So far, several monitoring and identification systems have been used in the dairy barn, but since the movement of the cow in the barn area is free, there is a need, beyond the milking parlor, for cheap, reliable and convenient identification, reducing the need for an ear tag or a burn number. Because of this, developers in the Precision Livestock Farming Lab at the Volcani Institute [PLF]Noam Bergman together with Prof. Yitzhak Itzhaki from Ben Gurion University, and Prof. Ilan Halami), an innovative biometric identification system that is a solution to these challenges through the use of current, unique and fast AI algorithms for facial recognition and classification.
They installed the system in a research barn of the Volcani Institute, above the manger areas. Each camera installed is able to monitor up to eight cows eating at the same time. In this way, the system can break down each video file into individual frames and within each frame identify with great precision the face of each individual cow by itself. In addition, the system is able to identify each cow using biometric characteristics based on its face alone. The system, thanks to its unique characteristics, offers high precision at maximum speed.
Real-time monitoring of the cows in the barn was created out of the need to monitor and document the feeding times and location of each individual cow. These data can contain insights into the well-being of cows, prediction of distress situations, different eating behaviors, estimates of food consumption and more. Another of the advantages of the state-of-the-art system is that all the execution of its operations takes place remotely – that is, without any physical means on the cow itself, and in fact without her knowledge at all, so the welfare of the cow increases.
The research and development of Prof. Noam Bergman, Prof. Ilan Halami and Prof. Yitzhak Itzhaki, confirm the advantages of using biometric identification for monitoring and surveillance in the dairy farm. The advantages of the innovative facial recognition system, along with preventing harm to the cow’s well-being, can contribute to improving the condition of the cows in the barn, and thereby improving the dairy farm.
These data, new studies and a lot of information about the industry are presented this week at the 33rd annual conference for cattle and sheep science, which is organized by the department of dairy cattle and the department of sheep in the Training and Professional Service (SHAM) and the Volcanic Institute in the Ministry of Agriculture, the Israel Milk Producers’ Organization and the Dairy Council. The conference will be attended by: 1,500 people, including the leaders of the industry and those involved in it, milk producers, dairy industry personnel, instructors, researchers, veterinarians and input suppliers, the conference takes place between December 12-14, in Jerusalem. This year the conference will deal with various areas such as the economy of the industry, feed and foods, fodder, health and animal welfare, fertility and care, raising mammals – carts and calves, dealing with heatstroke and more.
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