Hoofcount: PediVue
Launched in 2024, PediVue is our state‑of‑the‑art early lameness detection system. It visualises daily changes in hoof health, identifies early signs of potential issues, and enables dairy farmers to act sooner.
The system uses advanced AI to interpret hoof‑health changes captured at the footbath exit. As each animal passes through the system, PediVue reads its ID tag and connects the hoof images to that specific cow, highlighting any early indicators of lameness.
A high‑speed camera records detailed images of each hoof, and these are analysed using computer vision to detect early signs of digital dermatitis. This daily monitoring helps farmers act before problems escalate. Digital dermatitis affects over 90% of UK dairy herds and is a major contributor to lameness, costing around £300 per case.
While Hoofcount’s automatic footbath already helps reduce and control lameness, we recognised the need for a device that could detect issues even earlier to support prompt, effective treatment. Machine learning further strengthens PediVue’s accuracy.
As more hoof images are collected, the system continually improves its detection models — progressing from 80% accuracy to 100% accuracy in identifying cows’ hooves. The system integrates easily with farm‑management platforms, providing alerts, supporting decision‑making, and offering insights for vets and hoof trimmers.