Muzzle biometrics and artificial intelligence for smarter cattle identification

Reliable identification of individual animals is the backbone of effective livestock management, supporting everything from health records and breeding programmes to disease surveillance and traceability. While conventional methods such as ear tags, branding and RFID have been widely used, they are not without limitations. Muzzle biometrics, which relies on the unique pattern of grooves and ridges on the bovine muzzle, offers a simple, non-invasive and permanent alternative. This article explores the evolution of muzzle-based identification, from traditional printometry to modern artificial intelligence (AI)-driven image recognition. It also highlights the growing role of computer vision and machine learning in developing accurate, automated identification systems and discusses their potential applications in precision livestock farming, insurance, ownership verification and disease control. Although further field validation is needed, AI-enabled muzzle recognition represents a promising step towards smarter, welfare-friendly and more reliable livestock identification in the digital era.