Fraunhofer Institute for Computer Graphics Research IGDCamera-based facial recognition in the barn enables the unique identification of dairy cows without requiring additional equipment. It forms the basis for automated, individual animal monitoring and the intelligent linking of important health and behavioral data.
Motivation: Need for Individual Animal Identification
With the increasing use of camera systems in dairy farming, the demand for automatic recognition of individual animals is growing. Clear identification is essential to accurately document health trends, performance data, and individual animal behavior. Until now, this has usually been done using transponders or ear tags, which require additional hardware and can be prone to malfunctions.
Project Goal: Facial Recognition as a Key Technology
The aim of the project is to develop a camera-based system that can uniquely identify dairy cows based on their facial features. This technology will enable continuous, individual monitoring of animals—without manual assignment or additional hardware attached to the animal. It thus provides the foundation for linking important health, behavioral, and performance data at the individual animal level.
