Artificial intelligence based muzzle recognition technology for individual identification of animals

Abstract

India is witnessing raising interest in animal identification and traceability in recent years. Identification and tagging of productive bovines across India with the internationally accepted 12 digit unique animal identification number using bar coded ear tags under the national program of Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Government of India has brought about visible change in the mindset of the stakeholders. Country is realizing the benefits of the system and steadily embracing it. But the animal identification verification system is lacking in the country and this gap can be filled by the artificial intelligence based muzzle identification technique reported in this work. Field test indicated 98% successful identification of all accepted images and 100% successful identification of all test animals. None of the images were cross assigned to any other individual. Mobile based operations without requirement of any consumables and laboratory test makes the technique field-friendly. System can be handy to agencies involved in animal identification and traceability in India and abroad.