Image analysis and artificial intelligence will change dairy farming: Cow gait images allow early detection of serious diseases

Hoof health is an important aspect of proper dairy cattle care. Injuries and illnesses of hooves, called'lameness', if left untreated, will lead not only to declining quantity and quality of dairy products, but also to life-threatening disease. Thus, its early detection is very important. Indicators for lameness are manifested in back arch and gait patterns of cows. Methods for finding lameness by detecting back arch had been studied; however, that method was effective in detecting moderate to severe lameness. This group established a method for the early detection of lameness from cow gait images with an accuracy of 99% or higher by using their own human gait analysis technique.