Source: UF News
A University of Florida research team, led by Dr. Ludovica Chiavaccini, is using artificial intelligence (AI) to improve pain assessment in animals, starting with goats. The team filmed goats in pain, such as those with bladder stones, and those without pain, using the footage to train an AI model to recognize pain by analyzing facial expressions. The model achieved accuracy rates between 62% and 80%, depending on testing methods.
This AI-based approach addresses the challenges of subjective pain assessment in Veterinary care. Current methods rely heavily on experience or standardized pain scales, which vary in quality and availability. For goats, a single validated pain scale exists but is limited to castration in males. The research highlights broader applications for AI in pain management, potentially benefiting other animal species and even non-verbal human patients, like children. The findings, published in Scientific Reports, emphasize both animal welfare and productivity benefits, as untreated pain can hinder growth and health.
Read the full story HERE: https://news.ufl.edu/2024/11/goat-pain/