| UK Dairy Day
Technology company introduces automated
lameness detection in dairy herds
Edinburgh-based technology company IceRobotics, the company behind the revolutionary CowAlert management
system, has used the data from their systems to create a unique automatic lameness detection system for dairy herds.
ceRobotics want to alert for
lame cows automatically and
on a daily basis, in order that
the cows in need can be
detected early and receive
treatment as soon as possible.
As well as ensuring a better standard of life for
the herd, early detection means farmers can
save time and money.
Using the data from their IceQube ankle
tags, IceRobotics are able to work out a
lameness probability per cow per day. This
provides a daily alert for the cows with a high
probability of lameness and those that are at
risk. The individual alerts are stored and build
up to provide an ongoing overview of the herd’s
lameness.
Lameness in dairy cows impacts negatively
on the farmer and the herd for a number of
reasons. Firstly, it’s not comfortable for the
animal, and can cause an increased risk of
culling if not caught early enough. Lameness
also reduces yield and reproductive
performance.
IceRobotics has concluded that lameness is
a severe welfare problem that MUST be
addressed on every farm. CowAlert detects
lameness automatically and provides an
objective overview of herd mobility.
I
30 | Farming Monthly | August 2017
As well as announcing their lameness
research, IceRobotics h