Use of computer vision artificial intelligence technology in dairy cattle

Computer vision technology uses artificial intelligence to recognise images and videos of cattle, making predictions on body condition and mobility score, as well as monitoring behaviour on an individual and group level. Precise daily monitoring of body condition in cattle score using computer vision can detect small changes that may not be visible to humans that have been correlated with decreased reproductive performance. However, the systems have typically been found to incorrectly identify animals as in optimal condition where they may be over- or under-conditioned. Mobility scores can be predicted by computer vision and one commercially available system has been validated in field trials that demonstrated an increased sensitivity in identifying animals with painful lesions. Monitoring behaviours such as feeding, standing and time lying down is also a feature of commercially available computer vision systems that can provide long-term objective monitoring, allowing practitioners to identify management areas to improve cow health and production.