Spending time manually body condition scoring cows and getting inconsistent results is now a thing of the past for dairy farmers, thanks to New Zealand’s first AI-powered body condition scoring (BCS) system.
Developed by Herd-i in Christchurch by leading AI and machine learning experts, this technology saves time, improves consistency, and provides farmers with daily BCS data. Farmers can monitor trends for each cow and act quickly if body condition begins to decline, preventing issues at key times in the season.
Until now, farmers have relied on manual assessments by eye or brought in a certified BCS assessor – often a time-consuming process with inconsistent results, providing a point-in-time assessment.
DairyNZ recommends at least four BCS assessments each season during key periods, as well as monthly scoring during the dry period and late lactation. Herd-i’s automated system provides consistent, daily insights allowing farmers to stay ahead of potential issues and keep their herds in top condition.
Herd-i is a leader in AI-powered technology that helps improve herd health and performance, launching its early lameness detection system in June 2024. The Herd-i BCS system uses an EID reader to identify each cow as she exits the shed. A small camera tracks her movement, streaming the video to a cloud-based server where machine learning models analyse her body condition and assigns a score based on DairyNZ’s industry-standard scale. Results are displayed on an intuitive dashboard, allowing farmers to set customised alerts, track trends, and act quickly.
“Being able to automatically monitor body condition scores regularly will change our dairy industry’s approach to herd management,” says Herd-i CEO Liz Muller. “Feed is the biggest cost on any farm, and this system helps ensure cows are optimally fed. That means better milk production, improved reproduction, and a healthier, more efficient herd overall. With a good payout forecast ahead, having daily data to guide decisions will be more valuable than ever.
“New Zealand farmers have always led the way when it comes to innovation, and this technology is another step forward,” Liz adds. “By combining trusted industry standards with cutting-edge AI, we’re helping farmers manage their herds more effectively, boost productivity, and make decisions that support the future of their farms and our dairy industry.”
Herd-i Sales Manager Marty Orange says the system will be a game-changer on-farm. “With daily BCS data, farmers can identify cows outside their ideal range and act fast. That means healthier cows, better six-week-in-calf rates, smarter feed use, and more milk in the vat.
“With Herd-i, the human factor in assessing body condition is eliminated. The system delivers consistent data every time, giving farmers confidence to make informed decisions quickly.”
He also points to the growing focus on animal efficiency - a measure of how much milk a cow produces relative to its body weight or how much feed it takes to produce a certain amount of milk.
“Daily automated body condition scoring using Herd-i can help improve a herd’s efficiency by giving farmers near real-time insights into the relationship between a cow’s body condition, feed intake, and milk production,” Marty explains.
The Herd-i system also detects early signs of lameness, enabling farmers to act quickly to provide prompt effective treatment and prevent bigger issues down the track. Healthier, more efficient cows are not only better for farm productivity but can also help reduce emissions intensity (emissions/kgMS), supporting industry sustainability goals.
Herd-i’s BCS system has undergone extensive on-farm testing, with more than 40,000 real BCS scores collected. The machine learning model was trained using over 1 million video images, ensuring its consistency in New Zealand farming conditions.
To celebrate the launch, Herd-i is inviting 100 farmers to apply to be the first to adopt the new system on their farm. This group will form a specialist advisory group to inform the future development of the BCS system functionality. They will also get access to free installation and 50% off the standard subscription fee for 12 months, as well as other exclusive benefits.
For more information and to read our terms and conditions visit www.herd-i.com/first100
