VIDEO interview: next in cattle facial recognition
In a recent video interview, Dairy Global spoke with Dr Ali Shojaeipour to find out more about his research and work on artificial intelligence, which is capable of identifying individual cattle via their muzzle, with almost perfect accuracy. What does this mean for the dairy industry?
Dairy farming has come a long way in recent years with the development of technology snowballing. Farmers are now able to retrieve the necessary data they need to run a successful operation. Modern technology offers the ability to get to know your herd, but taking that a step further is knowing each individual cow.
There are various technologies available that make it possible to tap into the information needed per cow, from ear tags to collars. In a recent interview we explore work carried out by Dr Ali Shojaeipour who reveals more about his research and work on his application that is based on artificial intelligence capable of identifying individual cattle via their muzzle (nose) patterns, with high accuracy.
Cow muzzle identification
His research on this artificial intelligence algorithm at the University of New England for his PhD was first started due to his view on the lack of cattle identification technology. But why the cow muzzle?
Shojaeipour clarifies that the muzzle or nose of each cow is unique with distinct patterns and markings, just like the human fingerprint. “The muzzle of each cow contains a pattern that is unique to each individual.”
A photo detecting the muzzle is the first step, then the pattern of the muzzle is analysed and identified. With this technology, a 99.46% (using a mix of cattle breeds with 300 individual cattle) accuracy has been achieved in identifying individual cows. From Holstein to the Simmental – the technology is capable of identifying each cow regardless of colouring or breed.
He reveals that this technology is no longer in a research phase but he is now, together with a team, working on an application phase. With this taking off and further progress in place, it may not be long before the dairy sector will see this application available commercially on markets.
Shojaeipour tells us more about this technology in this video interview:
*For further information on this technology, visit Stoktake or email contact@stoktake.au. Also stay informed here.
