Thermal Imaging Cameras Improve Cattle Assessment Systems

Many feeder cattle companies currently conduct “slaughterability” assessments by sending cattle through a chute and photographing them from above with a CCTV or visible light camera that is connected to a computer system. The system’s software then examines the machine-vision image of the cow to determine the animal’s edge definition. By measuring the area inside the defined edges, the software can help measure the cow’s mass and determine if it will meet USDA standards for slaughter.