GEA has opened a new software lab in Belfast, creating 20 research and development jobs to support its artificial intelligence-driven livestock technology, including the CattleEye system.
The technology is engineered to quickly detect and predict lameness in cows and to provide critical data to assess the body condition score. Today, the system is used in over 140 farms across the UK, Europe, the US and Australia, monitoring over 200,000 cattle across 23 different countries. The CattleEye software is part of GEA’s DairyNet portfolio for modern herd management.
“With our new software lab in Belfast, GEA is strengthening its role as a technology leader in digital dairy farming,” says Andreas Seeringer, CEO at GEA Farm Technologies. “By improving animal health and wellbeing through AI-based solutions like CattleEye, dairy farms become more efficient, more sustainable, and ultimately more profitable. That is why we commit to accelerating development in this area, driving technology innovation in our digital herd management solutions.”
GEA acquired CattleEye in 2024, and the expansion will enable new technical opportunities of the system and further AI integration.
Terry Canning, Senior Director at GEA, explains: “The new software lab will be a significant milestone in integrating CattleEye fully into our state-of-the-art herd management systems and will extend our digital footprint in farming. In the future, farmers can expect features which help reduce additional investments in equipment and necessary animal treatments.”
Northern Ireland’s regional economic development agency Invest NI has offered financial support towards the new GEA lab and the creation of new jobs in the region. Invest NI’s support is in part funded by the UK Government Shared Prosperity Fund.
www.gea.com
