WO2008084379A2

WO2008084379A2 - Method and apparatus for controlling growth processes of living organisms, for instance the incubation (setting and/or hatching out) of eggs

Info

Publication number: WO2008084379A2
Application number: PCT/IB2008/000032
Authority: WO
Inventors: Daniel Albert Berckmans; Jean-Marie Aerts; Andres Van Brecht; Mitchell Silva; Sezin Eren ÖZCAN; Paul Degraeve; Pascal Garain; Frank Verschuere; Lode Peeters; Roger Banwell; Vasileios Exadaktylos; Eddy Decuypere; Veerle Bruggeman
Original assignee: Katholieke Universiteit Leuven
Priority date: 2007-01-05
Filing date: 2008-01-07
Publication date: 2008-07-17
Also published as: WO2008084379A3

Abstract

This invention relates to a method for controlling the growth of living organisms, such as for instance animals in a stable, a greenhouse for plants, or hatching eggs in a hatching chamber, during their growth process in a living environment, comprising, in the said living environment, measuring and controlling physical or chemical quantities, such as for instance durations, temperatures and pressures of gases, body temperatures, sound frequencies, sound intensities, movements, and vibrations, characterized in that the method further comprises the following operations, - determining or measuring the magnitudes of changes of at least a single quantity of the said quantities, - for the said at least single quantity, at least substantially simultaneously comparing the said magnitudes with a preset magnitude, and - at least once changing at least one of the said quantities in the said environment when the preset magnitude is exceeded, wherein a changing maximum is set for the said changes, wherein the said determining and/or the said changing is done on collections of n organisms, with n > 1. More in particular, in the method, with respect to the organisms, the said determining or measuring on the one hand and the said changing on the other hand are done according to combinations of invasive and/or non-invasive operations. The invention further provides an apparatus for carrying out this method. In a very suitable manner, according to this invention, the growth stages and growth indicators can be determined and then be used in a control whereby, in the bio-industry, quality and yield of such products and derived products can be improved considerably.

Description

Title: Method and apparatus for controlling growth processes of living organisms, for instance the incubation (setting and/or hatching out) of eggs

Introduction

The field of technology indicated herein relates to controlling growth processes of living organisms, more in particular carrying out measurements in the living environment of these organisms, processing the measurement data thus obtained, and then operating control units therewith, for instance for adjusting climate conditions.

Many examples thereof are generally known, particularly from the bio-industry, here comprising, in a broad sense, applications with respect to plants such as greenhouse cultivation and greenhouse culture, and with respect to animals, such as housing management and fish-breeding pond management, in addition to very many others relating to inter alia harvest problems.

More in particular, hereinbelow, an explanation follows about the living conditions of eggs to be hatched out, for instance of chickens, ducks and turkeys, from the very first start up to leaving the hatching chamber or incubator, not long after the chicks breaking out of the egg. Such a period involves a time period of between about 20 and 30 days, more in particular, with eggs of chickens, of about 21 days. Controlling such living conditions at an industrial scale has already been done for almost a century in so-called hatching chambers.

For this controlling of the hatching process, various designations are used. More in particular, in this technology of hatching, the term setting is used during the first part, comprising 18 days of the above-mentioned about 21 days, and the term hatching is used for the last about 3 days, the second part of the hatching period of 21 days. For hatching, 'incubating' is used as well, or even 'incubating' for hatching during the whole period. However, in addition to 'incubating', 'hatching' is also used to designate the whole hatching period.

During the first part of the hatching period, the hatching eggs are generally placed in racks or hatching racks which are regularly tilted through an angle while, in the manner in which, with lifelike hatching, the hatching egg is regularly rolled back and forth in the nest by the hatching bird, this lifelike hatching is imitated. In order to be able to transport and move the racks, they are placed in carts or trolleys. At the end of this first part, which is roughly between 17 and 20 days from the start, the hatching eggs are taken from the racks and put into hatching trays in which the chicks are kept together after breaking out of the shell.

About both the stages of the development and the growth of such a chick embryo and about the different manners of controlling and regulating the living conditions in such a hatching period, much has been published. In the following scientific publications, descriptions and details thereof can be found:

* H Lundy, A REVIEW OF THE EFFECTS OF TEMPERATURE, HUMIDITY, TURNING AND GASEOUS ENVIRONMENT IN THE INCUBATOR ON THE HATCHABILITY OF THE HEN'S EGG, THE FERTILITY AND HATCHABILITY OF THE HEN'S EGG, 1969, Edited by

T C Carter and B M Freeman, pp. 143-176

* website of Mississippi State University, Department Poultry Science, http://www.msstate.edu/dept/poultry/avianemb.htm

* "How Bird Eggs Breathe", Rahn et al., Scientific American, February 1979, pp. 38-47

Further, there are many patent documents in which precisely described subfields of such a control are discussed, for instance

* US5251574

* WO0239812 * WO2005013678 In this technology, substantially two types of hatching chambers are used, which are referred to as single-stage and multi-stage according to their manner of hatching out. Single stage is understood to mean the method in which, in one and the same hatching chamber, a large batch of hatching eggs go through a same hatching stage and where each hatching egg is in about the same hatching conditions, and, in addition, multistage, where a hatching procedure is used, for instance in a tunnel construction, with, at the exit, the discharge of racks with eggs which are at the end of the period of setting, and, at the entrance, the input of racks with eggs starting the hatching process.

Particularly according to the information as can be found in the above-mentioned scientific publications, in the periods of setting and hatching, developments occur and transitions take place in the growth of a chicken embryo which are considered very determinative of the manner to be used of controlling and regulating the Living conditions in such hatching chambers.

Thus, it is known that, in the period of the above-mentioned setting, for the chicken embryo, after about two days, the first heartbeats of the embryos can be detected. This means that two systems of veins will develop, one in the so-called chorioallantois, a vascular membrane entirely around the chick embryo, and the other in the embryo body itself. Most clearly, a wholly new growth development of the embryo is marked thereby, so that, with the detection of such heartbeats, further marked growth moments can be expected. Some noticeable further moments in the first period of setting, also to be referred to as growth indicators, are those of first movements of the embryo between the fourth and sixth day, and certainly also the air chamber starting to get smaller, generally during the eighth day. In "How Bird Eggs Breathe", Rahn et al., Scientific American, February 1979, pages 38-47, Figure 1, a schedule of the whole hatching period for hatching eggs of chickens is shown with the respiration mechanisms during the successive subperiods shown therein. More in particular, it can be read from this that, during the whole hatching period, the respiration, more in particular the oxygen uptake, takes place via the chorioallantois. After about 19 days, the chick embryo chips the air chamber of the egg (internal pipping) and after about 21 days, the chick embryo chips the egg shell (external pipping) and the chick breaks out of the egg. From the moment of internal pipping, the respiration via the lungs slowly but surely takes over from the respiration via the chorioallantois. It may be clear from this that, in the time interval between internal and external pipping, the embryos undergo very important changes and the monitoring and guiding thereof is accordingly important. Examples of observations and experiments around such moments in the growth stages and transitions are known from literature.

It is known from Tazawa et al., Non-contact measurements of avian embryo heart rate by means of laser speckle: comparison with contact measurements, J. Med. and Biol. Eng. and Comp., V 27, No 6, 1989, Springer, to determine heartbeats halfway the period of setting.

Detecting sounds during the period of hatching out is described by Bamelis et al., 'An Automatic Monitoring of Hatching Process Based on the Noise of the Hatching Chicks', 2005 Poultry Science 84: 1101 - 1107.

Particularly for industrial hatching, the factors time, energy consumption, and chick yield, as well as the mutual relationships between them are very important. In addition, in this field of technology, the tendency can be seen of developing controls and models for the whole chain, viz. from the genetics of the laying hen up to the production of chicken meat. Such hatching requires a control in which the control of many parameters is carried out simultaneously, particularly in mutual dependency. Examples of such controls which are usable for the whole hatching period are described in inter alia WO0239812 and WO2005013678.

Both with setting and with hatching, the climate conditions in the hatching chambers, which will generally be different for these different successive periods, are controlled according to determined control models. With hatching according to WO0239812, what is substantially intended is to increase the hatching-out percentages, while according to WO200513678, the momentary physical conditions of the chicks are taken into account by means of using so-called bioresponse. Recent research has shown that, for improving the control, not only the relationships between the many parameters, laid down in and carried out according to the models referred to in some publications, need to be used, but that particularly the determining of the above-mentioned moments and growth indicators during the growth stages of the eggs is very important for creating an optimal living environment for each individual embryo or for a collection of eggs, for instance in a particular part of a hatching chamber, also referred to as zones, suiting the development of the growth at that moment and of the immediately subsequent stages.

Method

The invention relates to a method according to the preamble of claim 1.

Such a method is known from WO2005013678. Therein, a method is described for processing bioresponse signals coming from organisms living in a well-defined living space, in particular hatching eggs, which are each comprised in a microenvironment. These signals are obtained with online measurement of bioresponse variables, and are processed in a signal processor at least in real time, viz. immediately after reception of the signal. On the one hand, these organisms are monitored in the above-mentioned microenvironments, and on the other hand, these variables are adjusted by corresponding signal control devices according to a living space control model.

Such a living space comprises an incubator for hatching out hatching eggs, while the bioresponse variables are measured and controlled in a physical and/or chemcial manner, for instance in the form of optical, electrical, magnetic, acoustic or mechanical signals, or combinations thereof.

With such a method, to a large extent, the development of the natural characteristics typical of the respective organism is followed and respected. It has been found that the individual organisms go through a growth and development matching these characteristics more, while a higher yield with hatching out is obtained. According to this method, very small variations and steps for monitoring and responding to the development of such an embryo are carried out.

A remarkable result of such a known process control is that the times of the hatching out of the eggs, more in particular the breaking out of the shell or the chipping of the egg shell, rather vary, where time differences of up to 24 to 36 hours can occur. This has various consequences. Thus, the chicks hatched out first will need to wait until they can eat and drink for the last one before all chicks are transferred to the cages, pens or similar housing intended for them in a conventional manner. This directly makes it clear that the growth differences can be considerable. Consequently, the meat production can show large variations, which have immediate percussions on the further operational management. Differences in hatching out are known from literature, for instance according to Bamelis et al. as mentioned hereinabove. More in particular, it is explained how sound observations in a hatching chamber for hatching out hatching eggs of chickens have resulted in the first sounds after about 19 days forming the beginning and marking the start of the hatching out of the eggs. In this article, it is indicated in a general manner that such observations can also be used to influence the process of hatching out. What is characteristic of the hatching out of large numbers of eggs in a hatching chamber situation as mentioned hereinabove according to WO2005013678 is further the effect of the averaging of observational values of variables whereby individual effects are accordingly averaged out. Particularly the generally known transitions such as the first heartbeats, the first turning of an embryo, and later the chipping of the air chamber and then breaking out of the shell, are growth stages which, unlike with the above-mentioned models, need to be responded to in order to bring about a more suitable or desired progress in the growth. In the technology of controlling hatching chambers, more in particular the control of the hatching process, it is not only attempted to increase the hatching-out percentage of the hatching eggs. The foregoing clearly shows that particularly the conditions and the future of the hatching chicks, more in particular those of the day -old chicks, and particularly the relation between their conditions and their conditions in their later lives as broilers, require further treatment and control. In the above-mentioned publications, no method is offered whereby control of growth moments and transitions, for instance of the times of the hatching out of the eggs, is obtained. It has been found that when, in the control, the above-mentioned moments in the development and transitions in the growth of such embryos are not taken into account, this has an adverse effect on the results of the yield at the end of the above-mentioned chain, and in particular on the results at the end of the second period of hatching out. It is generally known that, also with housing management or greenhouse culture, better recognition and control of growth indicators is becoming an increasingly more important requirement to be able to guarantee yield and quality.

In order to be able to influence the growth process in such a living environment more adequately on the one hand, and to improve the economic yield on the other hand, the method according to the invention is characterized in that the method further comprises

- determining the magnitudes of changes of at least a single quantity of the above-mentioned quantities;

- for the above-mentioned at least single quantity, simultaneously comparing the above-mentioned magnitude with a preset magnitude, and

- at least once changing at least one of the above-mentioned quantities in the hatching chamber when the preset magnitude is exceeded, while a change maximum is set for the above-mentioned changes, while the above- mentioned determining and/or the above-mentioned changing is carried out on collections of n organisms, with n > 1.

As a very special result of this method, it needs to be noted that it enables this manner of controlling and regulating the living conditions, in particular influencing the above-mentioned growth moments and transitions. For instance, with plant growth in a greenhouse, the observation of the beginning of growth of a flower bud will be an indication for adjusting the composition of a nutrient flow where an adjusted mixture of minerals can be offered to the plants. With hatching eggs, both with respect to individual eggs or small groups thereof, and of large groups of eggs in the hatching chambers, adjusted air mixtures and adjusted temperatures are set. In a very advantageous manner, the yield, calculated as a combination of a number of parameters, for instance the number of flower buds which have come out, or also the number of chicks which have hatched out, as a function of, for instance, the added energy, is thus increased.

A further exemplary embodiment of the invention is characterized in that, with respect to the organisms, the above-mentioned determining or measuring on the one hand and the above-mentioned changing on the other hand are carried out according to combinations of invasive and/or non-invasive operations.

In a very suitable manner, it is thus achieved that measuring and controlling can take place, on the one hand, very directly and, on the other hand, by keeping track of large numbers. In cases where invasive operations inflict much damage, for instance with hatching eggs, this manner of operation does provide insight into the average over a large number, often also supplementary to further non-invasive measurements such as temperature measurements of a hatching egg. With reparable interventions on plants, such as punctures in stems with sap flows, on the one hand, extremely accurate measurements can be carried out or samples can be taken, or injections can be administered.

A still further exemplary embodiment is characterized in that the preset magnitude is a minimum value or a maximum value. Other exemplary embodiments are characterized in that the growth process is controlled in a hatching chamber for hatching eggs, for instance of chickens, turkeys or ducks, where the collections are located in parts or zones of such a hatching chamber; that such a zone comprises at least a part of a tray with hatching eggs; that such a zone comprises at least one cart; that, for the magnitudes to be measured, and/or the magnitudes which are exceeded, and/or the magnitudes to be changed, the quantities at least comprise the water vapor pressure in the hatching chamber, the temperature in the hatching chamber, the temperature near the hatching eggs, the temperature of the egg shell of a hatching egg, the partial pressure of carbon dioxide, the partial pressure of oxygen, the electrical conductivity of a hatching egg, the movement of a hatching egg, the heart rate, the sound intensity in the hatching chamber, and the sound intensity near at least a single hatching egg; that the measuring is done optically; that the changing of the above-mentioned at least one quantity is pulsed; and the method is used during the period of the hatching process prior to the chicks breaking out of the eggs and corresponding substantially with the period of hatching and hatching out of the above-mentioned hatching eggs, while the breaking out is controlled.

Most clearly, most of the above-mentioned other exemplary embodiments relate to the incubation of hatching eggs in hatching chambers or incubators.

In particular when incubation is involved, on the basis of observations and then actively controlling particular parameters, it has been found that, by this manner of controlling and regulating the dispersion of times of hatching out of the eggs is reduced considerably. The advantages of these measures during the period of hatching out are great. Firstly, the operational management of hatching chambers is simplified in that the end times of the hatching process are easier to keep track of. Then the starting conditions for the further growth process for such chicks are considerably more comparable. This not only provides a better view of operational management of such growth process, such as for instance those of the feeding cycles, but this also means yields for meat production which are considerably more predictable.

While it is true that it is known from the article of K Moriya et al., 'Continuous measurements of instantaneous heart rate and its fluctuations before and after hatching in chickens', J. Exp. Biol. 203, 895-903 (2000) that observations of the heart rate with hatching eggs during the hatching period in the time period from 18 days are a direct sign of a chick breaking out of the egg, a specific control as described hereinabove is by no means indicated. Apparatus

The present invention also relates to an apparatus for controlling processes as described hereinabove and is directed to an apparatus for controlling the growth of living organisms during their growth process in a living environment, such as for instance a growth environment or a care environment, as set forth in the preamble of claim 11.

In above-mentioned WO02098213, so-called input-output control models are described in detail, to be applied to animals in general, with the flows from and to stables as an example. More in particular, bioproduction, biomass, and waste production are compared with nutrition and climate control. To this, the so-called bioresponse method is applied, with the approach also mentioned elsewhere of measuring and, depending thereon, a model-based stepwise control, being carried out.

Further characteristics of such an apparatus are described in above-mentioned document WO2005013678. More in particular, herein a temperature regulation is described with which, in a very accurate manner, temperatures at multiple locations in hatching chambers can be measured and monitored. On the basis thereof, a control model is used which controls and responds according to the principle of bioresponse represented therein. For such hatching chambers or incubators, it holds that, for the above-mentioned first period, with incubation, the hatching eggs are placed in racks, more in particular each individually in egg holders intended for this purpose. Such a manner of operating a hatching chamber already used for very many years has been found very suitable for several reasons. The racks are designed such that tilting is possible, whereby natural movements of an egg during the hatching under a chicken are imitated. Such a placement also means that, for each egg, on average a same environment, more in particular a same atmospheric climate, is provided. It has been found a further advantage that, in this manner, it is possible to suitably mount sensors for detecting, namely between the eggs on the racks. However, the measures taken for this do not allow direct, simultaneous intervention in both the microclimate and the climate in the hatching chamber as a whole, or also combinations thereof, and thereby further optimization of the hatching conditions. In order to obviate these drawbacks, the apparatus according to the invention further comprises:

- a treatment space for placing and treating the above-mentioned organisms, such as for instance a stable for animals, a greenhouse for plants, or a hatching chamber for hatching eggs, - sensors for measuring both values of physical and chemical quantities determining the climate in the treatment space, such as for instance chronometers for measuring times and durations, thermometers for measuring temperatures, and gas pressure manometers for determining gas concentrations, and values of physical and chemical quantities with respect to the bodies of the above-mentioned organisms,

- actuators for influencing both the climate in the above-mentioned treatment space as a result of the regulation of at least one of the above-mentioned quantities, more in particular climate control units, for instance heating elements, cooling elements, fans, vaporizers and gas reservoirs, and the quantities with respect to the bodies of the above-mentioned organisms, and

- processing units, for processing values measured by the sensors, for instance for composing characteristics and derived values of the above- mentioned quantities, and for supplying control signals to the above - mentioned actuators, where the sensors and/or actuators are assigned to collections of n organisms, with n > 1. In a suitable manner, nowadays very advanced sensor and actuator devices can be used for this, whereby any form of observation on the one hand and intervention or control on the other hand can be carried out, and with which, it has been found, very favorable conditions and advantageous yields are obtained.

It has further been found that, in hatching chambers, by using these combinations of measuring and controlling of the hatching process, the living environment for such hatching eggs is improved considerably, both with respect to the individual eggs and with respect to the climate control in the whole hatching chamber, for instance for a hatching chamber divided into zones.

A further essential advantage of the measure according to the invention is the fact that it can be used for both types of hatching chambers mentioned hereinabove. In a further embodiment, the apparatus is characterized in that, with respect to the organisms, the above-mentioned sensors and actuators are used in combinations of invasive and/or non -invasive operations.

It is thus achieved in an advantageous manner that both an individual treatment and a group approach are possible and thus the possibilities in stables, hatching chambers or greenhouses are increased considerably and the yield is increased. In particular, the possibilities of automation are increased considerably, so that a greater economic advantage can be achieved.

In further exemplary embodiments, the apparatus according to the invention is characterized in that the treatment space comprises a hatching chamber for hatching eggs, for instance of chickens, turkeys or ducks, where the hatching eggs are placed in holders, for instance racks or trays, in carts or trolleys; the sensors comprise, not exclusively and each separately or in combinations, sound recorders for sound frequencies between 0.01 Hz and 50 kHz, cameras for recording images in the electromagnetic spectrum with wavelengths between 100 nm and 1500 nm, piezo sensors such as accelerometers or load cell devices, electrodes for electrical or electromechanic measurements, thermometers for contact measurements, thermometers for non-contact measurements such as infrared thermometers, gas pressure manometers, and pH meters; the actuators comprise, not exclusively and each separately or in combinations, gas reservoirs for supplying gases, climate control units, vibration control units, speakers, light sources such as LEDs, air circulation units such as pulsators or fans, and for instance more in particular cooling equipment such as sprinkler systems; the sensors and/or actuators are provided very close to the hatching eggs, at least on the carts or trolleys of these hatching eggs; and the apparatus further comprises at least a single robot for moving either the sensors and/or actuators or the above-mentioned n organisms, or a combination of both.

Most clearly, the measures according to these further exemplary embodiments are very suitable for hatching chambers, where a considerably improved accessibility and treatability of such huge collections of eggs are obtained.

It is noted that, in document US5251574, it is set forth what the role is of sounds in hatching chambers, particularly during the last days before the hatching out of hatching eggs. More in particular, sound recordings of hatching processes are composed to be played later during hatching out of further batches of hatching eggs and to thus use them as a control mechanism. It is very specifically mentioned that the purpose thereof is to reduce the dispersion of times of hatching out of hatching eggs. The result of this method can be read from, for instance, Figure 2 of US5251574, in which, at the end, an increase of the number of chicks hatched out can be seen. It has been found that, with the higher hatching-out percentages achieved nowadays, there is no gain on the hatching-out percentages according to the methods according to US5251574 and control of the dispersion of hatching-out times is not obtained either. Neither is it known from these documents with what equipment control can be obtained.

As a further advantage of the above-mentioned exemplary embodiments for operating hatching chambers, it can be noted that, in a short time, viz. between 6 and 12 hours, a hatching-out percentage is obtained that is similar to percentages obtained with known devices. The chain of advantageous consequences further comprises inter alia the possibility of better planning and organization of the transport of the chicks, in addition to the larger uniformity of the chicks that was found.

According to still another advantage, thus, remarkable behaviors, as well as statistics with respect to all kinds of behavior, for instance walking behavior, can be determined, compared and evaluated.

Although specifically noted for hatching chamber, these advantages can also apply to operating livestock housing, or in the operational management of greenhouses. Particularly the automation via manipulators or robots has been found to provide a remarkably uniform and recordable treatment whereby the predictability of the yield is improved in an advantageous manner.

Description

Further details and applications will be discussed and explained hereinafter with reference to a drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 schematically shows a hatching period according to Rahn; Fig. 2 shows a first exemplary embodiment of a hatching chamber according to the invention; and

Fig. 3 shows a second exemplary embodiment of a hatching chamber according to the invention. Same parts will be designated in the same manner in the different Figures.

Fig. 1 schematically shows, for the whole hatching period, for hatching eggs of chickens, the uptake of oxygen in the blood as a function of time. Here, for the technology of hatching, the following periods are distinguished.

In a first period I, during about the first 18 days of the whole period of about 21 days, the hatching eggs are placed in racks, arranged in an accurately climate-controlled space or hatching chamber. Such a hatching chamber is also referred to as a "setter". In such a chamber, the concentrations of oxygen, carbon dioxide, and water vapor are very accurately monitored and optionally adjusted, the temperatures are accurately monitored and optionally adjusted, and the racks are regularly tilted to make the growth process of the embryos similar to a natural growth process where the chicken regularly rolls an egg back and forth. In this period, the uptake of oxygen takes place via a vascular membrane around the embryo, the chorioallantois. The oxygen uptake, with a development according to c (continuous curve), for the developing embryo increases until a certain maximum value is reached, corresponding to the end of this period I and the beginning of the next period II.

This period II, starting after about 18 days, is the period in which the embryos first chip the air chamber (internal pipping, IP), at which moment, in addition to the uptake of oxygen via the chorioallantois, the respiration 1 (curve with chain-dotted lines) via the lungs starts as well. This will eventually take over the whole of the respiration c. Prior to this, the embryos chip the egg shell (external pipping, EP) and then they slowly crawl out of the egg. The connection of the above-mentioned membrane of the chorioallantois with the chick will be broken at a given moment, after which the chicks breathe wholly via the lungs. For the process in the above-mentioned period II, the eggs are transferred into collecting units, for instance baskets, trays or containers, in which the chicks break out of the eggs and are kept together, which are in a similar chamber to the one mentioned hereinabove. Such hatching-out chambers are generally referred to as "hatchers". Control of the climate conditions therein takes place in a similar manner as for period I.

The times in the schedule are an average. It has been found that large differences can occur in hatching out and such that, for different eggs, IP and EP can coincide. In the technology of simultaneously hatching out large batches of hatching eggs, for instance in numbers of between 15,000 and 45,000, this is a big problem.

Fig. 2 schematically shows the view of a hatching chamber 1, typically with dimensions of about 3.5 m wide, 2.5 m high and 2.5 m deep. In the view, two doors 10 and 11, with windows 100 and 110 are shown. The control as mentioned hereinabove is located in a console 20, for instance in the middle, with a display 21 accommodated therein. With signal lights 220 and 221, special hatching chamber situations can be indicated.

Further, a microphone 3 is schematically shown with a few musical notes next to it by way of recognition. This indicates that, in the hatchers, continuously the sounds, in particular the sound level or sound intensities, are monitored. In a further processing thereof, sound characteristics can be composed, with details therein with respect to, for instance, frequencies, volumes and direction. It has been found that IP is followed by peeping noises of the chick embryos which penetrate the shell and can be observed. In a similar manner, sound differences, sound intensities and transitions can be measured with EP.

Further, during this last period, the eggs can be monitored by measuring other characteristics, for instance heart rate, heat production, CO2 concentration, O2 concentration, temperature and humidity. More in particular, particularly around EP, cameras can be used for monitoring and measurements. It has been found that the traditional hatcher control supplemented with these measurements allows the adjustment of the climate control in the hatcher, such that, for all hatching eggs, the interval between IP and EP can be reduced.

Hereinabove, it has already been explained what remarkable advantages are offered by this manner of climate control. In particular, unexpected signal patterns, namely exceeding a set value, or also deviations from such a value, or further equivalents of setting margins or setting criteria, can be an indication of a special growth moment or a growth indicator. The processing unit with the desired control provided therein will also be able to provide this.

In a known manner, such a hatching chamber or hatcher comprises climate control units, for instance heating elements, cooling elements, vaporizers, and gas reservoirs, with an associated control. With such a control, signal profiles can be set as desired, from switching off to mark 0, to regulating profiles such as continuously increasing and then levelling, in a pulsed manner with associated frequencies, a constant value unequal to 0, and many others. In particular, for a pulsator, a special setting can be chosen where the air circulation is forced into a particular mode. With respect to the circulation of air, namely refreshing and recirculation, many settings are possible.

It will be clear to any expert that process steps can also be deployed for combinations of observations with sensors. Thus, the combined observation of sound at EP and then images with a camera system can be followed by a process step for more adequate drying of the one-day chicks.

Fig. 3 shows a further example of a combination of sensor and actuator. On a hatching egg E, a vibration sensor 40, for instance an accelerometer, is provided. Signals 40a, in the present case vibration signals, are supplied to a processing unit 41, a microprocessor, for instance incorporated in a chip, and itself supplied by a clock 42 by means of clock signals 42a. With control signals 41a,b of the microprocessor 41, two switches 410, 411 are controlled, which in turn control a LED 43 with respective switching signals 410a, 411a. This LED 43 is arranged such that, depending on the above-mentioned switching signals, light L of different wavelengths is produced, for instance in the red or green range of the visible spectrum. A control voltage signal 44a for the LED 43 is supplied by a voltage source 44. It will be clear to any expert that wavelengths in other ranges of the electromagnetic spectrum can be used with a similar apparatus, or that, instead of a single LED, multiple LEDs can be used for the wavelengths to be used.

It has been found that, with such an apparatus, very sensitive measurements can be carried out, for instance for determining heartbeats or further movements of an embryo in an early stage, more in particular in the above-mentioned first period I.

Sensors which are provided directly on an object or body which supplies electrical, chemical or mechanical signals during a particular time is, for instance, known from WO2007036748. Therein, in particular, a manner of recording, processing and of transmission of the generally processed original signals is described, which can be used here.

Example 1

In a conventional manner, a batch of hatching eggs is transferred from a setter, for instance of the type PETERSIME, AS-12S ™, with 57,600 hatching eggs therein, into hatchers, for instance of the type PETERSIME AS-4H ™, with 19,200 hatching eggs each.

This transferring generally takes place after 17,0 days, so at the beginning of the 18^th day. The internal processes in this period II have an exothermic character so that, generally, for keeping the temperature constant, cooling accordingly needs to take place.

As soon as the system of microphones placed in the hatchers determines IP, the temperature setting is increased from 100,0°F to 104.0T according to a block pulse profile with a pulse time of 4 hours.

It has been found that dispersion of hatching-out times is thus reduced from 24 hours to 12 hours.

Example 2

In a setter, for instance of the type PETERSIME, AS-12S ™, with 57,600 hatching eggs therein, de hatching eggs are placed in trays. In this case, this involves 12 carts or trolleys, with 16 levels each, with 2 trays for 150 hatching eggs each on each level. In order to obtain specific information during the initial stage of the embryo development, namely the period between 4 and 8 days after the beginning of the hatching or incubation, by way of experiment, on 16 eggs, distributed among these 16 carts, sensors and actuators according to the above-described exemplary embodiment are mounted. The Living conditions for these 16 eggs are arranged such that they are the same.

The actuators are two LEDs, one for red light, the other one for green light. It is standard that, between 140 and 150 hours after the beginning of incubation, the first movements of the embryo are to be expected. With 2 of these eggs, vibrations resulting from movements were observed earlier than 140 hours, with 13 within this time interval, and with 1 after this.

With the above-mentioned 2 eggs, green Light was (continuously) radiated for 1 minute and 250 mW to thereby inhibit the growth somewhat, while, with the one egg, red light was (continuously) radiated for 1.5 minutes and 150 mW to thereby push the growth.

It has been found that, in all these eggs, the air chamber was chipped (internal pipping) within 70 minutes. In variants of this example, the local parameters are changed in a stepwise manner. Clear mutual dependencies have been determined.

Example 3

In a pen with broilers, during the growth, parameters were measured with respect to the energy balance as a function of time.

More in particular, the measurements mentioned hereinbelow are carried out in the period between 20 and 30 days after breaking out of the egg- Precisely in this period, chicks show remarkable growth indicators with respect to their plumage and, related thereto, their fat and meat development.

Determinative are inter alia changes in feeding efficiency, to be determined from the conversion from feed to weight growth, and thermal energy losses to the environment. It has been found that the energy requirements of the individual chicks differ greatly.

In addition, according to non-invasive measurements, for instance with IR thermometers, surface temperatures of animals and pen walls have been determined, supplemented with measurements of air temperature, air humidity and air velocity at the height of the animals.

Thus, for individual broilers, the heat losses (both perceptible and latent) are calculated. The development of precisely these energy parameters forms a representation of their, in this case individual, growth process. Since, in this branch of the bio-industry, growth curves to be followed carefully are used, the determinations mentioned hereinabove, and more in particular, the deviations or exceeding related thereto, will allow effective and advantageous control. More in particular, during the growth, the fat-meat ratio is very efficiently determined and adjusted.

Further, analogously to the latter example, it can be noted that, in a similar manner, thermal losses of homoiothermic organisms (human, animal) can be determined from which heart rate variations in relation to the energy balance are derived. On the basis thereof, the physical and mental component of heart rate can be estimated in real time for individual organisms (athlete, patient, animal). These variations have been found to indicate transitions in both physical and mental conditions. It is expressly noted that this enables control of the welfare of organisms in a suitable manner.

It will be clear to any expert that the manner of measuring and recording on the one hand, and the manners of controlling and acting on the other hand, will be carried out in a non-invasive manner. This is because it has been found that damaged eggs will hardly have any chance to be hatched out in a normal manner, or to be able to go through a normal subsequent living process. Such sensors and actuators may be of different types. The list hereinbelow is by no means limitative but only serves as an example. As sensors, the following are in part tested, and are in part intended, not exclusively and each separately or in combinations: sound recorders for sound frequencies between 0.01 Hz and 50 kHz, cameras for recording images in the electromagnetic spectrum with wavelengths between 100 nm and 1500 nm, piezo sensors such as accelerometers or load cell devices, electrodes for electrical or electromechanic measurements, thermometers for contact measurements, thermometers for non-contact measurements such as infrared thermometers, or gas pressure manometers. As actuators, the following are in part tested and used, and are in another part intended, not exclusively and each separately or in combinations: gas reservoirs for supplying gases, climate control units, vibration control units, speakers, light sources such as LEDs, air circulation units such as pulsators or fans, or also sprinkler systems for further cooling.

The quantities for which magnitudes are measured, processed or set comprise for instance but not exclusively the water vapor pressure, the temperature in the hatching chamber, the temperature near the hatching eggs, the temperature of the egg shell of a hatching egg, the partial pressure of carbon dioxide, the partial pressure of oxygen, the electrical conductivity of a hatching egg, the movement of a hatching egg, the heart rate, the sound intensity in the hatching chamber, and the sound intensity near at least a single hatching egg. It is emphasized that the terminology of "deviations" and "exceeding" in and of values, and words and expressions related thereto, are equivalent, and are all understood to be read as an indication of a remarkable change in a growth process. Therefore, these can usually be referred to as growth indicators. It will be clear to any expert that many combinations of measurements, controls and positionings in the hatching chamber, viz. between the individual hatching eggs, on the hatching eggs, in determined zones, in compartments specially arranged for this purpose, or on preselected carts, may be carried out. Both the sensors and actuators may be provided directly near, or even on or in an organism, or also at a distance where contact treatment is less desired or not necessary.

Although the above explanation is substantially directed to the use of this invention with hatching chambers or incubators, it will be clear to any expert that this invention, viz. the method and the apparatus, is directly applicable to for instance stables, greenhouses or fish-breeding ponds. Therein, equally many combinations of actuators and sensors can be used.

Variants and small modifications in what has been described hereinabove are understood to fall within the protective scope of the following claims.

Claims

1. A method for controlling the growth of living organisms, such as for instance animals in a stable, a greenhouse for plants, or hatching eggs in a hatching chamber, during their growth process in a living environment, comprising, in the said living environment, measuring and controlling physical or chemical quantities, such as for instance durations, temperatures and pressures of gases, body temperatures, sound frequencies, sound intensities, movements, and vibrations, characterized in that the method further comprises the following operations,

- determining or measuring the magnitudes of changes of at least a single quantity of the said quantities,

- for the said at least single quantity, at least substantially simultaneously comparing the said magnitudes with a preset magnitude, and

- at least once changing at least one of the said quantities in the said environment when the preset magnitude is exceeded, wherein a changing maximum is set for the said changes, wherein the said determining and/or the said changing is done on collections of n organisms, with n > 1.

2. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that, with respect to the organisms, the said determining or measuring on the one hand and the said changing on the other hand are done according to combinations of invasive and/or non-invasive operations.

3. A method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the preset magnitude is a minimum value or a maximum value.

4. A method according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that the growth process is controlled in a hatching chamber for hatching eggs, for instance of chickens, turkeys or ducks, wherein the collections are located in parts or zones of such a hatching chamber.

5. A method according to claim 4, characterized in that such a zone comprises at least a part of a tray with hatching eggs.

6. A method according to claim 5, characterized in that such a zone comprises at least one cart.

7. A method according to claim 4, 5 or 6, characterized in that, for the magnitudes to be measured, and/or the magnitudes which are exceeded, and/or the magnitudes to be changed, the quantities at least comprise the water vapor pressure in the hatching chamber, the temperature in the hatching chamber, the temperature near the hatching eggs, the temperature of the egg shell of a hatching egg, the partial pressure of carbon dioxide, the partial pressure of oxygen, the electrical conductivity of a hatching egg, the movement of a hatching egg, the heart rate, the sound intensity in the hatching chamber, and the sound intensity near at least a single hatching egg.

8. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the measuring is done optically.

9. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the changing of the said at least one quantity is pulsed.

10. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the method is used during the period of the hatching process prior to the chicks breaking out of the eggs and corresponding substantially with the period of hatching and hatching out of the said hatching eggs, wherein the breaking out is controlled.

11. An apparatus for controlling the growth of living organisms during their growth process in a living environment, such as for instance a growth environment or a care environment, wherein the following is comprised,

- a treatment space for placing and treating the said organisms, such as for instance a stable for animals, a greenhouse for plants, or a hatching chamber for hatching eggs,

- sensors for measuring both values of physical and chemical quantities determining the climate in the treatment space, such as for instance chronometers for measuring times and durations, thermometers for measuring temperatures, and gas pressure manometers for determining gas concentrations, and values of physical and chemical quantities with respect to the bodies of the said organisms, - actuators for influencing both the climate in the said treatment space as a result of the regulation of at least one of the said quantities, more in particular climate control units, for instance heating elements, cooling elements, fans, vaporizers and gas reservoirs, and the quantities with respect to the bodies of the said organisms, and

- processing units, for processing values measured by the sensors, for instance for composing characteristics and derived values of the said quantities, and for supplying control signals to the said actuators, wherein the sensors and/or the actuators are assigned to collections of n organisms, with n > 1.

12. An apparatus according to claim 11, characterized in that, with respect to the organisms, the said sensors and actuators are used in combinations of invasive and/or non-invasive operations.

13. An apparatus according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that the treatment space comprises a hatching chamber for hatching eggs, for instance of chickens, turkeys or ducks, wherein the hatching eggs are placed in holders, for instance racks or trays, in carts or trolleys.

14. An apparatus according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that the sensors comprise, not exclusively and each separately or in combinations, sound recorders for sound frequencies between 0.01 Hz and 50 kHz, cameras for recording images in the electromagnetic spectrum with wavelengths between 100 nm and 1500 nm, piezo sensors such as accelerometers or load cell devices, electrodes for electrical or electromechanic measurements, thermometers for contact measurements, thermometers for non-contact measurements such as infrared thermometers, gas pressure manometers, and pH meters.

15. An apparatus according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that the actuators comprise, not exclusively and each separately or in combinations, gas reservoirs for supplying gases, climate control units, vibration control units, speakers, light sources such as LEDs, air circulation units such as pulsators or fans, and for instance more in particular cooling equipment such as sprinkler systems.

16. An apparatus according to claim 13, 14 or 15, characterized in that the sensors and/or actuators are provided very close to the hatching eggs, at least on the carts or trolleys of the said hatching eggs.

17. An apparatus according to any one of claims 11-16, characterized in that the apparatus further comprises at least a single robot for moving either the sensors and/or actuators or the said n organisms, or a combination of both.