Improving Dairy Herd Health with AI-Powered Insights
Epivets is proud to partner with Herd-i, an innovative New Zealand agritech company revolutionising how farmers manage herd health. By combining cutting-edge artificial intelligence with deep industry experience, Herd-i is helping dairy farmers detect issues earlier, treat animals more effectively, and make better decisions on-farm
Research in Action: Lameness and Reproduction Study with Herd-i
EpiVets recently collaborated with Herd-i to analyse how lameness, detected by Herd-i’s AI system, impacts reproductive performance on a well-managed South Island dairy farm. The study found that cows with elevated lameness scores had significantly lower 6-week in-calf and final pregnancy rates, leading to estimated financial losses of up to $204 per cow. The results highlight the value of early lameness detection and monitoring in improving herd productivity and welfare.
Read the full case study on Herd-i’s website →
What is Herd-i?
Herd-i is an in-shed monitoring solution that uses video footage, EID tags, and machine learning to provide early detection of lameness and body condition scoring. It empowers farmers to make faster, more informed decisions that benefit both herd performance and animal welfare.
How it Works?
Herd-i operates through a seamless, in-shed process that begins with video capture of each cow as it exits the milking shed. Using electronic ID (EID) tags, the system automatically identifies individual animals before uploading footage to a secure cloud platform. There, Herd-i’s AI models analyse gait and body condition, assessing each cow using DairyNZ’s lameness (0–3) and body condition scoring (BCS, 3–6) systems. Farmers can then review scores and images through an easy-to-use dashboard, set custom thresholds, and build watchlists for follow-up. A reporting suite, currently offering standard insights, with customisable options coming soon, supports informed, data-driven decision-making on-farm.
Why It Matters
Early detection of lameness and changes in body condition enables faster intervention, better outcomes, and healthier cows. With Herd-i, farmers can improve productivity, animal welfare, and on-farm team accountability through consistent, evidence-based monitoring.
Aligned Values, Shared Mission
At Epivets, we believe in practical innovation that directly improves animal welfare and farm outcomes. That’s why we’re proud to work alongside Herd-i, whose dedication to combining AI with hands-on farming knowledge perfectly aligns with our commitment to better vet care and decision support.
Visit herd-i.com to learn more, or contact us to explore how Herd-i could support your farm.