RIVER FALLS, WISCONSIN (RFD News) — New research out of the University of Wisconsin-River Falls is giving producers a different perspective on livestock handling by showing what it is like to see the world through the eyes of cattle. The project uses an animal eye simulator, or “cow goggles,” to improve how cattle are handled in farm and facility settings.
Program Manager Ashlynn Kirk joined Wednesday’s Market Day Report to explain how the system works and how it can benefit the agriculture industry.
“The person who is experiencing the cow vision essentially has virtual reality goggles that they put on and a helmet that has a camera mounted to the top of it,” Kirk said. “They are seeing in real time through those virtual reality goggles what that camera is seeing on top of their head.”
Kirk says cattle have a much wider field of vision than humans, allowing them to see nearly all the way around them. They also have dichromatic vision, meaning they see fewer colors, and their eyes take longer to adjust to changes in light.
She says understanding those differences can help explain why cattle may hesitate or react in certain environments.
Kirk says the goal of the project is to improve the interaction between animals and handlers. By seeing from the animal’s perspective, producers can make adjustments to facilities and handling practices that reduce stress and improve movement.
