Precision Livestock Farming: Harnessing its potential!

• environment,
• human health,
• and animal welfare.

Meeting these challenges is not as easy task. Even more so when global meat production is expected to double by 2050. This increase in production can be achieved through a combination of: larger animal populations and increased productivity.  Which is especially true for the poultry and pig sectors(Gilbert et al., 2015).

Although it is not possible to predict precisely what agriculture will look like in 2050 factors like:

• income distribution,
• dietary choices
• and technological innovations

will have a significante influence on such development.

FAO suggests that in a “business-as-usual” scenario, animal herds are likely to increase by 46% globally compared to 2012, with poultry numbers increasing over five-fold, three-fold for pigs, and two-fold for small and large ruminants (FAO, 2018). This increase in animal numbers could make their management more challenging, especially if, as was observed in the EU, the number of farmers continues to decrease (Eurostat, 2020).Having fewer farmers to look after larger numbers of animals may make it more difficult to address animal health and welfare challenges.

As a response to these challenges, the development of new technologies has gained momentum. Among these developments are Precision Livestock Farming (PLF) technologies, which are designed to support farmers in livestock management by monitoring and controlling animal productivity, environmental impacts, as well as health and welfare parameters in a continuous, real-time and automated manner (Berckmans, 2014).

For example, researchers at KU Leuven in Belgium have developed a microphone and algorithm system using sound monitoring and analyzing technology that can identify the sound of a pig coughing as distinct from all other noises. Another example is the early detection of lameness through video analysis. As an early warning system, farmers and veterinarians can intervene sooner, reduce the animal’s risk of suffering from a severe and prolonged illness, and reduce the eventual use of antibiotics, hence responding to antimicrobial resistance.

A variety of systems using technologies such as sensors, cameras or microphones can directly alert farmers via connected devices (e.g., phones, computers, or tablets) about detected anomalies, thus allowing farmers to intervene at an early stage. Research is pointing toward the great potential for these “smart technologies” to help livestock farmers in monitoring the welfare of their animals and several countries are already investing in their development, reflecting their potential to be part of strategies to move toward sustainable agriculture (Rose and Chilvers, 2018; Norton et al., 2019).

This entry will be continued on a subsequent publication…..

Source: Abstract taken from “Exploring the Potential of Precision Livestock Farming Technologies to Help Address Farm Animal Welfare” and “THE REAL MEANING OF PRECISION FARMING”