tech
How the AI 'cow-gorithm' is helping this dairy couple get the job done
Tasmanian dairy couple uses AI virtual fencing and robotic milkers to run their farm with less manual work.
Key points
- GPS-enabled collars track each cow's location and health and use a patented AI 'cow-gorithm' to move cattle.
- Robotic milkers identify each cow from its ear tag and decide whether to milk it based on time since its last milking.
- Dr Megan Verdon of the Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture says virtual fencing has helped reshape labour and infrastructure in the sector.
Why it matters. Researcher Megan Verdon says reducing farmers' workloads is a good thing, but more research is needed into virtual fencing with autonomous dairies, including cows' agency over milking.
Dairy farmers Simon and Sonia Badcock on Tasmania's remote north-west coast use GPS virtual fencing collars and robotic milkers to run their farm while they are away from the sheds. Their farm is the first in Australia to combine the two technologies, a setup it has used for two years. Mr Badcock said the robots handle nearly 100 cows each, so the couple only check the herd and wash down the machines at night, maybe once a week.
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How the AI 'cow-gorithm' is helping this dairy couple get the job done
Moving the cows on this farm to the milking sheds has never been easier. Simon Badcock can open an app on his phone and set up some virtual fences that guide cows all the way to the dairy shed. And it doesn't stop there. Once the cows arrive, robotic milkers automatically attach and begin milking. The dairy cows make their way to the milking area. ( ABC News: Mackenzie Heard ) The farmer and his wife, Sonia Badcock, can be in a cafe having a coffee while the work gets done. "You can look after the rest of the farm better, and you can have time off," Mr Badcock said. Sonia and Simon Badcock say they have more time for themselves thanks to the technology. ( ABC News: Mackenzie Heard ) The couple's farm on Tasmania's remote north-west coast is the first in Australia to use virtual fencing collars and robotic milking machines together, and has done so for two years. These days, Mr Badcock doesn't have to muck in quite as much. He said he just needed to keep an eye on things, check his herd, and wash down the machines, "otherwise we might not be there at all". The process can be controlled remotely via an app on the farmer's phone. ( ABC News: Mackenzie Heard ) The Badcocks only have to be present if a robot or collar flags an immediate issue. "Because we're pushing it to its limits with nearly 100 cows per robot, we can't have too much time with the robots being down, so we come du.