AI Keeps an Eye on the ‘Cattle of the Hills’ — and It Could Change How Farmers Watch Their Herds

Researchers at the ICAR-National Research Centre on Mithun (ICAR-NRC on Mithun) in Nagaland, in collaboration with other institutions, have developed an artificial intelligence-based system for the real-time detection and tracking of Mithun (Bos frontalis) behaviour in a natural farm environment. Known as the 'Cattle of the Hills', the Mithun holds cultural and economic importance in Northeast India. The framework uses 12 high-definition CCTV cameras, the YOLOv8n model for behaviour detection, and DeepSORT technology for tracking individuals. It monitors four key behaviours—feeding, standing, lying, and mounting—under day-and-night conditions, achieving high precision scores and processing speeds. The technology aims to overcome the limitations of manual observation and support livestock health, welfare, and reproductive management.