Lipetsk Dairy Farmers Boost Milk Yields With AI
The agricultural enterprise SHP Mokroe in the Lebedyansky District of Russia’s Lipetsk Region has placed more than 4,000 dairy cows under the supervision of an artificial intelligence system.
AI Knows Everything About the Herd
An AI system with the distinctive name Arkady has been deployed at the livestock complex operated by SHP Mokroe in the Lipetsk Region. Arkady can answer virtually any question related to herd performance. The neural network reports on animal health, milk yields over the past two weeks, and offers recommendations on how to improve results.
Previously, all production data were recorded in paper logs, then consolidated and analyzed before management decisions were made. The AI now delivers the full data set instantly. The system covers disease monitoring, vaccination records, current animal condition, and feeding system data.
To support this, the farm uses a suite of AI-enabled devices: chips attached to animals, scanning readers, and a weighing platform. These smart tools collect and transmit data on animal behavior, milk output, and weight gain.
If a potential issue arises, for example when a sensor detects that a cow has been lying down for an unusually long time, a veterinarian receives an alert on a mobile phone. This makes it possible to track the health of each animal with precision. Without a digital assistant, that level of oversight would be physically impossible. Livestock specialists now use the neural network to monitor more than 4,000 milking cows.
The program allows us to track animal productivity and health, with all data consolidated into a single cloud environment and made available for ongoing monitoring by specialists, says Alexander Bachurin, First Deputy Chief Executive Officer of SHP Mokroe.
Digital Development of the Farm
A key feature of the AI assistant is continuous improvement. As it accumulates data, it keeps learning and refining its recommendations. The system is designed for convenience. Managers can access information and control functions not only from a desktop computer but also from a smartphone. Combined with previously deployed automated animal care systems, the AI assistant has become a logical extension of the digitalization of dairy production, fully integrated into the farm’s overall IT landscape.
SHP Mokroe operates as a diversified agricultural holding. Its Holstein cattle herd is approaching 9,000 head. The pig complex houses more than 6,000 animals, while the sheep farm exceeds 2,000 head. The company cultivates more than 20,000 hectares of land, producing crops to supply its own feed base. SHP Mokroe also operates an apiary that produces natural honey. The holding continues to digitalize other lines of business as well.
AI Assistants in Russian Livestock Farming
Digitalization of farms reduces management and animal health monitoring costs while simultaneously increasing milk yields. This combination significantly improves the efficiency of milk production for Russian farmers.
Our performance has improved markedly in reproduction and animal health. When health indicators are stable, milk yields follow. Over two years, our figures have already improved by about 25 to 30 percent, says Igor Zabelich, Director of Livestock Operations at SHP Mokroe.
Across Russia, artificial intelligence is becoming an integral part of livestock production processes. According to expert estimates, around 45 percent of large Russian livestock companies use AI to optimize feeding. Neural networks give farmers the ability to create personalized rations for individual animals, taking into account age, weight, nutritional needs, and housing conditions. For example, the agroholding Progress Agro has developed and deployed a feed table monitoring system at its dairy farms. The solution uses computer vision technology to automatically track feed distribution and detect shortages.
AI-driven predictive analytics for animal health are already used by 25 percent of large Russian companies. About 20 percent apply AI for farm management and logistics planning. Together, these technologies support sustainable development in regional agriculture and contribute to growth in national milk production.
Integrating AI solutions for livestock farms with other digital platforms used by large agroholdings, including agronomy, veterinary services, management, and insurance systems, makes it possible to build end-to-end agricultural operations based on Industry 4.0 principles. Such projects, or their individual components, can be adapted for international markets and exported to countries seeking rapid development of their agricultural sectors.
