Approach to creating an intelligent system for free-range livestock farming

The development of intelligent systems for the tracking of free-range livestock is a challenge to both information and communication technology (ICT) scientists and those in the animal sciences. Cyber-physical systems make it possible to track and control processes involving intelligent objects from the physical and virtual worlds. In the case of free-range grazing, it is necessary to manage processes in two domains ‒ that of the intelligent pasture management and that of the animals. Due to the differences in the conditions of different types of pastures – plain or high land and the characteristics of the cattle breeds, ready-made models cannot be used, but it is necessary to build a specific multi-aspect model for the behaviour and life cycle of cows. Our team organised their research on cows from two different breeds (Rhodope Shorthorn Cattle and Bulgarian Rhodope Cattle) raised in similar technologies, grazed on two different types of pasture. The aim of the study is to develop a comprehensive model for determining cattle behavioural activities on pastures using sensor groups, by incorporating physical observations and appropriate statistical models.