Method and Apparatus for the Automatic Grading of Condition of Livestock
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of grading a characteristic of an animal, the method comprising:
- a) determining the presence of an animal in an animal detection area;
b) capturing data from the back of the animal by means of data capture means located above the animal detection area, the data being captured in dependence upon the determination of the presence of an animal;
c) analyzing the data to determine a plurality of angles identified at points over the back of the animal; and
d) calculating a graded score from a combination of the angles.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method of and apparatus for grading a characteristic of an animal is described. The animal is guided to a detection area whereupon an image of the back of the animal is captured. Analysis of the image identifies anatomical points and determines angles at these points. The angles are then used to calculate a grading for a characteristic of the animal. An embodiment is presented for automating the determination of body score condition in dairy cows using seven angles determined at three anatomical points from an image over the back of the cow.
74 Citations
17 Claims
-
1. A method of grading a characteristic of an animal, the method comprising:
-
a) determining the presence of an animal in an animal detection area; b) capturing data from the back of the animal by means of data capture means located above the animal detection area, the data being captured in dependence upon the determination of the presence of an animal; c) analyzing the data to determine a plurality of angles identified at points over the back of the animal; and d) calculating a graded score from a combination of the angles. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
-
-
16. Apparatus for grading a characteristic of an animal, the apparatus comprising:
-
triggering means operative to determine the presence of an animal in an animal detection area; data capture means located above the animal detection area that is operative to capture data from the back of the animal, the data capture means being operative in dependence on operation of the triggering means; and
signal processing means operative to analyze the data and determine a plurality of angles identified at points over the back of the animal and to calculate a graded score from a combination of the angles. - View Dependent Claims (17)
-
Specification