Assessment of Physical condition of the Cattle Using a Smart Science-Based System

Ali Farzian, the executive manager of a science-based company which is located in the Science and Technology Park of UT, stated: "Our company initiated its activities in the field of Internet of Things and we are currently studying the required equipment for smartification of lactating livestock." He added, "Seven products which are required in the industry of animal husbandry have been manufactured so far based on the Internet of Things in this company. As a result, the dependency of animals on humans has reduced and all manufactured products can be installed on the platform of Internet of Things." Farzian continued, "The smart system of weighing and assessing physical condition of the moving cattle is only one of the productions of this company." He then explained, "Currently, the animal husbandry ranchmen have to tie down cows to measure their weight since the cattle shouldn’t move in the process. However, in order to weigh the cattle in our system, the cow is only required to walk through the equipment." 

He also pointed out that this system consists of two sections including a smart monitor that weighs and evaluates the movement status of the cattle and it separates and dispenses the livestock through analysis of their manner of treading as they pass through. This system also possesses a smart camera which monitors physical and movement status of the cattle and it automatically evaluates and presents physical and movement score of the livestock as they move. Farzian explicated that this data is transmitted via online wireless connections to the science-based software so that the animal husbandry managers and physicians can access it. Since all the assessments are implemented as the cattle move, it is easily possible to evaluate physical condition of the livestock constantly with appropriate positioning of equipment in the farm. This technologist asserted that the information acquired from this assessment provides possibility of timely attendance to the cattle and the herd from the veterinary point of view of and with regard to welfare of the livestock and the managerial affairs of the farm. 

He further affirmed that this smart system of dispensation and assessment of physical status of the cattle is able to allocate livestock as they move, and through video, evaluate their physical score, assess their movement score, identify lameness and transfer data of assessments which are accessible via mobile phones and computers. In case of lameness, the system recognizes the issue since it is an essential matter in animal husbandry. 

In the end, Farzian revealed that a camera can be installed on this equipment as it is important for the cattle to move in a straight line when their weight is being measured. Using this camera, physical score of the cattle, which is similar to Human BMI, is distinguished. Normally, the veterinary physicians visit the farm every three weeks and report this figure which is between 1 and 5. Performing this task is costly as the physician's fees are high especially if one pays such fees every three weeks. Human error is also likely in the normal procedure. As a result, employment of this new technology can reduce costs considerably.