Poultry Birds: AP to Conduct Field Trials on AI-Based Technology
State plans field tests of AI to detect bird diseases early, aims to help farmers
Vijayawada: The Andhra Pradesh government plans to initiate field trials on the use of Artificial Intelligence for poultry farms.
In the recent Tech AI 2.0 Conclave held here under the joint aegis of the Department of Animal Husbandry and the Global Forum for Sustainable Transformation, Hyderabad-based start-ups came up with a presentation involving AI.
They are using AI to listen to the sounds of birds in the farms, identify changes in their sounds. Some health problems are noticed when there are specific changes in their sounds. This alerts farmers that something has gone wrong with the birds and that disease might occur in the affected birds, which could prove fatal in three days.
The state government has asked the animal husbandry authorities to verify the use of AI in such specific situations.
The animal husbandry department would conduct field trials in the poultry farms to find out how AI based technology would work, and submit a report to the government.
Animal husbandry director Damodar Naidu said, “Following the presentation of AI-based technology on poultry birds, in the meeting, we are going to take up field trials in poultry farms in select areas and will submit a report to the government based on the feedback we get from the field trials.”
Meanwhile, poultry industry representatives have raised their apprehensions on the cost factor for use of AI in their farms. This costs Rs 1 for a broiler having a lifespan of 45 days and as much for a layer per month having its lifespan of 18 months. This comes up to Rs 18 for its lifetime by way of monitoring.
The CM has advised the startups to reduce the cost so that it would be beneficial to the farmers.
AP Poultry Federation general secretary Padala Subba Reddy said, “We are already facing trouble to bear the rising feed cost and other maintenance charges. Consumption of chicken and eggs has come down following the recent bird flu spread. We are spending more on our birds for their monitoring by using AI technology. Our business turns out to be unviable. We will accept AI once it is proven beneficial to us and cost-effective.”
