** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARYSOWS GIVE BIRTH TO 15-20 PIGLETS PER LITTER, WHICH IS MORE PIGLETS THAN SHE HAS FUNCTIONAL TEATS. THIS IS CRITICAL TO BOTH ANIMAL WELFARE AND FARM ECONOMIC VIABILITY BECAUSE WHEN PIGLETS OUTNUMBER TEATS, UP TO 1 IN 4 PIGLETS ARE AT RISK OF DYING BEFORE WEANING. FURTHERMORE, PIGLETS WILL SETTLE PERMANENTLY ON A SPECIFIC TEAT AFTER 2-3 DAYS OF AGE, AND ANY TEAT NOT SELECTED AT THAT TIME WILL BECOME NON-FUNCTIONAL, FURTHER INCREASING PIGLET MORTALITY.THUS, OUR GOAL IS TO DEVELOP A METHOD TO AUTOMATICALLY TRACK PIGLETS' NURSING PATTERNS, TEAT CHOICES, AND SOW BEHAVIOR.TO ACHIEVE THIS GOAL, WE WILL USE ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE TO DEVELOP AN AUTOMATED COMPUTER SYSTEM TO FOLLOW PIGLET MOVEMENT AND NURSING ACTIVITY. WE WILL ASSOCIATE OUR FINDINGS WITH PREDICTING AT-RISK PIGLETS AND DEVELOP INNOVATIVE EDUCATIONAL TOOLS FOR FARMERS AND ANIMAL CARETAKERS.THE RESULTS OF THIS WORK WILL BE A SET OF TOOLS AVAILABLE TO TRAIN FARMERS, ANIMAL CARETAKERS, AND STUDENTS TO IDENTIFY SPECIFIC PIGLETS THAT ARE AT RISK OF PRE-WEANING DEATH OR POOR GROWTH.THE PRIMARY IMPACT OF OUR RESULTS WILL BE DECREASED PIGLET PREWEANING MORTALITY AND IMPROVED ANIMAL WELFARE. FURTHERMORE, ANIMAL CARETAKERS WILL BE BETTER TRAINED IN THEIR WORK, WHICH WILL ENHANCE THEIR JOB SATISFACTION AND REDUCE LABOR TURNOVER. THIS ALL LEADS TO IMPROVED ECONOMIC OUTCOMES FOR FARMERS BY INCREASING THEIR PRODUCTIVITY AND REDUCING FARM LABOR COSTS.