Marks & Spencer monitors animal welfare at its dairy suppliers using AI
Marks & Spencer is using artificial intelligence to ensure sustainable animal welfare at all dairy farms supplying its M&S milk range. The technology utilises cameras already installed in barns and complements the AI-powered monitoring solution provided by CattleEye. The British retail company claims to be the first retailer using AI to monitor animal welfare across its entire milk supply chain. German Rewe Group is also currently piloting a similar solution in pig farming. The Retail Optimiser reported.
The project is part of the ‘M&S Plan A for Farming’, through which the company aims to help strengthen resilience of British farming and further raise the bar for animal welfare. Peter Kennedy, Head of Farming at M&S Food, explains: “This latest evolution of welfare monitoring, powered by AI will support farmers to give the best care to dairy cows.”
Artificial intelligence shall help to further improve animal welfare. The technology can analyse live footage from video monitoring systems – already widely used in barns and pastures – in real time and provide valuable insights into the condition of farm animals.
AI generates an individual health profile for each animal
Computer vision and AI are intended to complement personal animal welfare checks carried out by independent vets. Based on camera footage, the technology assesses the cows’ physical condition and nutritional status. Terry Canning, CEO of Cattle Eye, says: “Changes in body condition are early indicators of metabolic health, fertility, and overall wellbeing.”
Using AI-powered video analysis, the technology creates an individual health profile for each animal. Assessing mobility and body condition over an extended period is intended to provide farmers with objective and consistent data on the welfare of their herd. From the data – including information on lying and feeding times, social interaction and mobility – the software generates a ‘Cow Comfort Score’, which is designed to assist vets in assessing the health of individual cows.
Algorithms developed in collaboration with vets
Marks & Spencer developed the algorithms for training the AI tool in collaboration with vets. Selected M&S dairy farms initially tested and adjusted the tools. Measurements enabled them to tailor animal care to the individual needs of each cow.
The retailer sources its milk exclusively from the UK, from 46 dairy farmers in the ‘Select Farm Milk Pool’. The company states that it has invested more than 7 million British Pounds over the last ten years in supporting farmers through innovation. A further 7 million GBP is earmarked for the next five years.
