Cowcatcher AI

Open source project

Combining the Cowcatcher vision model with the AI-detector creates an automated alert system that monitors cows to detect "mounting" behavior.

The Basics

  • 24/7 Monitoring: The program monitors a live camera feed pointed at the cows around the clock.
  • Artificial Intelligence: It uses AI to automatically recognize when one cow mounts another, built on Ultralytics Yolo.
  • Instant Alerts: Immediately sends photo and video notifications to your phone via Telegram or Home Assistant.
  • Non-Intrusive: Your cameras remain functional; we simply use an additional stream.
  • Local Processing: Everything runs locally on your own computer in the stable or office.
Cow monitoring basics

The "Smart" Part

Learned Behavior: This program has been trained to recognize heat behavior using thousands of images.

Confidence Score: The system assigns a reliability score to every detection.

How it works in practice

  • Continuous Monitoring: The camera films the cows all day.
  • Smart Analysis: The program analyzes activity every few seconds.
  • Detection: High certainty detections trigger image and video capture.
  • The Perfect Shot: It collects several seconds of footage for the clearest view.
  • Sending Notifications: You receive a "Heat Detected" alert with visual proof.
AI analysis of heat behavior

Important Considerations – You Stay in Control

A Tool, Not a Replacement: AI can trigger false alarms; you make the final decision.

Animal Identification: You must identify the specific cow from the photo yourself.

Physical Checks Remain Vital: Always check for mucus and physical signs when in doubt.

An Extra Pair of Eyes: A digital assistant for night-time or when you are away.

Practical Workflow: Receive Notification → View Photo → Identify Animal → Check Physically → Take Decision

Why This System is Valuable

  • No need to watch the cows constantly.
  • Don't miss heat cycles at night.
  • Immediate alerts allow for fast action.
  • Identify the exact onset of heat for precision insemination.
Insights and value

Data & Privacy

  • Local Hosting: Runs on your own computer without cloud connections.
  • Requirements: Computer must stay on and connected to the internet for alerts.
  • Platforms: Uses Telegram or Home Assistant for local setups.
  • Storage: Images are stored locally; only the best are sent to your phone.
  • Continuous Improvement: Option to further train the program yourself.

What You Need

  • A Computer: Ideally with an NVIDIA GPU (GTX 1000-series or newer).
  • IP Camera: Most RTSP-capable cameras work (e.g., Reolink Trackmix).
  • POE Switch: To power cameras via a single cable.
  • LAN Cable: Approximately €1 per meter.
  • Internet Connection.

What We Provide

  • The Trained AI Model: The neural network 'brain'.
  • Privacy: Contains no images from other farms.
  • Open Source Software: A reusable third-party AI detector.
Hardware Setup