Drones, AI making cattle counting a dream
PGG Wrightson has launched a new stock-counting service using drones and Artificial Intelligence (AI), which it says removes all the hassle for farmers, while achieving 99.9% accuracy.
IHC has run the Calf & Rural Scheme for 30 years raising $28 million over the years; PGG Wrightson is a major sponsor.
The first sale of the year was at the Paeroa saleyards on October 24.
Peter Moore, general manager of PGG Wrightson Livestock and Adele Blackwood, IHC national manager fundraising development, were on hand to see 118 calves sold.
Blackwood says the scheme was launched by the families and supporters of IHC.
“Norm Cashmore, Te Kuiti, and IHC Calf & Rural Scheme patron Sir Colin Meads developed it with other volunteers around the country. This was soon followed by the partnership with PGG Wrightson… attracting farmer support for IHC and people with intellectual disabilities.
“We are fortunate to have the loyal support of about 5000 farmers who each donate one or more weaned calf (a virtual calf or even a cull cow) to the scheme each year.
“We arrange transport to saleyards at one of the 19 IHC stock sales organised by PGG Wrightson.”
Helpers include farmers, canvassers, truckers and PGG Wrightson staff.
PGG Wrightson’s support includes promotion, farmer awareness, advertising of the sales, and the sales process, Blackwood says.
“IHC does a tremendous job for people with intellectual disabilities and our sponsorship of this scheme is a way to help those people, their families and the communities which donate the calves.
“The funds raised from the Paeroa sale, for example, come back to that community to enable services and support not funded by Government.”
Blackwood says the scheme generates about $1.5 million per year.
“This helps create a better life for people with intellectual disabilities through… advocacy, self-advocacy, one to one volunteer friendship and the free IHC library, the biggest of its kind in the southern hemisphere.”
