1. ICAR-National Research Centre on Pig
Image based systems for identification of individuals, breeds and diseases of pigs and goats
N.H.Mohan
ICAR-National Research Centre on Pig
Guwahati, Assam

2. Team partners
Lead Institute (LIN1): Kalyani Govt. Engineering College, Kalyani, Nadia, WB
Participating Institute (PIN 1a): Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati, Assam
(PIN1b): ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Umiam, Meghalaya
Agri Institutes
Lead Institute (LIN2): National Research Centre on Pig, Rani, Guwahati, Assam
(PIN2a): ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Tripura Centre, Tripura
(PIN2b): Assam University (Central University),Silchar, Assam
(PIN2c): Uttar Banga Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Cooch Behar, West Bengal

3. What has been achieved so far?
Some of the methods for identification of animals presently available are
Traditional methods
Electronic Identification Devices
Tattoo
Ear Notching
Ear Tagging
Micro-chipping
Biometric Identifiers
Retinal scan
Muzzle patterns
Iris patterns
Facial recognition
Ear vessel patterns
DNA based methods

4. Major beneficiaries of the project
1. Small farmers will benefit from low cost identification for claim on insured animals in the event of its death and getting microfinance benefits and health management support.
2. Large scale pig farms will benefit from specific identification of individual animals and maintain as well as plan animal management, pedigree records, breeding plan etc. as well as claim on insured animals in the event of its death.
3. Animal insurance-The proposed methods of animal identification in the project such as retinal scans are considered more reliable than electronic identification because they cannot be falsified and hence will be of immense use for animal identification for insurance purposes.
4. Veterinarians and other health care management personnel will benefit from specific identification system for treatment and management especially when the number of animals are large as well as in vetero-legal cases.

5. Major beneficiaries of the project
5. Researchers will benefit from the system for precise planning, execution of experiments and interpretation of results.
6. Meat industry- One of the key benefactors of the animal identification system will be meat industry as it will facilitate individual animal identification for ensuring meat traceability, which is a key concern from export and disease transmission, including that of zoonotic diseases.
7. Zoo and biodiversity authorities who are intimately associated with identification of individual animals for the purpose of maintenance of biodiversity and conservation of endangered germplasm.
8. State Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Departments and Department of AH, dairying and fisheries, Govt. of India.

6. Objectives of the project
Identification of trait(s) suitable for unique identification of individual animals
Image and DNA based classification of animals into clusters
Image based behavioral indications and symptoms of epidemiologically important diseases

7. Task allocation among partners
Overall coordination of the project-ICAR-NRC on Pig and KGEC, Kalyani
Coordination with mentors- KGEC, Kalyani
IT component –KGEC, Kalyani and IITG will develop IT based image analysis system for individual/breed and disease identification and disease diganosis
Sample collection- All agri based institutes
Image based analysis of individuality/breed grouping- ICAR-NRC on Pig and KGEC, Kalyani
DNA based studies- Assam University
Disease confirmation-ICAR RC for NEH region, Meghalaya

8. Work allocation among team partners
Institute
Work allocation/ responsibilities
KGEC
Development of algorithms to identify individuals and breeds based on retinal images
Template database and its maintenance
IIT-G
Development of algorithms to identify individuals and breeds based on iris images.
Behavioural pattern typing from video
ICAR-NRCP
Image data collection on traits, video on behavioural changes due to diseases in pigs
Overall coordination of project
ICAR NEH-B
Image data collection on traits, video on behavioural changes due to diseases in pigs and goats
ICAR NEH-T
UBKV
AU, Silchar
Molecular biology works related to DNA based individual identification
Lead Institute (LIN1):
Participating Institute (PIN 1a): Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati, Assam
(PIN1b): ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Umiam, Meghalaya

9. Institutions involved in the Objectives
Technical plan with task allocation among partners
Objectives
Activities
Institutions involved in the Objectives
Identification of trait(s) suitable for unique identification of individual animals
To identify and image which alone or in combination, unique to individual animals (all agri institutes)
To capture images of unique traits using minimal optical facilities (agri and IT institutes)
Transmission, storage and use of unique identification data (all IT institutes)
NRC on Pig, Guwahati
and
KGEC, West Bengal
IIT-G,
ICAR RC for NEH Region, Meghalaya
ICAR RC for NEH Region, Tripura
UBKV, WB
Assam University

10. Institutions involved in the Objectives
Technical plan with task allocation among partners(cond.)
Objectives
Activities
Institutions involved in the Objectives
LINs
PINs
Image and DNA based classification of animals into breed level clusters
01. Identification of the minimum set of morphometric trait(s) necessary and sufficient for classification into breeds. (agri and IT institutes)
02.Validation of image based breed identification through molecular marker (Assam University)
03.Breed classification based on image analysis (NRC on Pig, ICAR RC for NEH region)
NRC on Pig, Guwahati
and
KGEC, West Bengal
IIT-G,
ICAR RC for NEH Region, Meghalaya
ICAR RC for NEH Region, Tripura
UBKV, WB
Assam University

11. Institutions involved in the Objectives
Technical plan with task allocation among partners(cond.)
Objectives
Activities
Institutions involved in the Objectives
LINs
PINs
To develop system for capturing behavioral indications of epidemiologically important diseases
1: (a) Acquisition and transmission of images of clinical symptoms of CSF and PCV in Pigs and, PPR and goat-pox in goats with mobile phones at the earliest feasible point of disease onset (all agri institutes except NRCP will work on goat and pig; NRC on Pig-pig diseases only)
1(b) Acquisition and transmission of images of clinical symptoms of CSF and PCV in Pigs and, PPR and goat-pox in goats with mobile phones at the best feasible point of disease onset. (agri and IT institutes)
02: Associating specific behavioral changes with onset of CSF and PCV in pigs and, PPR and goat-pox in goats. (agri institutes)
NRCPig
KGEC
IIT-G,
ICAR RC for NEH Region (Barapani and Tripura)
UBKV, Assam University

12. Project milestones/deliverables
Time
Milestone/deliverables
6 m
At least one unique trait for identification of individual animal (pig and goat)
Prototype software for processing of image traits
1st Yr
List of unique morphometric traits in pigs and goats for individual identification
Identification of clinical signs for tentative confirmation of specific diseases
Prototype software for processing of video images for disease identification
2nd year
Grouping of individual animal morphological data to breed level clustering
Identification of minimum features of images/ mobile phones for capturing of images of unique trait(s) features/patterns.

13. ICAR-NRC on Pig Capture of iris images, Muzzle images
Collection of blood samples and processing for DNA based identification

16. Major deliverables Deliverables
Complete system for data capture and analysis for unique traits for identification of individual animals- Software
Database on different breeds of pigs/goats in NE region with their unique traits
DNA based marker for identification of individual animals
Identification of individual animals and classification with breeds
Low cost imaging devices for animal & disease identification system
Skilled human manpower
Research based curricula

18. Goat-
Horizontal rectangular pupils
Pig- circular pupils

19. Thanks

20. Activities
First year
List of unique morphometric traits in pigs and goats for individual identification
Algorithms for processing of images of unique traits
Protocols for image capture (retina, iris, muzzle, venation etc
Data from different breeds of goats and pigs with candidate trait(s) like nose, vein distribution in pinna of ear and tail (goat), snout and inside and outside of ear (pig)
Identification of clinical signs for tentative confirmation of specific diseases
Standardization of protocols for DNA marker development

21. Activities Second year
Data from different breeds and observations on changes in trait(s) with respect to to age/sex
Setting up minimum features of images/ mobile phones for capturing of images for all the traits (light intensity, distance from object, angle, resolution) to identify the unique trait(s) features/patterns.
Disease identification system through image analysis for important diseases of pigs and goats
Data on distribution of traits with respect to variation in DNA/breed/individual

22. Outreach plan
Objective
Activity
Plan to disseminate the knowledge gained in the project among scientists and students and stakeholders (e.g. through seminars and workshops, and modification in curricular, publications)
1. Organizing seminars and workshops for the scientists, students, NGO’s personals etc
2. Presentations in national and international meetings
3. Publication in peer reviewed journals
 4. Introduction of one course module on “Application of IT in agriculture” in UG and PG course curricular for IT as well as agriculture/ veterinary students
5. Sensitizing/ awareness programme and hands on training on use of the outcomes of the project for the stakeholders

23. Outreach plan Development of links with stakeholders
Objective
Activity
Development of links with stakeholders
Government departments, insurance companies etc.
Arrangement of interface meetings for linking various stakeholders

24. Individual identification and breed clustering
Service delivery
Insurance
Better management
Biodiversity conservation
Policy making
Individual identification and breed clustering