Artificial Intelligence (AI) is emerging as a game-changer in animal welfare, with researchers developing advanced systems to analyze animal expressions, detect pain, and enhance veterinary care. These innovations could transform farming, pet care, and veterinary medicine.
AI Identifying Pain in Livestock
Scientists at the University of the West of England Bristol and Scotland’s Rural College have developed Intellipig, an AI-powered system that scans pig facial expressions to detect pain, sickness, and distress. This real-time monitoring allows farmers to improve animal welfare and productivity by responding swiftly to health concerns.
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Facial Recognition for Dogs and Horses
At the University of Haifa, researchers are using AI-driven facial recognition technology to analyze dog expressions and detect discomfort or stress. Their findings reveal that dogs share 38% of their facial movements with humans, making AI an effective tool for understanding canine emotions.
Similarly, the University of São Paulo has developed an AI system that analyzes horse facial expressions before and after surgery, as well as after receiving painkillers. By focusing on key facial features such as eyes, ears, and mouths, the system achieved an 88% accuracy rate in detecting pain.
The Future of AI in Animal Welfare
These breakthroughs in AI-driven emotion detection could revolutionize animal behavior research, reducing reliance on human observations. As machine learning continues to advance, AI could soon interpret animal emotions with even greater precision, leading to improved veterinary care, pet welfare, and livestock management.
