Scientists at Newcastle University are using video motion capture technology to get an accurate picture of how the pigs move along the runway.
The research, which uses technology featured in Hollywood smash Avatar, is part of a project which aims to improve health and welfare on UK pig farms.
Length of stride and the angle of the pigs' joints are the two main actions being monitored by the Newcastle team.
Researcher Sophia Stavrakakis hopes her findings can help reduce lameness among livestock, currently a major problem for farmers.
'Female breeding pigs are particularly prone to leg problems and this makes it costly for farmers when an animal becomes lame because of the time and money invested in the breeding stock,' she explained.
'Using biomechanical motion capture we are able to measure the animals' gait - tracking a number of animals to find the right angulation and locomotion.
'Through this we hope to be able to develop a farmer-friendly system that will allow them to identify those pigs with better legs, a trait that can be passed on to subsequent generations.'
Read more: http://www.metro.co.uk/weird/903559-catwalk-pigs-could-hold-the-key-to-improving-animal-welfare#ixzz1zBJGOZOz
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