This project is developing a new way to monitor the health of young dairy calves using drones, artificial intelligence, and computer vision. Researchers will use drones equipped with standard and thermal cameras to collect images of calves housed in outdoor hutches at a large Wisconsin calf-rearing facility. By analyzing calf behavior, body position, growth, body temperature, breathing patterns, and signs of digestive illness, the team aims to create an automated system that can identify health concerns earlier than traditional visual checks. The project will also combine these data with farm health records to develop tools that can predict illness before obvious symptoms appear.

For dairy farmers, early disease detection can lead to healthier calves, lower treatment costs, and reduced labor demands. Diseases such as diarrhea and respiratory illness are among the most common health challenges facing young calves, and delays in identifying sick animals can negatively affect growth, welfare, and long-term productivity. By providing continuous, non-invasive monitoring, this technology could help farmers detect health problems sooner, make treatment decisions more quickly, improve calf welfare, and reduce antibiotic use. Ultimately, the project aims to deliver practical tools that strengthen the profitability, sustainability, and public trust of Wisconsin’s dairy industry.