The poultry industry, as a vital component of global agriculture, is experiencing remarkable growth and transformation. In an economic sector filled with numerous variables, it is undeniable that this growth has been driven by the emphasis placed on the integration of cutting-edge technologies coupled with improved practices
The alliance of tools such as the Internet of Things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence (AI), and Machine Learning (ML) with production processes, health management, and supply chain dynamics in the poultry industry has been ensuring efficiency, profitability, and the delivery of high-quality products. The result has been none other than substantial improvements in productivity, animal welfare, and the satisfaction of a growing demand for safe and high-quality poultry products.
Chicken meat has become one of the most consumed animal proteins worldwide, with annual per capita consumption continually rising, estimated at around 17 kg per person per year in 2023 (although in the United States, it exceeds 50 kg). Between 2010 and 2023, chicken meat production had a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of around 3%, reaching approximately 137 million metric tons in the last year. For global egg production, it is estimated to exceed 88 million metric tons by 2023, with a compound annual growth rate of nearly 25% over the past decade.
Below, we detail 15 processes in which the incorporation of the Internet of Things and Artificial Intelligence has been fundamental in increasing the conditions and productivity figures of the poultry industry. These include innovations in production, improvements in health management, optimization of the supply chain, and ease in system integration and data analysis.
Innovations in Production
Machine Learning has become an important tool in the field of poultry genetics and breeding, in optimizing diets and water and food supplies. The use of algorithms, devices, and IoT sensors has optimized environmental conditions, waste management, composting, and fertilization. These implementations result in cost reductions and efficiency improvements as follows:
01 Breeding and Genetics
In order to have breeds with fast growth rates, high feed conversion efficiency, disease resistance, and better egg production, Machine Learning has accelerated the identification of these traits. With better genetics, robust poultry will be obtained, guaranteeing high fertility rates and hatching capabilities that maintain a constant supply of healthy chicks.
02 Feeding and Nutrition
Machine Learning now allows the adaptation of balanced diets that meet the nutritional needs of birds, thereby maximizing and optimizing their growth and health, enhanced with nutrient analysis and food formulation refinement. At the same time, IoT devices help ensure permanent water and food supplies, reducing waste and increasing efficiency in the poultry feeding process.
03 Housing and Environment
IoT sensors drive optimal conditions of temperature, humidity, and air quality in chicken coops. With real-time data analysis, climate control systems create a comfortable and stress-free environment for the birds, increasing their productivity. Proper space management reduces stress and health problems, improving growth rates.
04 Waste Management
IoT tools allow minimizing environmental impact and preventing disease spread through effective poultry manure management and wastewater treatment. Their use in composting and the application of manure as fertilizer ensures sustainability and compliance with environmental regulations.
05 Integration of Automation and Technology
Feeders, drinkers, and egg collectors equipped with automated systems reduce labor costs and improve efficiency and precision in poultry management. With IoT devices and data analysis, various aspects of production are monitored and optimized, leading to better decision-making.
Improvements in Health Management
With IoT- and AI-based systems in animal health, nutrition, and welfare, the current poultry industry is optimizing factors such as biosecurity and vaccination, enabling early detection of problems. Veterinary care is enhanced with AI, while behavioral enrichment and specialized diets designed using ML improve poultry health. These elements are integrated into data systems for efficient production management as follows:
06 Disease Prevention and Control
Biosecurity protocols supported by IoT sensors prevent the spread of infectious diseases. AI, through real-time data analysis, guides regular vaccination programs, facilitating early detection and rapid response to outbreaks to maintain bird health.
07 Veterinary Care
AI enhances health assessments and medication management, avoiding resistance and ensuring effective treatments. AI-powered monitoring cameras enrich behavior, promoting well-being and reducing stress-related health problems in birds.
08 Nutritional Health
Diets formulated with ML prevent nutritional deficiencies and improve immunity. Dietary supplements quantified with these technologies favor intestinal health in birds, while integrated health records optimize management decision-making.
Supply Chain Optimization
The integration of AI and IoT in the poultry supply chain has improved forecasting, automation, and efficiency, reducing costs, improving quality, implementing traceability, and sustainable practices, thus strengthening consumer confidence and strategic positioning in an environmentally conscious market through these processes:
09 Production Planning and Forecasting
AI allows efficient production planning by optimizing demand forecasting, avoiding overproduction or shortages, and managing feed and medication inventories in real-time, ensuring resources without excessive storage.
10 Processing and Packaging
AI algorithms ensure quality and safety standards in automated processing, reducing labor costs. IoT tracks both eggs and other poultry products in real-time, ensuring optimal storage and transport conditions.
11 Logistics and Distribution
IoT devices monitor transport conditions, preserving quality, improving transparency, and ensuring timely deliveries. These digital tools facilitate regulatory compliance, streamlining access to national and international markets.
12 Sustainability and Environmental Impact
The presence of IoT and AI has enabled sustainable practices, such as reducing energy and water use, as well as minimizing greenhouse gas emissions, to maintain long-term viability.
13 Traceability and Transparency
Traceability systems based on IoT and AI improve food safety and reinforce consumer confidence by providing clarity on production practices.
Integrated Systems and Data Analysis
Modern poultry farming, driven by intelligent technologies and advanced data analysis, is transforming all its productive aspects, improving decision-making, remote operation control, and global efficiency, marking the advance towards precision poultry farming as follows:
14 Big Data Integration
The integration of IoT, AI, and ML allows the collection and analysis of large amounts of data from different sources, providing complete and real-time information for informed decisions, improving management, reducing costs, and raising product quality.
15 Smart Agricultural Management
Smart agricultural systems that combine IoT, AI, and ML data into a unified platform enable the management of all aspects of poultry farming, from feeding and health to logistics. This facilitates remote monitoring and control, increasing flexibility and responsiveness.
Towards an Efficient Poultry Future
The poultry industry leads this technological revolution through the integration of IoT, AI, and ML, improving efficiency, health, and the supply chain, which drives profitability while supporting sustainable and ethical practices. The adoption of these technologies is essential to maintain competitiveness and meet the growing demand for high-quality poultry products.
Thanks to its leadership in IoT and AI solutions for various industry sectors, the Colombian multinational AZLOGICA®, present in ten countries in Europe and America, and committed to Sustainable Development, makes a substantial contribution to the transformation of the agricultural sector and, therefore, with multiple capacities for the poultry industry. With solutions like Team Manager® and ECODRIVE®, AZLOGICA® enables companies in this industrial sector to manage, optimize, and control various variables mentioned within these 15 poultry production factors.
These tools offer a range of variables that can revolutionize the poultry industry, providing real-time monitoring, automation, and optimization capabilities throughout the production chain. AZLOGICA®‘s IoT and AI technologies can lead to better coop management, optimized processes, greater energy efficiency, and better decision-making, ultimately promoting a more sustainable and efficient production process.
Team Manager® is an advanced platform that integrates IoT and AI to improve efficiency in field work teams. It allows instant communication between operators and administrators, facilitating the reception of instructions and the delivery of results through devices such as smartphones and sensors. With a personalized experience, administrators can make online decisions based on the information generated by the team, optimizing time and work quality.
Team Manager® guarantees AI security through data customization and proactive risk mitigation measures. With easy remote access and real-time collaboration, it democratizes access to AI amidst various functions that allow real-time task assignment, activity logging, and information analysis, among others.
For its part, ECODRIVE® is an integral solution addressing concerns associated with energy efficiency and sustainability. One of its greatest values lies in its adaptability, thanks to its ability to integrate with existing systems, its online monitoring capacity, and the transparency and integration of various disruptive technologies such as IoT, AI, Blockchain, 5G, and cloud computing to ensure management and efficiency in different consumptions.
The implementation of these AZLOGICA® tools not only provides economic benefits such as cost reduction and productivity increase but also contributes to environmental sustainability and social well-being. By optimizing resource use and reducing the environmental impact of poultry farming, these solutions are paving the way for a more prosperous and equitable future for all. With the leadership of companies like AZLOGICA® and the commitment of poultry sector actors, these technological tools for “smart poultry farming” represent an unprecedented opportunity to address challenges and transform this industry.
