A research and development program at Muresk Institute which sees sheep fitted with smart tags and accelerometers similar to exercise fitness trackers, is already proving its worth.
Just six months in, researchers at the Northam site have developed the capacity to predict normal behaviours across different flocks with 80 to 90 per cent accuracy.
With additional data throughout 2020, accuracies are expected to improve even more.
The project is a collaboration between Muresk Institute, Murdoch University, NeXtgen Agri in New Zealand, Australian Wool Innovation (AWI), Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA), the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, and Agriculture Victoria.
The overall aim of the project is to develop algorithms to accurately predict grazing behaviour and feed intake of sheep. This data can potentially also help predict changes in food availability and animal weight.
Phase two of the research program kicked off at Muresk in January and saw around 150 sheep fitted with fitbit like equipment and recording devices, including GPS and solar powered 'smart tags' on their ears.
Data from the smart tags has been collected in real time and sent live to AWI head office in Sydney.
Hundreds of hours of video footage of sheep grazing has been collected since the start of the program, which has been used to inform artificial intelligence algorithms that predict sheep behaviours such as walking, resting and grazing.
Other trials are planned in Victoria over the next 18 months and researchers will return to Muresk Institute to complete Phase three of the project in July/August 2020.
This will include examining the potential to remotely monitor animal welfare, especially over the lambing period.
For more information about Muresk Institute visit dtwd.wa.gov.au/mureskinstitute or call 1300 994 031
