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Artificial intelligence and animal husbandry

Man, they really are scraping the bottom of the barrel on that one.  A recent headline was that AI could help animal husbandry.  What a load!

Even with a large herd a farmer knows almost instinctively if an animal is in trouble.  They hide, they don't feed and they stay away from the herd.  When an animal is in pain, it is quick to let you know that it's in trouble.  

You don't need AI for that, you need good foot care, a safe living environment, and clean and dry feed and water.  Some people don't understand animals, then they should not be involved in their care.  But for the vast majority, it's obvious.  Now to run a modern agribusiness you do need more data, but 99% is achieved by the type of sensors that have been available for decades to the farming community.  We know when a cow is in heat, it's obvious, just watch the bulls...  The biggest change for us has been body temperature which we receive continually.  We can find out if a cow is in trouble, but that's not AI territory, that's an Excel spreadsheet.  Far less complicated.  BTW the most useful tool a farmer has to monitor the health of his herd is his mobile phone...that way he can call the vet!

Finally, only large industrial farms can afford even basic technology.  

BT

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