If you read the title of the paper and thought, of course, Artificial Insemination has a place on the dairy farm, you’re not alone. To me, the acronym AI still means Artificial Insemination. However, for those outside of animal agriculture, AI stands for Artificial Intelligence. With the increasing use of technology on dairy farms, the “new” AI has become more relevant.
The Use of Technologies on Farms
In 2016, the dairy industry hosted one of its first conferences on data management. Since the American Dairy Science Association Discover Conference on Big Data, adoption of technologies in the industry has continued to grow. Data surveys indicate that around 70% of US dairy farmers use some type of precision automated technology on their farms.
With advancements in technology, managing and interpreting data has become more difficult. The increase in data and the technologies’ inability to interact with each other have been major barriers to adoption. Managing data and making more informed decisions are where AI could play a role on the dairy farm.
What is AI?
Artificial intelligence is the ability of computer systems to perform complex tasks. One branch of AI is machine learning. Computer models that use machine learning learn from data and become more accurate as they are exposed to more information. Machine learning models analyze data to identify patterns and make predictions.
How is AI Being Used?
Artificial intelligence is used both within individual technologies and across multiple systems to help develop more user-friendly data reports. One area where machine learning is applied is in creating health alerts. Technologies that measure multiple parameters (e.g., activity and rumination) have been able to detect diseases more quickly. In one case, a system that integrated technology data successfully identified mastitis cases five milkings before the cow showed clinical signs. The ongoing development of these models can allow farms to detect diseases faster, produce more accurate milk quality reports, improve reproductive management, and increase feed efficiency.
Where Do We Go From Here?
Though technology data has proven to be beneficial in the daily operations of the dairy farm, some issues still need to be addressed. One of the top concerns for dairy farmers is data ownership. Stronger, more transparent frameworks are needed for data contracts with technology companies. Another issue is the need for a more educated workforce. The industry requires professionals who understand both animal science and data science skills to maximize the benefits of the technologies available.
