A machine learning approach to developing behaviour classification models of grazing cattle using Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) data

Title
A machine learning approach to developing behaviour classification models of grazing cattle using Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) data
Publication Date
2026-08
Author(s)
Duong, Hong Viet
Simanungkalit, Gamaliel
( author )
OrcID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9401-8388
Email: gsimanu2@une.edu.au
UNE Id une-id:gsimanu2
Schneider, Derek
( author )
OrcID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1897-4175
Email: dschnei5@une.edu.au
UNE Id une-id:dschnei5
Cowley, Frances
( author )
OrcID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6475-1503
Email: fcowley@une.edu.au
UNE Id une-id:fcowley
Lamb, David
( author )
OrcID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2917-2231
Email: dlamb@une.edu.au
UNE Id une-id:dlamb
Ives, Stephen
Barwick, Jamie
( author )
OrcID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0905-8527
Email: jbarwic2@une.edu.au
UNE Id une-id:jbarwic2
Type of document
Journal Article
Language
en
Entity Type
Publication
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Place of publication
The Netherlands
DOI
10.1016/j.atech.2026.102182
UNE publication id
une:1959.11/73441
Abstract

Monitoring the behaviour of free-ranging cattle is critical for effective management in extensive grazing systems. This study investigated whether a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) tracking dataset could serve as a single data source for (1) classifying predominant grazing cattle behaviours (Grazing, Resting, and Walking) using Machine Learning (ML) models, and (2) generating diurnal activity profiles. Ten 17 – 22 months Angus steers weighing 363 ± 8.3 kg (mean ± SD) were grazed in a 29.6-ha paddock for 14 days. Each steer was fitted with a UNETracker II GNSS collar programmed to record five consecutive GNSS positions at 10-second intervals (Burst), followed by a 5-minute interval between Bursts, and was monitored via a high-definition video camera for 6 days. Grazing, Resting (Standing and Lying Down), and Walking behaviours were annotated and further synchronised with the GNSS data to generate a behaviour-annotated dataset. This dataset was segmented into three subsets: Burst 3 (B3), Burst 4 (B4), and Burst 5 (B5), containing sequences of 3, 4, and 5 GNSS points, respectively. To develop the ML models, 11 speed-based features, including acceleration, mean, standard deviation, coefficient of variation, and zero-speed count, were calculated from the annotated data for each Burst. Due to an imbalance in behavioural classes, the SMOTE oversampling technique was applied to the training data to improve model performance. Four ML algorithms (RF, XGBoost, k-NN, SVM) were used to develop behaviour classification models. Results showed that XGBoost at B3 outperformed other ML models in distinguishing between Grazing, Resting and Walking behaviours, and the oversampling improved the overall accuracy from 0.69 to 0.79. The Precision, Recall, F1 Score, Cohen’s kappa coefficient, and Matthew’s correlation coefficient (MCC) of the XGBoost model before vs. after oversampling were 0.68 vs 0.80, 0.62 vs 0.79, 0.64 vs 0.79, 0.41 vs 0.68 and 0.43 vs 0.69, respectively. These findings highlighted the potential of GNSS-derived speed features, with XGBoost emerging as a robust approach for classifying beef cattle behaviour at a large-scale pasture landscape.

Link
Citation
Smart Agricultural Technology, v.14, p. 1-11
ISSN
2772-3755
Start page
1
End page
11
Rights
Attribution 4.0 International

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