Erw Fawr CattleEye camera in operation

Images: CattleEye in action at Erw Fawr

Farmers will soon be able to use specialist cow recognition and behaviour software to automatically mobility score their herd twice a day, every day, all through the use of existing web connected CCTV cameras. Farming Connect dairy demonstration site Erw Fawr and farmer Ceredig Evans has just started using the software to help identify and treat lame cows sooner. 

Mobility scoring is looked upon as a key management activity alongside such tasks as heat observation. Using the RoMS (Register of Mobility Scorers) 0-3 scoring system has been successful on many farms in reducing lameness. Professor George Oikonomou from the University of Liverpool has been working with Ceredig Evans at Erw Fawr in trialling the CattleEye software and assessing its impact on animal health and performance. The foot trimmer who regularly visits once a month will now attend twice monthly for the duration of the project to treat cows identified by CattleEye.

Manual mobility scoring often takes place once or twice a month. Ideally, the person assigned to the task should not be involved with the cows directly and should be trained to identify sufficient sensitivity. CattleEye involves deep machine learning and Artificial Intelligence which allows the software to identify cows from colour markings without the need for a collar, tag or pedometer. It is then able to judge the cow’s mobility using reference algorithms from thousands of cows linked to the system. This is also done quietly through an objective and unbiased lens and will never rush or affect a cow’s usual gait from any human presence nearby. Ceredig can log in at any time to see a mobility report for the previous milking and check for any progressive signs of lameness and signs of healing post treatment. As soon as the software notices a change in mobility, Ceredig can assess the cow’s foot to investigate days, possibly weeks, before any human visual observation of lameness.