AI takes on the heavy lifting for worm count samples
FECPAK has become the fastest, most efficient faecal egg counting test system on the global market, thanks to the release of instant results powered by proprietary artificial intelligence (AI) software.
Techion says the move is groundbreaking, and means no matter the day or time when a FEC test for sheep, cattle, goats or horses is processed and submitted using the FECPAK unit, the result is sent to users within a few minutes.
“Instant FEC results will significantly enhance productivity by allowing timely, real-time decision making on-farm,” says Techion founder and managing director Greg Mirams. “Farmers can quickly determine whether to bring their stock into the yards for treatment, optimising their management practices, saving time and ensuring healthier livestock.”
He says this is the first in a suite of new products that FECPAK will release this year. The company's working on a new digital microscope, the Micro-1300 with enhanced imaging capability that will enable a new range of tests including; Cattle coccidia; sheep coccidia; cattle parasite speciation; sheep parasite speciation; facial eczema and pasture spore counts.
The AI software behind the new service was developed and trained using more than 120,000 FEC tests, analysed by Techion’s technicians from samples submitted by customers over recent years. Prior to launch, the software was validated on more than 22,000 samples, giving results with greater than 96 per cent accuracy – exceeding that of many human technicians. FECPAK technicians will continue to review tests over the coming few months to ensure the AI model is meeting performance standards and providing a reliable service.
An all-New Zealand collaboration is responsible for the cutting-edge technology. Aware Group, recently purchased by HSO, and a Microsoft partner specialising in artificial intelligence and data solutions, worked with the Techion team to create the model. Aware Group and HSO are known for expertise in AI and computer vision and leveraging state-of-the-art cloud architecture to create solutions for complex problems, Techion says.