# HenTwin: A Multimodal Digital Twin Framework for Longitudinal Biological State Monitoring in Laying Hens

arXiv: https://arxiv.org/abs/2607.28652 · HTML: https://mlsanity.com/paper/2607.28652/

## Key facts

- No citing papers in the map yet (data through 14 Oct 2026).
- Builds on 2 of its 26 references that are in the map.
- First posted on arXiv 19 Jun 2026.

## Builds on (most cited first, 2 of 2)

- [Multimodal AI Systems for Enhanced Laying Hen Welfare Assessment and Productivity Optimization](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2508.07628/) (2025)
- [Multimodal Digital Sensing of Early-Life Laying Hens: A Pilot Study Integrating Thermal, Acoustic, Optical-Flow and Environmental Data](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2604.16307/) (2026)

## Abstract (arXiv)

Early-life monitoring in laying hens remains constrained by fragmented single-modality sensing and the absence of formal system-level state representations. HenTwin, a multimodal digital twin framework implemented as a five-layer IoT architecture, formalizes flock-level multimodal biological state dynamics from hatch through 25 weeks of age. A four-dimensional biological state vector integrating body surface temperature, acoustic energy entropy, band energy ratio, and optical-flow-based motion is defined, with the temperature-humidity index treated as an exogenous environmental input to preserve intervention capability. A discrete-time state transition model is estimated from 25 weeks of longitudinal multimodal data collected from 150 Lohmann LSL-Lite hens across five controlled rooms at the Atlantic Poultry Research Centre, Dalhousie University. The estimated transition matrix exhibits modality-specific persistence while remaining asymptotically stable. Perturbation analysis demonstrates that a sustained +2.0 THI increase produces a stable long-run acoustic entropy elevation of 0.54 nats, approximately one-quarter of the entire 1.87-nat developmental decline observed across the study period. Pettitt change-point detection identifies coordinated multimodal developmental state transitions at Weeks 12-14. Cross-room validation suggests that structural transition parameters are partially transferable across rooms, whereas environmental input sensitivity requires room-specific calibration, supporting a two-tier IoT deployment architecture. Leave-one-out cross-validation demonstrates consistent out-of-sample model performance. HenTwin takes a first step toward formal, state-aware digital twin inference in precision livestock farming.