GEA Introduces AI-Powered DairyNet Intelligence for Smarter Herd Management
GEA is expanding its DairyNet herd management platform with DairyNet Intelligence, an artificial intelligence (AI)-powered digital assistant designed to help dairy farmers monitor animal health, interpret herd data and manage daily farm operations more efficiently.
The new solution aims to simplify herd management by analysing information from multiple sources and presenting farmers with concise, easy-to-understand insights into the condition of individual cows. GEA will provide an initial preview of the technology at EuroTier 2026.
AI-Powered Insights for Improved Herd Monitoring
GEA’s DairyNet platform already integrates information from various farm applications and management systems. DairyNet Intelligence builds on this foundation by using artificial intelligence to analyse available data and help farmers identify animals that may require closer attention.
Instead of navigating multiple screens and manually reviewing individual performance indicators, farmers can access a summarised assessment directly from a cow’s animal details page.
The AI assistant analyses several health-related indicators, including milk yield, animal activity, somatic cell count and milk conductivity. It also incorporates data from integrated solutions such as CattleEye and CowScout.
By bringing these information sources together, DairyNet Intelligence generates a brief overview of an individual cow’s current health status and highlights unusual readings that may require further investigation.
At this stage, the system focuses on analysing and summarising information rather than recommending specific treatments or management actions. Its primary purpose is to help farmers interpret available data more quickly and make informed assessments.
GEA is also testing a conversational interface that allows users to access herd information through predefined questions. For example, farmers can quickly identify which cows require special attention.
Future developments could include automatically generated analyses, data visualisations and more targeted information to support farm management decisions.
From Herd Monitoring to Intelligent Farm Management
DairyNet is gradually evolving from a centralised herd information platform into a digital assistant supporting everyday dairy farm operations.
As the technology develops, DairyNet Intelligence could help farmers anticipate upcoming tasks, coordinate activities and prepare for important management procedures.
For example, the assistant could notify farmers when an AutoDry programme is approaching, helping prepare cows for the dry period. It could also support veterinary appointment requests when animal health data indicate a potential problem.
The integration of multiple farm systems could create further opportunities for automation and improved operational coordination.
Potential applications include manure scrapers cleaning walkways before cows arrive for milking, feeding robots delivering fresh feed as animals leave the milking parlour, and using weather information to adjust feeding quantities and schedules during hot conditions.
These examples demonstrate how connected farm equipment and integrated data can support more coordinated agricultural operations.
GEA’s portfolio covers milking, feeding, manure management and herd management technologies. DairyNet provides the shared data foundation that enables DairyNet Intelligence to connect information across these different areas.
Over time, the company aims to develop the assistant into a tool that can prioritise tasks, highlight required actions and improve collaboration between farm managers, employees, veterinarians and agricultural advisers.
By keeping operational information and herd records accessible within one system, everyone involved in farm management can work with consistent information and monitor changes over time. This is particularly relevant for larger dairy operations where responsibilities are shared among several employees.
Data Security at the Core of DairyNet
As digital farm management systems become increasingly interconnected, protecting operational data and maintaining system reliability are essential.
GEA has incorporated data security into the development of its DairyNet platform, with the DairyNet Box serving as a central component of the system architecture.
Installed directly on the farm, the DairyNet Box is an industrial computer that provides the local technical foundation for DairyNet and connects the farm’s systems to the DairyNet Cloud.
The architecture is designed to restrict internet access and reduce potential cybersecurity risks. GEA has also assessed risks associated with its software products and machinery, introducing safeguards that address both digital threats and the possibility of physical access to on-site hardware.
An important feature is the local processing and storage of essential farm data. This allows key herd management functions to remain available during temporary internet interruptions.
Once connectivity is restored, relevant information is automatically synchronised with the cloud platform.
This combination of local data processing and cloud-based applications provides dairy farmers with continued access to essential management functions while supporting the development of additional digital services.
GEA is also continuing to develop its infrastructure to meet future cybersecurity requirements, including those associated with the European Cyber Resilience Act.
DairyNet Intelligence Set for Initial Farm Testing
The AI-powered features introduced by GEA at EuroTier 2026 are currently undergoing testing.
The company plans to begin making the technology available on selected dairy farms in late 2026 or early 2027. Feedback from participating farmers and dealers, together with insights gathered during the initial deployments, will help guide further development.
The introduction of DairyNet Intelligence reflects the growing role of artificial intelligence, connected equipment and data-driven decision-making in modern dairy farming.
By combining animal health information, automated monitoring and integrated farm systems, GEA aims to give dairy farmers a clearer overview of herd conditions while supporting more efficient daily operations.