# Assessing the Homogeneity of Forage Mixtures Using an RGB Camera as Exemplified by Cattle Ratios
## 1 Introduction
Therefore, when non-homogeneous TMR is offered on the feed table, the animals will receive diets with different levels of energy value, which can lead to their destabilized performance and poor health [9, 10, 11]. In this study, we analyzed existing market solutions. Special technological equipment is used for preparing feed mixes, particularly for cattle, such as Triolette, Siloking, etc., which can both be made as trailed machines with weighing terminals regulating the proportion of the components' self-propelled machines. Lely and Delaval even produce robotized machines that are part of the automated feed production, which do not require human intervention in preparing the feed mix on the farm. In these machines, however, the mixing process is set according to a rigidly programmed algorithm. The timing of the mixing operation is not optimally and automatically regulated [12,13]. The lack of automatic systems for monitoring the homogeneity of the feed ration in the mixers used often has negative consequences for the farmer regarding herd performance and the number of animals culled for health reasons. As previously mentioned, zootechnical considerations dictate that animals should not consume the components of the feed mix individually. The feed ration must be balanced and be a uniform, multi-component, homogeneous mix [14]. In general, the process equipment used to prepare feed on the farm and its operation modes can significantly affect the performance and health status of the animals. For example, we have analyzed a study comparing the performance of two identical livestock farms with equal genetic potential in livestock and feed rations. One farm operated a trailed feed mixer while the other used a self-propelled machine with a self-loading system, resulting in a 2.7% difference in milk yield [15, 16, 17, 18]. Similarly, recommendations for uniformity (homogeneity) of diet are based on the fact that green fodder and concentrated components have different indicators of dry matter content and nutritional value. Therefore, unevenly mixed diets will result in unbalanced feed consumption by animals due to different levels of nutritional value, which often results in destabilized productive qualities and health problems [19,20]. A literature review revealed that controlling mix homogeneity is extremely important in many branches of the production process. NIRS technology is particularly prevalent in health care to assess powder homogeneity in pharmaceutical preparations at the raw material preparation stage. Such solutions are particularly effective for monitoring continuous powder flow in pharmaceutical production [21; 22; 23; 24]. In particular, there is an experience in using fluorescence to assess the homogeneity of multi-component granular and bulk mixes by pre-coating them with a solution of fluorescent material. In the case of a three-component feed mix, the fluorescence homogeneity assessment method can be adequate to examine one key component [25; 26; 27]. The use of NIRS technology for rapid assessment of feed nutrient composition is already replacing conventional control methods based on wet chemistry due to the advantages of the non-contact, non-destructive operation and the lack of sample preparation measures [28]. It is worth noting that spectral instruments are mostly expensive, and their functionality is redundant for evaluating the homogeneity index of cattle feed mix. Vision systems, which do not require expensive equipment, such as compact spectrometers, and monitor parameters online via IoT tools, are actively introduced as diagnostic systems in production practice. For example, several studies describe the effectiveness of using RGB cameras and programmed algorithms in agriculture to detect naturally or artificially ripened bananas. Furthermore, RGB-D cameras are suitable for efficiently detecting significant objects and the preservation of fine details [29; 30; 31; 32; 33; 34; 35].