Alberta Rancher Embraces AI to Revolutionize Cattle Farming

Once a city dweller, Ashley Perepelkin's life took an unexpected turn towards agriculture when she met her future husband Andrew, a farmer by profession. Since their marriage in 2010, the couple has been jointly operating a grain farm in Alberta. Ashley's foray into cattle farming amplified the challenges that came with the steep learning curve inherent to animal husbandry.

Finding Support in Education and AI

In pursuit of knowledge, Ashley enrolled in a continuing education course at Olds College of Agriculture and Technology. It was there that she was introduced to the potential artificial intelligence (AI) could have in the farming industry. With labor being a significant investment and training new workers a daunting task, AI seemed to be an answer to cutting down costs and improving efficiency.

The innovative system the Perepelkins adopted is known as 360 Live ID, created by the startup OneCup AI. The company, under CEO Mokah Shmigelsky, designed a platform called Bovine Expert Tracking and Surveillance (BETSY), which allows the monitoring of cattle health, activity, nutrition, and growth through cameras equipped with facial recognition technology.

The Practical Benefits of AI in Ranching

One of the groundbreaking features of BETSY is its ability to send alerts to farmers when cattle show signs of calving. This becomes particularly useful in the calving season, which typically starts in January for the Perepelkins' herd. Through BETSY, Ashley can now rely on text message alerts rather than physically checking on the cows every few hours at night. This system provides peace of mind and ensures timely attention to the cattle's needs.

Thanks to BETSY, problems such as identifying cows and their calves, especially during simultaneous births, can be resolved quickly. This technology has already garnered attention and accolades for OneCup AI, as it took home the business of the year award in 2023 at the Animal AgTech Awards.

Innovation Meets Tradition in Beef Sales

The benefits of AI go beyond animal management for the Perepelkins. Ashley has been selling fresh, farm-to-table meat for five years now, with a variety that includes pepperoni, ground beef, smokies, sausages, steaks, and roasts. Her business, which caters to friends and family from the city, offers them a taste of farm-fresh beef, contrasting the typical grocery store experience with superior quality.

The Perepelkins have plans to develop a storefront on their property to further expand their reach to customers, combining traditional farming with cutting-edge technology to build a future-forward agricultural business.

agriculture, innovation, AI