Technologies are presently available that can monitor individual
animals automatically 24 h a day. Research reported by
(DeShazer et al., 1988) identified over 90 potential applications
for image analysis in pig production. Of these, estimation of pig
weight was identified as a primary application for the development
of image analysis techniques for use in livestock production. Accurate
monitoring of weight gain performance and the use of weight
data to make effective management decisions is also crucial for
efficient pork production. As farms continue to grow in size, even
small alterations to production practices can have a large impact
on overall profit in grow-finish pig operations (De Lange and
Dewey, 2006). Knowledge of daily weight gain would allow producers
to optimize nutritional management practices, predict and
control shipping weights, and potentially assist in monitoring herd
health (Schofield et al., 1999).