JBNU Professor Junho Moon's research team, College of Veterinary Medicine, has developed a technology that uses artificial intelligence (AI) to precisely assess the quality of bovine embryos and has begun full-scale field validation studies for application in livestock production.

This research is recognized as a core technology that can increase embryo transfer success rates, reduce the economic burden on livestock farms, and raise overall productivity in the Korean beef industry.

The research involves collaborative participation by Daehyun Kim of Chonnam National University, Jun-gu Lee of Hankyong National University, and Woosung Kwon of Kyungpook National University. The universities will enhance the technology's on-site applicability and strengthen industrial competitiveness through inter-university cooperation.

Bovine embryos are high-value resources priced at about KRW 250,000 each, but quality assessment has relied on the experience of skilled experts. This has reduced objectivity and reproducibility and has raised concerns about potential economic losses from failed transfers.

Accordingly, the research team introduced an AI system that quantitatively determines quality by analyzing developmental stages and morphological characteristics of embryos based on data. The system is intended to complement traditional subjective assessment methods and establish a more reliable selection framework.

The project, titled “Field Validation Study of an AI-Based Bovine Embryo Grading System,” is supported by the Korea Agricultural Technology Promotion Agency (KOAT) and is being implemented with total funding of KRW 288 million. Participating universities plan to rigorously verify the technology's effectiveness and applicability at regional farms.

In particular, the study focuses on building a system that assigns objective grades based on developmental stage and morphological information by applying AI analysis to approximately 60,000–70,000 domestic bovine embryos produced annually. The core objective is to improve the accuracy of embryo selection and enhance the predictability of transfer outcomes.

The research is based on an AI-based embryo grading technology developed and filed for patent by the Chonnam National University research team. Because field validation will be conducted alongside the already secured technology, the research is expected to increase the technology's completeness and commercialization potential.

The research team will generate AI assessment results using embryo images collected from farms and perform integrated verification of the system's accuracy and reliability by linking these results with actual transfer outcomes and pregnancy rate data.

If the AI-based embryo quality assessment technology is commercialized, it is expected to improve the efficiency of producing high-quality animals and significantly increase embryo transfer success rates. This will contribute not only to stabilizing farm management but also to establishing a foundation for the sustainable growth of the domestic livestock industry.

Professor Junho Moon of JBNU stated, 'We will refine the research outcomes to a level that can be applied in actual livestock production sites and contribute to strengthening the competitiveness of the domestic livestock industry and improving its industrial structure.'