Invited Review: Examples and opportunities for artificial intelligence (AI) in dairy farms*

Purpose: Artificial intelligence (AI) refers to the abil-ity of a digital computer or computer-controlled robot to perform reasoning tasks commonly associated with intel-ligent beings. Powered by novel and affordable software and hardware capabilities, AI is finding its way into dairy farms. The purpose of this review is to give examples of re-search on AI for dairy farms and highlight some emerging opportunities. Many AI applications are based on machine learning, including the technique of deep learning. Sources: We used literature sources and our own expe-riences with AI applications in dairy farms. Synthesis: We found that machine-learning methods enable applications such as real-time analysis of video images to identify cattle, measure body condition and temperature, and detect changes in feed topography to measure feed availability and intake. Changes in behavior can be detected as early warning alerts for disease such as lameness or as an indication of estrus. Such AI ap-plications can mimic human reasoning and enhance hu-man tasks. Machine-learning methods may also be able to use heterogeneous data sets to predict future performance such as fertility. For example, predictions of conception rates may be improved by combining health events, chang-es in body energy reserves, genetic data, behavioral data, milk analyses, and environmental information. Perhaps AI methods could be used to monitor compliance of execution of protocols in dairy farms and inform training. Conclusions and Applications: Artificial intelli-gence, made possible with advances in hardware and soft-ware, will make intelligent use of new big data a reality and will change the dairy sector by enabling improved work environments and removing or minimizing the need for manual human processing of repetitive tasks. A hurdle for development and application of some AI is the problem that various dairy data often exist in silos that are not connected.