Summary
Canadian pig farms and plants are getting bigger, but the number of people running them is shrinking. That means producers need smarter tools to keep tabs on animal health, performance, and carcass quality — without adding hours to their workday. A team of Canadian researchers tested a range of new technologies across farms, research stations, and packing plants to see which ones could actually work in the real world. On the farm side, they looked at smart water drinkers, infrared cameras, weight-prediction cameras, and activity trackers. At the plant, they explored 3D carcass scanning, fat quality testing, and an automated belly-firmness sorter. Several tools showed real promise. Smart drinkers could flag potential health issues up to three days before visible symptoms appeared. Infrared cameras tracked body temperature changes linked to stress. 3D carcass scanning showed strong potential for predicting cut weights and lean yield more accurately and consistently. For producers, these technologies could mean earlier disease detection, less guesswork at shipping time, and better returns at the plant. The biggest next step is making these tools easier to use and connect — because collecting data is only valuable if producers can act on it quickly.