Queensland’s AI Revolution: Monitoring Cattle and Disease with Advanced Technology
The Queensland Department of Primary Industries (DPI) is harnessing the power of artificial intelligence (AI) in collaboration with industry partners to revolutionize cattle management on large-scale properties. This technological innovation will provide crucial information on calving rates and identify early signs of disease infestations.
Understanding the Needs of Graziers
Paul Stewart, the principal Agtech scientist with the DPI, emphasizes the importance of anticipating and mitigating animal diseases. He stated, “Our focus is on getting ahead of these emergency animal diseases that are emerging. Plus, mustering cattle is infrequent, so continuous monitoring is vital for detecting calving.
Cameras are being used to monitor cattle as part of a DPI trial with two commercial partners. (ABC Landline: Cameron Lang)
Setting Up the Trial
The trial involves equipping camera trailers with motion-detection technology to monitor cattle at watering holes on a DPI research farm in Gayndah, Queensland.
Overcoming Challenges
The primary obstacle has been training the AI to distinguish between different animals and health issues. InFarm, an AI and advanced technology specialist from Goondiwindi, developed a method known as ‘Tinder for cows.’ Jerome Leray, managing director of InFarm, described this process: “We took footage of the cows and either swiped left or right to determine if it was a cow or a calf.”
Jerome Leray has been working with the DPI on the project. (ABC Landline: Cameron Lang)
Think.Digital, led by CEO Kat Bidstrup, has worked on a machine learning algorithm to spot diseases. However, limited access to diseased cattle in Australia posed a challenge. Ms Bidstrup explained, “We had to fund a vet in Indonesia to take photos in the hot zone to build our database.”
Unexpected Discoveries
Mr Leray encountered an unforeseen challenge with pigs being identified as calves. “We got a clustering of calves that were actually pigs.
One of the biggest challenges for the project is connectivity, which can be poor on large properties. (ABC Landline: Cameron Lang)
Calf.age and season also presented variability, underscoring the limitations of AI without comprehensive training.
AI Scanning for Sickness
Australia is currently free of catastrophic diseases such as foot-and-mouth and lumpy skin disease, but their appearance would necessitate swift action. Mr Stewart asserts, “We’re trying to get ahead of any kind of incursion. The quicker we act, the better chance we have of controlling and eradicating these diseases.”
However, this ambitious project raises questions about data ownership, access, and farmer responsibilities. The DPI is addressing these concerns to ensure the technology serves its intended purpose effectively.
The technology is still in its testing phase, with disease detection relying on images. (ABC Landline: Cameron Lang)
Future Potential
While connectivity remains a significant issue, the team is optimistic about the technology’s growth. Mr Stewart imagines extending the AI’s capabilities to estimate weight and detect lameness. He concludes, “There’s definitely room for exciting developments.”
Kat Bidstrup and Paul Stewart are optimistic about the technology’s future. (ABC Landline: Cameron Lang)
“There’s the problem of having infrastructure, power, and other resources to set up cameras effectively,” Mr Stewart elaborated further.
For now, the focus is on mounting cameras at watering holes to ensure all cattle can be monitored.
Conclusion
The Queensland Department of Primary Industries, alongside InFarm and Think.Digital, is at the forefront of innovative AI technology in agriculture, paving the way for better herd health monitoring and disease prevention.
To learn more about this initiative, you can watch ABC TV’s Landline at 12:30pm on Sunday