Facial Recognition

It seems to be straight out of a spy movie; Cameras everywhere watching for the most subtle change in conditions. Then it happens; a move, a slow-down in activity and the data goes straight back to the control room. No, this isn’t a diamond vault in Amsterdam. It’s a dairy, and those changes that the camera picked up are able to better manage the health and well-being of the dairy cattle. This technology is possible through an agriculture tech start-up company called Cainthus. The company is one of the first to develop cattle facial-recognition software. Co-founder David Hunt explains how Cainthus works. Like any tech start-up company Cainthus has not always been a smooth road. The founder’s hard work has paid off as the system is live in dairies in California and New York. Hunt says one of the first things they have found at both dairies is that dominant cows will hog water troughs and subordinate cows many times don’t get enough access to water. The technology has attracted offers from several large ag companies looking to help Hunt and his partners expand the company. Cainthus though, has partnered with Cargill, and Hunt says the relationship as a good fit