated, producing a burst of fine classical music during about 30 minutes, after which the system will be reset. In the meantime, the operator can consult video images showing the cows, to determine whether the increased temperature indeed stems from stress, or rather from sickness. In the latter case, a veterinary is consulted.

It is supposed that the present invention is not restricted to any form of realization described previously and that some modifications can be added to the presented examples/figures without reappraisal of the appended claims.

The invention may thereto be described according to the following embodiments:

1. A method for suppressing stress in livestock, wherein a plurality of animals is accommodated in a barn, said method comprises gathering information relating to one or more of the animals, and/or relating to one or more barn conditions, on the basis of which information a stress level is determined and wherein, where the stress level is indicating a stressed state for at least one of the animals, one or more stress-suppressing stimuli are activated and/or amplified, which stimuli comprise a sound stimulus and/or an electromagnetic stimulus.

2. The method according to previous embodiment 1, characterized in that said stress-suppressing stimuli at least comprise a sound stimulus and/or a light stimulus.

3. The method according to any of embodiments 1 and 2, characterized in that at least one of the stimuli comprises a variable spectrum.

4. The method according to any of embodiments 1-3, characterized in that at least one of the stimuli comprises a variable intensity.

5. The method according to any of embodiments 1-4, characterized in that said stimuli at least comprise a sound stimulus having a variable sound spectrum and/or having a variable sound intensity.

6. The method according to any of the previous embodiments, characterized in that said stimuli further comprise a physical stimulus.

7. The method according to any of the previous embodiments, characterized in that at least one of the stimuli is weakened and/or deactivated, where the stress level is no longer indicating a stressed state for at least one of the animals.

8. The method according to any of the previous embodiments, characterized in that at least one of the stimuli is weakened and/or deactivated, as soon as a predetermined time interval has lapsed.

9. The method according to any of the previous embodiments, characterized in that at least one of the stimuli is activated for no more than 24 hours.

10. The method according to any of the previous embodiments, characterized in that the stress level is at least determined on the basis of sound information.

11. The method according to any of the previous embodiments, characterized in that the stress level is at least determined on the basis of an ammonia content, a CO₂ content, a temperature, and/or an animal activity.

12. The method according to any of the previous embodiments, characterized in that the barn comprises two or more zones, whereby the stress level is determined zonally.

13. The method according to any of the previous embodiments, characterized in that the stimuli are activated and/or amplified zonally.

14. The method according to any of the previous embodiments, characterized in that said method is a computer-implemented method.

15. The method according to any of the previous claims, characterized in that said animals are cattle, pigs, sheep, goats, ducks, turkeys, geese, and/or chickens.

16. A system for suppressing stress in livestock, configured for being installed in a barn accommodating a plurality of animals, wherein said system comprises a plurality of sensors for gathering information relating to one or more of said animals, and/or relating to one or more barn conditions, and wherein the system is configured for determining a stress level on the basis of the information gathered, characterized in that the system further comprises means for activating and/or amplifying one or more stress-suppressing stimuli, which stimuli comprise a sound stimulus and/or an electromagnetic stimulus.

17. The system according to previous embodiment 16, characterized in that said stress-suppressing stimuli at least comprise a sound stimulus and/or a light stimulus.

18. The system according to any of embodiments 16 and 17, characterized in that said system comprises a processor, configured for reading out the aforementioned sensors, and for determining the stress level.

19. The system according to any of embodiments 16-18, characterized in that said sensors are configured for registering sound information, an ammonia content, a CO₂ content, a temperature and/or an animal activity.

20. The system according to any of embodiments 16-19, characterized in that said system is a computer-implemented system.

21. The system according to any of embodiments 16-20, characterized in that said system is configured for performing the method according to any of embodiments 1-15.

22. A barn, configured for accommodating a plurality of animals, characterized in that said barn is provided with a system according to any of embodiments 16-21, for suppressing stress in livestock.

Claims

CONCLUSIONS

A method for suppressing stress in cattle, wherein a plurality of animals is housed in a shed, the method comprising collecting information relating to one or more of the animals and / or relating to one or more conditions in the stable, on the basis of which information a stress level is determined and in which, if the stress level indicates a stressed condition for at least one of the animals, one or more stress-suppressing stimuli are activated and / or amplified, which stimuli a sound stimulus and / or an electromagnetic stimulus.

The method according to the preceding claim 1, characterized in that the stress-suppressing stimuli comprise at least one sound stimulus and / or a light stimulus.

The method according to any of the preceding claims 1 and 2, characterized in that at least one of the stimuli comprises a variable spectrum.

The method according to any one of the preceding claims 1 to 3, characterized in that at least one of the stimuli comprises a variable intensity.

The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the stimuli comprise at least one sound stimulus with a variable sound spectrum and / or with a variable sound intensity.

The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the stimuli further comprise a physical stimulus.

The method according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one of the stimuli is weakened and / or deactivated if the stress level no longer indicates a stressed state for at least one of the animals.

The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one of the stimuli is weakened and / or deactivated as soon as a predetermined time interval has elapsed.

The method according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one of the stimuli is activated for no longer than 24 hours.

The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the stress level is at least determined on the basis of sound information.

The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the stress level is determined at least on the basis of an ammonia content, a CO ₂ content, a temperature and / or an animal activity.

The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the shed comprises two or more zones, the stress level being determined zonally.

The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the stimuli are activated and / or amplified zonally.

The method according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is a computer-implemented method.

The method according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the animals are cattle, pigs, sheep, goats, ducks, turkeys, geese and / or chickens.

16. A system for suppressing stress in cattle, configured to be installed in a stable with a plurality of animals, the system comprising a plurality of sensors for collecting information relating to one or more of the animals and / or with respect to one or more conditions in the shed, and wherein the system is configured to determine a stress level based on the information collected, characterized in that the system further comprises means for activating and / or reinforcing one or more stress-suppressing stimuli, which stimuli comprise a sound stimulus and / or an electromagnetic stimulus.

The system according to the preceding claim 16, characterized in that the stress-suppressing stimuli comprise at least one sound stimulus and / or a light stimulus.

The system according to any of the preceding claims 16 and 17, characterized in that it comprises a processor configured for reading out said sensors and for determining the stress level.

The system according to any of the preceding claims 16 to 18, characterized in that the sensors are configured to record sound information, an ammonia content, a CO ₂ content, a temperature and / or an animal activity.

The system according to any of the preceding claims 16 to 19, characterized in that it is a computer-implemented system.

The system according to any of the preceding claims 16 to 20, characterized in that it is configured to perform the method according to any of the preceding claims 1 to 15.

22. A stable, configured to accommodate a multitude of

5 animals, characterized in that the stable is equipped with a system according to any one of claims 16 to 21, for suppressing stress in cattle.

METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR SUPPRESSING STRESS IN LIVESTOCK