Abstract Ultra-wideband (UWB) is an indoor positioning technology that has several advantages over current methods of tracking commercially reared broiler chickens, including providing long-term data on their movement patterns without the effect of observer presence. More information is needed on the accuracy of this technology under commercial conditions and the effects of wearing an UWB transmitter tag on normal broiler behaviours. Therefore, the main aims of this study were to test the location and distance accuracy of UWB tags, and to determine the effect of wearing backpacks on broiler behaviour and health. In a commercial house, thirty 21-day-old Ross 308 broiler chickens were fitted with an UWB tag backpack. Broilers were then able to move freely among 28 000 conspecifics. In weeks 4, 5 and 6, twenty tagged broilers and twenty untagged broilers were observed for a focal period of 15 minutes. Tagged broilers were weighed and gait scored on Day 21 and 37. The flock was slaughtered on Day 39 and data for average final weight were taken from slaughter records. The tags displayed a high level of accuracy, with 85% recording 0.05) in weeks 4 or 5. In week 6, tagged broilers spent less time preening than those not wearing a backpack. The average body weight of tagged broilers at Day 37 (2.54 kg) was consistent with average flock final body weights (2.4 kg) and the distribution of gait scores in week 6 was comparable with previous research. In conclusion, the effects of wearing a backpack on broiler health and welfare appeared to be minor, suggesting that data would be representative of normal movement patterns. The UWB system showed a high location accuracy but may be limited in accurately reporting distances travelled.

中文翻译：

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测试超宽带技术作为在商业条件下跟踪快速生长的肉鸡的方法

摘要 超宽带 (UWB) 是一种室内定位技术，与当前跟踪商业饲养的肉鸡的方法相比，具有多种优势，包括提供有关其运动模式的长期数据，而不受观察者在场的影响。需要更多关于该技术在商业条件下的准确性以及佩戴 UWB 发射器标签对正常肉鸡行为的影响的信息。因此，本研究的主要目的是测试 UWB 标签的位置和距离精度，并确定背负背包对肉鸡行为和健康的影响。在一个商品房里，30 只 21 天大的 Ross 308 肉鸡被安装了一个 UWB 标签背包。然后肉鸡能够在 28 000 个同种动物之间自由移动。在第 4、5 和 6 周，在 15 分钟的聚焦期内观察了 20 只标记肉鸡和 20 只未标记肉鸡。标记肉鸡在第 21 天和第 37 天称重并记录步态。鸡群在第 39 天屠宰，平均最终体重数据取自屠宰记录。标签显示出很高的准确度，85% 的人在第 4 周或第 5 周记录为 0.05)。在第 6 周，贴标签的肉鸡比没有背背包的肉鸡花在打扮上的时间少。标记肉鸡在第 37 天的平均体重 (2.54 kg) 与平均鸡群最终体重 (2.4 kg) 一致，第 6 周步态评分的分布与之前的研究相当。总之，背负背包对肉鸡健康和福利的影响似乎很小，这表明数据将代表正常的运动模式。