Computational intelligent system for extensive livestock farming

• Grant number: 15/00964-5
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Innovative Research in Small Business - PIPE
• Start date: February 01, 2016
• End date: January 31, 2018
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Computer Science - Computer Systems
• Agreement: FINEP - PIPE/PAPPE Grant
• Principal Investigator: Rodrigo Almeida Gonçalves
• Grantee: Rodrigo Almeida Gonçalves
• Company: Nitryx Consultoria e Informática Ltda
• City: Campinas

Abstract

The cattle industry in Brazil is the economic activity that occupies the largest land expansion. Brazil has the second largest herd in the world, only surpassed by India. Brazil is the second biggest exporter of cattle beef in the world. According to the Foreign Trade Secretariat, also known as Secretaria de Comércio Exterior (Secex), Russia (26%), Egypt (17%), Iran (14%), Hong Kong (9%), Chile (6%), Venezuela (5%) and Saudi Arabia (3%) represented 80% of Brazilian cattle beef exports. The following states were the responsible for 90% of this exported volume: São Paulo, Mato Grosso, Goiás, Mato Grosso do Sul, Rondônia and Minas Gerais. Genetic improvement had become a growing phenomenon in the Brazilian cattle industry. On the other side, not much is done from the computational point of view and labour costs are rapidly increasing in Brazil. This project aims the creation of an Intelligent System capable of collecting data (primarily weight) from individual animals within an extensive cattle herd without the need for labour inputs or mains power. It will save time, money, labour and capital by using smart remote technology and Artificial Intelligence. It can potentially transform the economics and sustainability of extensive grazing in Brazil. (AU)