Facial biometrics to assess health and performance traits in dairy cows

We’ve partnered with North Florida Holsteins and the University of Florida to explore in greater depth the relationship between facial biometrics and key dairy health and performance traits. A recent visit to NFH yielded an image database of facial profiles of over 500 cows and heifer calves. Over the next several months, we will use these images and NFH’s existing records to compile a database that includes facial biometrics, EBVs, pedigrees, and health records for each of these animals. We will then use modern data mining approaches to explore the associations between facial biometrics and genetic traits of interest.