Method and apparatus for the automatic grading of condition of livestock

• US 8,538,126 B2
• Filed: 08/21/2008
• Issued: 09/17/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/22/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IceRobotics Limited (Icerobotics Holdings Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: IceRobotics Limited (Icerobotics Holdings Ltd.)
• Inventors: Peacock, Andrew M., Lewis, Oliver, Bewley, Jeffrey M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Toatley, Gregory J
• Assistant Examiner(s): ALLI, IYABO
• Application Number:
  US12/195,918
• Publication Number:
  US 20090074253A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,853 Days
• Field of Search: 382/100, 382/103, 382/110, 382/116, 382/199, 382/195, 382202-204, 382/286
• US Class Current: 382/141
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 29/00 Other apparatus for animal husbandry
• CPC Class Codes: A22B 5/0064 for classifying or grading carcasses; for measuring back fat
• CPC Class Codes: A22B 5/007 Non-invasive scanning of carcasses, e.g. using image recognition, tomography, X-rays, ultrasound analysing meat, e.g. search for foreign embedded objects G01N33/12; image analysis G06T7/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61D 17/00 Devices for indicating trouble during labour of animals ; Methods or instruments for detecting pregnancy-related states of animals monitoring or measuring activity of animals A01K29/005

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.

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 an image from a back of the animal by means of image capture means located above the animal detection area, the image being captured in dependence upon the determination of the presence of an animal;

c) analyzing, via a computing device the image to determine a plurality of angles identified at points over the back of the animal; and

d) calculating, via the computing device a graded score from a combination of the angles;

wherein analyzing the image to determine the plurality of angles identified at points over the back of the animal includes identifying a plurality of anatomical points over the back of the animal at the outer edges of an outline of the image of the back of the animal.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the image capture means is a digital imaging means that detects radiation, which is one or more of reflected and radiated from the surface of the back of the animal.

3. A method as claimed in claim 2 wherein the digital imaging means may comprise a digital camera.

4. A method as claimed in claim 2 wherein the digital imaging means comprises one or more of:

an infra red based system; and

a thermal imaging system, which is operative to record thermal images.

5. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein an angle is determined around each of the points by identifying two lines emanating from the point.

6. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the analysis comprises determining less than five angles on each side of the back of the animal.

7. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the analysis comprises determining three angles on each side of the back of animal.

8. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein a mathematical algorithm is applied to the angles to calculate a score.

9. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the animal detection area is part of a pathway upon which an animal walks.

10. A method as claimed in claim 9 wherein the pathway is a portion of a weighing station.

11. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein an image is captured in dependence upon operation of a triggering mechanism, which operates when the animal enters the animal detection area.

12. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the animal is a dairy cow, the characteristic is body condition, and the graded score is the body condition score (BCS).

13. A method as claimed in claim 12 wherein three anatomical points are used on each side of the cow'"'"'s back.

14. A method as claimed in claim 13 wherein the angles are the hook angle, posterior hook angle and tail head depression.

15. 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;

image capture means located above the animal detection area that is operative to capture an image from a back of the animal, the image capture means being operative in dependence on operation of the triggering means;

signal processing means operative to analyze the image 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;

wherein signal processing means operative to analyze the image and determine a plurality of angles identified at points over the back of the animal includes identifying a plurality of anatomical points over the back of the animal at the outer edges of an outline of the image of the back of the animal.

16. An apparatus as claimed in claim 15 wherein the apparatus comprises means for detecting an identification mark on animal.