Methodology and results of field tests of the digital monitoring system for the exterior of dairy cows
https://doi.org/10.32634/0869-8155-2025-393-04-153-158
Abstract
In the agro-industrial complex of Russia, there is a demand for technologies for digitalization of the process of collecting linear parameters of the exterior of animals, especially dairy cows. The transition from subjective manual grading to a unified automatic one will dramatically increase the productivity and accuracy of such operations. The aim of the study was to develop a methodology and conduct an initial full-scale test of a digital monitoring system for the exterior of dairy cows.
The study was conducted on an operating dairy farm in the Moscow region; all animals belonged to the black-and-white zebu breed. The suitability of the digital monitoring system’s pass-through box for the passage of dairy cows, the operability and error of 8 camera units, possible animal stress, and the overall stability of the system were assessed. M5 3D TOF RGB three-dimensional time-of-flight cameras and stereo pairs of two 1/3-inch CMOS OV4689 lenses located on the board were used to collect images. In total, the system of 8 camera units located above and to the side of the digital monitoring system’s walk-through box allows for simultaneous shooting of each animal from all sides, providing for the measurement of 18 basic body measurements of the cow and the calculation of 12 body condition indices.
As a result, it was determined that the camera units are able to capture images of animals moving in the digital monitoring system’s walk-through box without stopping. The resolution error of the distance map collected from the images was ±10 mm. It was confirmed that the animals were walking calmly in the entrance box of the digital monitoring system, without showing signs of excessive stress.
Supporting agencies: The study was supported by a grant from the Russian Science Foundation No. 23-76-10041. https://rscf.ru/en/project/23-76-10041/
About the Authors
S. S. Yurochka
Federal Scientific Agroengineering Center VIM
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Sergey Sergeevich Yurochka, Candidate of Engineering Sciences, Senior Researcher
5 1st Institutsky Passage, Moscow, 109428
D. Yu. Pavkin
Federal Scientific Agroengineering Center VIM
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Dmitry Yurevich Pavkin, Candidate of Engineering Sciences, Senior Researcher
5 1st Institutsky Passage, Moscow, 109428
A. R. Khakimov
Federal Scientific Agroengineering Center VIM
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Artyom Rustamovich Khakimov, Junior Researcher
5 1st Institutsky Passage, Moscow, 109428
P. S. Berdyugin
Federal Scientific Agroengineering Center VIM
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Pavel Sergeevich Berdyugin, Junior Researcher Assistant
5 1st Institutsky Passage, Moscow, 109428
F. E. Vladimirov
Federal Scientific Agroengineering Center VIM
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Fyodor Evgenievich Vladimirov, Researcher Associate
5 1st Institutsky Passage, Moscow, 109428
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Review
For citations:
Yurochka S.S., Pavkin D.Yu., Khakimov A.R., Berdyugin P.S., Vladimirov F.E. Methodology and results of field tests of the digital monitoring system for the exterior of dairy cows. Agrarian science. 2025;1(4):153-158. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.32634/0869-8155-2025-393-04-153-158
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