M&S rolls out AI cattle monitoring across milk pool

Dairy farmers supplying M&S are to use artificial intelligence (AI) technology to monitor cow mobility and body condition as part of a rollout across its entire milk pool.

Computer vision technology developed by CattleEye will be introduced across 46 dairy farms, following trials with a selection of M&S suppliers.

See also: How even tiny losses in body condition impact dairy fertility

The system captures video footage of cows while they are housed and uses AI-powered analysis to create an individual health profile for each animal.

It tracks mobility and body condition scores, giving farmers regular, consistent data that could help identify changes in cow health and nutritional status earlier.

The technology is designed to supplement rather than replace regular welfare assessments by independent vets, with daily monitoring providing additional information between visits.

CattleEye said its algorithm had been developed alongside vets and tested against trained welfare assessors.

Early indicators

Terry Canning, CattleEye chief executive, said: “Changes in body condition are early indicators of metabolic health, fertility and overall wellbeing.

“Tracking those changes more regularly, across every cow, gives farmers a level of insight that was previously unavailable outside research environments.”

Farmers involved in earlier trials have used information generated by the system to adjust management and tailor care to individual cows.

Jenny Allan, Map of Ag veterinary consultant, said: “AI technology will enable real-time cow comfort and health parameters to be monitored, providing valuable insights across 46 farms.”

M&S said it is the first retailer to introduce AI-powered welfare monitoring across its entire milk pool.

Improving farm resilience

Peter Kennedy, head of agriculture at M&S Food, said the technology would support farmers in caring for their dairy cows while contributing to the retailer’s wider plans to improve farm resilience and animal welfare.

Mr Canning added: “Deploying AI welfare monitoring across an entire supply chain is a first. This means we can give farmers and consumers peace of mind that productive herds can be healthy herds.”

M&S said it had invested more than £7m in agricultural innovation during the past decade, with a further £7m available over the next five years.