Invited review: integration of technologies and systems for precision animal agriculture—a case study on precision dairy farming

Abstract

Precision livestock farming (PLF) offers a strategic solution to enhance the management capacity of large animal groups, while simultaneously improving profitability, efficiency, and minimizing environmental impacts associated with livestock production systems. Additionally, PLF contributes to optimizing the ability to manage and monitor animal welfare while providing solutions to global grand challenges posed by the growing demand for animal products and ensuring global food security. By enabling a return to the "per animal" approach by harnessing technological advancements, PLF enables cost-effective, individualized care for animals through enhanced monitoring and control capabilities within complex farming systems. Meeting the nutritional requirements of a global population exponentially approaching ten billion people will likely require the density of animal proteins for decades to come. The development and application of digital technologies are critical to facilitate the responsible and sustainable intensification of livestock production over the next several decades to maximize the potential benefits of PLF. Real-time continuous monitoring of each animal is expected to enable more precise and accurate tracking and management of health and well-being. Importantly, the digitalization of agriculture is expected to provide collateral benefits of ensuring auditability in value chains while assuaging concerns associated with labor shortages. Despite notable advances in PLF technology adoption, a number of critical concerns currently limit the viability of these state-of-the-art technologies. The potential benefits of PLF for livestock management systems which are enabled by autonomous continuous monitoring and environmental control can be rapidly enhanced through an Internet of Things (IoT) approach to monitoring and (where appropriate) closed-loop management. In this paper, we analyze the multilayered network of sensors, actuators, communication, networking, and analytics currently used in PLF, focusing on dairy farming as an illustrative example. We explore the current state-of-the-art, identify key shortcomings, and propose potential solutions to bridge the gap between technology and animal agriculture. Additionally, we examine the potential implications of advancements in communication, robotics, and artificial intelligence (AI) on the health, security, and welfare of animals.

Relationship between Dairy Cow Health and Intensity of Greenhouse Gas Emissions

“…Diagnosing SARA at an individual level is challenging due to the vague and frequently observable clinical signs mostly seen at the herd level. Nevertheless, it can be recognised by a decrease in ruminal pH [ 60 , 61 ]. SARA typically arises when the pH level in the rumen remains between 5.2 and 6 for an extended duration [ 55 ].…”

“…The BCS of a dairy cow is a measure of its adiposity, or the amount of body fat it has [ 124 ]. The BCS is an essential metric utilised in the evaluation of cattle welfare, carrying substantial consequences for health, productivity, and reproductive achievement [ 61 ]. Overall, the relationship between body weight and CH 4 production is complex and influenced by several factors such as lactation stage and feed intake.…”

Innovative Strategies for Sustainable Dairy Farming in Canada amidst Climate Change

“…The application of sensor technologies in freewalk housing systems is a significant leap forward in promoting natural behaviors and effective waste management in dairy cows. These systems, characterized by their open design, leverage the IoT for optimal environmental control, ensuring better ventilation and thus diminishing harmful gas concentrations, notably methane and ammonia [31][32][33]. The choice of bedding materials in these systems is crucial for absorbing and minimizing emissions.…”