Mymensingh: Al Momen Pranta, a postgraduate student at Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU), has developed a low-cost, AI-powered system designed to combat heat stress in livestock and poultry farms, utilizing real-time data from environmental sensors and IoT technology to monitor temperature and humidity. This innovation aims to protect animal welfare and boost farm productivity.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the issue of heat stress has become more pronounced due to sudden climatic changes, and most farms lack advanced systems to preemptively notify farmers about potential risks to animals. Pranta, from BAU’s Department of Animal Science, has pioneered a solution using edge technology to address this crisis. His research, guided by Professor Rakibul Islam Khan and facilitated by Assistant Prof SM Ariful Islam, led to the development of an automatic “Sensor-based Artificial Intelligence (AI)-based Farm Monitoring and Heat Stress Management Technology.”
The technology involves farm-installed sensors that collect temperature and humidity data at regular intervals, sending it to a cloud platform via the internet. This data is analyzed by an AI model to calculate the Temperature-Humidity-Index (THI), which reflects the animal’s condition in four stages: ‘safe’, ‘alert’, ‘risky’, or ‘highly risky’. Based on this assessment, the system can automatically control farm equipment like fans, without requiring farmers to be physically present, and publishes a decision summary on a website for farmers to access.
Pranta emphasized the affordability of the system, which costs Taka 2,500 to set up initially, with annual cloud and servicing costs of approximately Taka 1,000. Once implemented, it can operate autonomously for a week, allowing farmers to monitor animal status online and take prompt action. Highlighting the global impact of heat stress on livestock, Pranta noted that losses could reach billions of dollars by the end of the century, with significant implications for regions like East Africa and developed countries like the United States.
The development of such an automated system is seen as both timely and exemplary on a global scale. The technology is ready for field application, and a research article detailing the results will be submitted to an international scientific journal soon. Prof Dr. Rakibul Islam Khan highlighted the innovation’s significance in farm management, noting its potential to reduce labor, costs, and electricity usage while preventing complications from heat stress.
Looking ahead, future research plans include incorporating sensors for ammonia, methane, and carbon dioxide, enabling analysis of animal respiration and environmental quality. Pranta envisions transforming livestock farming into a precision AI-based system, aiming to alleviate farmers’ concerns about heat-related livestock issues and improve farm conditions nationwide using accessible technology.