Multi-Stage Data Processing for Enhancing Korean Cattle (Hanwoo) Weight Estimations by Automated Weighing Systems

Weight is the most basic and important indicator in cattle management, and automation of its measurement serves as a fundamental step toward modern smart livestock farming. Automated weighing systems (AWS) capable of continuously measuring cattle weight, even during movement, have been explored as k...

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Main Authors: Dong-Hyeon Kim, Jae-Woo Song, Hyunjin Cho, Mingyung Lee, Dae-Hyun Lee, Seongwon Seo, Wang-Hee Lee
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-06-01
Series:Animals
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/12/1785
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author Dong-Hyeon Kim
Jae-Woo Song
Hyunjin Cho
Mingyung Lee
Dae-Hyun Lee
Seongwon Seo
Wang-Hee Lee
author_facet Dong-Hyeon Kim
Jae-Woo Song
Hyunjin Cho
Mingyung Lee
Dae-Hyun Lee
Seongwon Seo
Wang-Hee Lee
author_sort Dong-Hyeon Kim
collection DOAJ
description Weight is the most basic and important indicator in cattle management, and automation of its measurement serves as a fundamental step toward modern smart livestock farming. Automated weighing systems (AWS) capable of continuously measuring cattle weight, even during movement, have been explored as key monitoring components in smart livestock farming. However, owing to the high measurement variability caused by environmental factors, the accuracy of AWSs has been questioned. These factors include real-time fluctuations due to animal activities (e.g., feeding and locomotion), as well as measurement errors caused by residual feed or excreta within the AWS. Therefore, this study aimed to develop an algorithm to enhance the reliability of steer weight measurements using an AWS, ensuring close alignment with actual cattle body weight. Accordingly, daily weight data from 36 Hanwoo steers were processed using a three-stage approach consisting of outlier detection and removal, weight estimation, and post-processing for weight adjustment. The best-performing algorithm that combined Tukey’s fences for outlier detection, mean-based estimation, and post-processing based on daily weight gain recommended by the National Institute of Animal Science achieved a root mean square error of 12.35 kg, along with an error margin of less than 10% for individual steers. Overall, the study concluded that the AWS measured steer weight with high reliability through the developed algorithm, thereby contributing to data-driven intelligent precision feeding.
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spelling doaj-art-0e14f72a63bf4e31bab71bede0e6416e2025-08-20T03:26:24ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152025-06-011512178510.3390/ani15121785Multi-Stage Data Processing for Enhancing Korean Cattle (Hanwoo) Weight Estimations by Automated Weighing SystemsDong-Hyeon Kim0Jae-Woo Song1Hyunjin Cho2Mingyung Lee3Dae-Hyun Lee4Seongwon Seo5Wang-Hee Lee6Department of Smart Agriculture Systems, Chungnam National University, Daejeon 34134, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Smart Agriculture Systems Machinery Engineering, Chungnam National University, Daejeon 34134, Republic of KoreaDivision of Animal and Dairy Sciences, Chungnam National University, Daejeon 34134, Republic of KoreaDivision of Animal and Dairy Sciences, Chungnam National University, Daejeon 34134, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Smart Agriculture Systems Machinery Engineering, Chungnam National University, Daejeon 34134, Republic of KoreaDivision of Animal and Dairy Sciences, Chungnam National University, Daejeon 34134, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Smart Agriculture Systems, Chungnam National University, Daejeon 34134, Republic of KoreaWeight is the most basic and important indicator in cattle management, and automation of its measurement serves as a fundamental step toward modern smart livestock farming. Automated weighing systems (AWS) capable of continuously measuring cattle weight, even during movement, have been explored as key monitoring components in smart livestock farming. However, owing to the high measurement variability caused by environmental factors, the accuracy of AWSs has been questioned. These factors include real-time fluctuations due to animal activities (e.g., feeding and locomotion), as well as measurement errors caused by residual feed or excreta within the AWS. Therefore, this study aimed to develop an algorithm to enhance the reliability of steer weight measurements using an AWS, ensuring close alignment with actual cattle body weight. Accordingly, daily weight data from 36 Hanwoo steers were processed using a three-stage approach consisting of outlier detection and removal, weight estimation, and post-processing for weight adjustment. The best-performing algorithm that combined Tukey’s fences for outlier detection, mean-based estimation, and post-processing based on daily weight gain recommended by the National Institute of Animal Science achieved a root mean square error of 12.35 kg, along with an error margin of less than 10% for individual steers. Overall, the study concluded that the AWS measured steer weight with high reliability through the developed algorithm, thereby contributing to data-driven intelligent precision feeding.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/12/1785cattle weightdata processingHanwoolivestock automationstatistics
spellingShingle Dong-Hyeon Kim
Jae-Woo Song
Hyunjin Cho
Mingyung Lee
Dae-Hyun Lee
Seongwon Seo
Wang-Hee Lee
Multi-Stage Data Processing for Enhancing Korean Cattle (Hanwoo) Weight Estimations by Automated Weighing Systems
Animals
cattle weight
data processing
Hanwoo
livestock automation
statistics
title Multi-Stage Data Processing for Enhancing Korean Cattle (Hanwoo) Weight Estimations by Automated Weighing Systems
title_full Multi-Stage Data Processing for Enhancing Korean Cattle (Hanwoo) Weight Estimations by Automated Weighing Systems
title_fullStr Multi-Stage Data Processing for Enhancing Korean Cattle (Hanwoo) Weight Estimations by Automated Weighing Systems
title_full_unstemmed Multi-Stage Data Processing for Enhancing Korean Cattle (Hanwoo) Weight Estimations by Automated Weighing Systems
title_short Multi-Stage Data Processing for Enhancing Korean Cattle (Hanwoo) Weight Estimations by Automated Weighing Systems
title_sort multi stage data processing for enhancing korean cattle hanwoo weight estimations by automated weighing systems
topic cattle weight
data processing
Hanwoo
livestock automation
statistics
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/12/1785
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