Cargill has begun rolling out artificial intelligence camera systems across its beef processing plants to increase yield efficiency as the U.S. cattle herd hits its lowest level in 70 years.
The company’s proprietary vision technology analyses carcasses in real time and provides workers with immediate feedback, identifying areas where more meat can be recovered. Following a pilot at its Friona, Texas, facility, the system is being introduced across additional Cargill operations.
The adoption is aimed at improving productivity and reducing waste amid high cattle prices and tight supply. Even small yield gains could generate hundreds of millions of additional pounds of beef for the market, strengthening margins in a challenging supply environment.
Beyond processing, Cargill is integrating AI into workforce training, repetitive-task safety, and logistics, including its ocean transport operations, where predictive models monitor time and moisture levels.
The move reflects a broader trend across agribusiness, as producers seek to maintain output while controlling costs through automation and data-driven decision-making. It marks part of Cargill’s wider restructuring strategy to streamline operations and sustain profitability despite volatile commodity and livestock markets.