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Taiwan conceives the world's first automated duck egg collection system
Under the supervision of the Council of Agriculture (COA), Taiwanese researchers have developed the world’s first-ever automated duck egg collection system. The project, which was jointly carried out by scientists from the National Taiwan University (NTU) and the Yilan Branch of the Livestock Research Institute (LRI), combined cloud computing with Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID) technology to create a mechanism for harvesting and safekeeping fresh duck eggs. An innovative feat and a prime example of the agricultural applications of information technology (IT), the arrangement is poised to give Taiwan’s livestock sector a leading edge.
Smart, high-tech yet practical
According to the COA, processed egg products such as salted duck eggs and rubbery “thousand-year-old” eggs are among the top-selling exports from the nation’s poultry producers, averaging 16 million units per year and NT$120 million in sales to Hong Kong, Europe, North America and Southeast Asia.
In the past, raw eggs were produced by raising duck flocks in flatland farms, giving rise to difficulties in controlling selection time, sanitary quality and individual inspections. To assist the nation’s duck farmers, NTU and LRI researchers began their scientific foray in 2011 and soon came up with innovative solutions such as a RFID-enabled laying container, an egg collection set and a flock supervision network. The research team has already been awarded two technical patents for its endeavors, and is currently working on combining the technology with 5 other patented practices to create similar integrated harvesting systems for the livestock industry. Plans for technical transfers are in the works as well.
In a 2012 pilot program, the Council subsidized three duck farms to implement the patented RFID technology, proving that the system needs only one hour to harvest a day’s worth of eggs on a 3,000-duck farm. In comparison to the old “hands-on” method, which required farm helpers to spend six hours per day in sorting alone, the automated system also produces cleaner eggs with unstained shells — a trait highly conducive to the food processing or the hatching process that follows.
IT solutions for traditional industries
The automated duck egg collection system is a pioneering achievement for the waterfowl industry, the COA pointed out, adding that similar production methods have only been successfully employed by chicken farmers before on dry land. The Taiwan-developed technology is not only resource-friendly in terms of time and manpower, it is also well-suited for further digital and wireless integration. Whether it is remotely accessing the system’s software through the digital cloud or receiving real-time data through a mobile app in one’s hands, this engineering feat is a solid case of tapping into smart technology to reinvigorate traditional farming industries.
