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Contacts
Project Overview:

CatchMark partnered with several dairy farms to implement a solution for monitoring animal welfare. The program aimed to build transparency and trust across the value chain while promoting continuous improvement in farm management. Key objectives included (i) capturing all human-animal interactions, (ii) fostering trust and transparency as part of farm culture, and (iii) identifying opportunities for new training and best practices in animal handling. The requirements were well-defined, and CatchMark successfully engineered and implemented a solution that met them.

 
Project Duration

The project rolled out over several years, with CatchMark completing installations at the final dairy farms by July 2024. Planning for these installations began in February 2024, and the project was completed on schedule despite significant operational challenges.

 
Technology Stack
  • Security cameras: High-durability cameras were chosen to meet stringent requirements, ensuring that all human-animal interactions could be accurately monitored in real time.
  • Network Switches: Ruggedized switches were installed to withstand harsh environmental conditions, ensuring physical and logical security in demanding farm environments.
  • Network Video Recorder (NVR): The NVR was designed to retain camera footage for at least one year, meeting regulatory and auditing requirements.
 
Project Challenges
  • Timing: The farms operate 24/7/365, requiring long hours from the installation team to meet tight deadlines.
  • Environment: Weather, livestock, and farm conditions (e.g., cow manure) presented constant obstacles during installation.
  • Cost: Balancing cost-efficiency with stringent requirements was essential to keep the project within the dairies’ budget.
  • Connectivity: Implementing a robust network solution for large, distributed farms required innovative approaches to ensure consistent footage retention.
 
Results

Despite the challenges, CatchMark completed installations at four large dairy farms. The auditing process begins in October 2024 and is expected to confirm that our solutions meet or exceed all stakeholder expectations, building a foundation for long-term operational improvement in animal welfare practices.