European scientists have developed an AI that decodes oinks and grunts to keep pigs happy

European scientists have created an AI algorithm to interpret pig sounds, aiming to enhance animal welfare by identifying negative emotions in pigs. The algorithm could alert farmers to potential stressors, providing a tool for improving welfare and potentially labeling farms based on the pigs' emotional states, as revealed by grunts, oinks, and squeals. The research indicates that pigs from free-range or organic farms produce fewer stress calls, highlighting the importance of emotional well-being in addition to physical condition. The algorithm, once fully developed, will be accessible to farmers through an app, helping them monitor their pigs' emotions and assist consumers in choosing farms.

European scientists have developed an artificial intelligence (AI) algorithm capable of interpreting pig sounds, aiming to create a tool that can help farmers improve animal welfare, reported Reuters. The algorithm could potentially alert farmers to negative emotions inpigs, thereby improving their well-being, according to Elodie Mandel-Briefer, a behavioural biologist at University of Copenhagen who is co-leading the study. The scientists, from universities in Denmark, Germany, Switzerland, France, Norway and the Czech Republic, used thousands of recorded pig sounds in different scenarios, including play, isolation and competition for food, to find that grunts, oinks, and squeals reveal positive or negative emotions. While many farmers already have a good understanding of the well-being of their animals by watching them in the pig pen, existing tools mostly measure their physical condition, said Mandel-Briefer. "Emotions of animals are central to their welfare, but we don't ...