Partners
The scientific team includes competences from agricultural science, veterinary medicine and data science. Together with partners from agricultural animal husbandry, we develop practical solutions.
Leibniz Institute for Agricultural Engineering and Bioeconomy
The Leibniz Institute for Agricultural Engineering and Bioeconomy already produced a differential pressure sensor to automatically measure the breathing frequency of cows (spin-off Gouna GmbH). The latter project used a sensor fixed on the nose of the individual cow. In contrast, the current project aims to produce a non-invasive method measuring the breathing frequency contactless. However, the differential pressure sensor is the reference method in this project
University of Hildesheim
The working group “data science” at the University of Hildesheim is specialized in applications in the field of agriculture. They have extensive experience in the development of machine learning processes and artificial intelligence. One of their current focuses is the field of implementation of neuronal networks for the intelligent image processing in livestock farming as well as in plant production.
Die Datenschmiede
Datenschmiede GmbH has already gained experience in the automatic analysis of pictures and videos in various projects. In their projects deep learning and computer vision methods, in particular Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN`s), were used to develop a software for automatic image segmentation and classification.
ITEMA
ITEMA GmbH is working since 1990 in the field of infrared thermography. In the sector of agriculture, they have already successfully carried out projects on milking procedure and gas emissions. Frank Zahorszki, who is representing Itema in this research, owns a personnel certification level 3 for thermography (highest level) and is member of different standardisation bodies for thermography and optical gas detection.
Lehr- und Versuchsanstalt für Tierzucht und Tierhaltung
The Research and Education Center for Animal Breeding and Husbandry e.V. (LVAT) in Groß Kreutz is the trial farm in this experiment and cooperates with the ATB in various other projects for decades. Fifty-one milking cows are in the trial barn and part of the research project. They are stabled in a naturally ventilated dairy barn with loose housing systems equipped with an automatic milking system and low cubicles with a straw lime mix.