Nikon has ventured into unexpected territory by combining its imaging and AI capabilities to create a system that notifies farmers when a cow is about to give birth, Kyodo reported.
The innovation aims to streamline the process of monitoring pregnant cows and offer greater efficiency during busy calving seasons.
Priced at ¥900,000 per year for farms with around 100 cows, the system includes a security camera integrated with an AI system. When connected to a dedicated smartphone app, the system triggers an alert when a calf is about to be born, allowing farmers to intervene early if needed.
Nikon began AI training in the fall of 2021 and conducted AI trials on four farms in southwestern Japan in February 2023. The AI system recognizes signs that pregnant cows show around five hours before giving birth, such as increased movement and the onset of the calf’s amniotic sac loosening.
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Nikon’s Kazuhiro Hirano expressed the company’s ambition to expand the system’s capabilities to detect a female cow’s estrus and other behavioral patterns.
According to Keita Higuchi, a livestock owner who participated in the tests, the system proved to be highly effective. Higuchi said, “We give birth to about 60 calves a year, and this system is a big help because it eliminates the need for frequent checks on the mothers before birth.”
Although Nikon is best known for its consumer cameras, this foray into agricultural technology showcases the company’s diverse AI applications and imaging expertise.
