How Herd-i Works
Capture: A camera is installed in-shed on-farm, capturing video footage of individual cows as they exit the shed.
Identify: The Herd-i system identifies the cows EID as it passes the drafting gate.
Analyse: Video images of each cow are stored on a cloud-based server where their gait or body condition is assessed using the machine learning model.
Score: Each individual cow image is scored using the DairyNZ lameness scoring system with scores ranging from 0 (healthy) to 3 (very lame); or using the DairyNZ body condition scoring (BCS) system with scores ranging from 3 (low BCS) to 6 (high BCS).
Review: Farmers access their data and images via a web-based dashboard for customised threshold settings and notifications.
What farmers are saying about Herd-i
“Herd-I is giving us the ability to detect lameness early, have a less invasive and simpler treatment, and then have the ability to monitor those cows to ensure their recovery is progressing as it should be.”
Hayden Fletcher
Equity Manager, Darnley Dairy, North Canterbury
Herd size: 950
“The biggest benefit I’ve seen since installing Herd-i is the accountability that the system creates. It doesn’t just track the cows; it helps manage the team, creating focus on lameness and keeping people accountable.”
Art Blom
Farm Owner – Balfour
Herd Size: 580
“Herd-i is an ‘eye in the sky’ – it captures lame cows in the middle of the herd that I would never pick up”
Rob Neeley
50/50 Sharemilker, Invercargill
Herd Size: 600
The Dashboard
Daily Lameness and BCS scores are able to be viewed, along with images for each individual cow in the herd.
Farmers can review cows which are scored above (for Lameness & BCS) and below (for BCS only) the thresholds they have set and can move them onto a watchlist for drafting and further action.
