M&S is bringing artificial intelligence to its British dairy farms to strengthen its monitoring of the health and welfare of dairy cows. The retailer is the first to introduce these tools across all 46 farms that make up its Milk Pool, the network from which the milk sold in its stores comes.
The technology uses cameras already present in milking parlors to collect images of the animals while they are indoors. The footage is analyzed using algorithms developed and trained with the help of veterinarians, capable of observing the cows' conditions more frequently and reporting any changes in their behavior.
The system builds an individual health profile for each animal, tracking their mobility, body condition, time spent lying down or feeding, social interactions, and other well-being indicators over time. This data is then processed to create a "comfort score," designed to complement assessments conducted by farmers and veterinarians.
Daily monitoring will not replace periodic in-person checks by independent professionals, but it will provide them with more continuous and consistent information. Particular attention will be paid to body condition, which is useful for assessing nutritional status and identifying potential metabolic, reproductive, or health problems early.
According to Terry Canning, CEO of CattleEye, the ability to regularly record these changes for each individual cow offers farmers a level of insight previously available only in research environments. The algorithm has been tested, and the company says its performance is comparable to that of a qualified assessor.
The project's expansion follows a pilot phase conducted at several M&S companies. The data collected has already allowed farmers to introduce targeted interventions, adapting litter boxes to the size and characteristics of individual animals, modifying feeding schedules to reduce standing time, and redesigning some stalls to improve comfort.
According to Peter Kennedy, Head of Agriculture at M&S Food, the use of artificial intelligence will allow farmers to provide more targeted care and strengthen the group's welfare standards. The initiative is part of Plan A for Farming, through which the retailer aims to support the long-term resilience of British agriculture.
M&S has invested over £7 million in agricultural innovation projects over the past decade and has earmarked a further £7 million for the next five years. Previous trials include new milking parlor flooring, measuring methane emissions from Aberdeen Angus cattle, and using advanced technologies in parsnip cultivation.
The milk sold by M&S is entirely British and purchased directly from the 46 farms in the Select Farm Milk Pool. Through the use of new digital tools, the retailer intends to strengthen control along the entire supply chain, combining productivity, animal welfare, and the economic sustainability of farms.
