Perspectives of digital agriculture in diverse types of livestock supply chain systems. Making sense of uses and benefits

Abstract

Digital technology is being introduced to global agriculture in a wide variety of forms that are collectively known as digital agriculture. In this paper we provide opportunities and value propositions of how this is occurring in livestock production systems, with a consistent emphasis on technology relating to animal health, animal welfare, and product quality for value creation. This is achieved by organizing individual accounts of digital agriculture in livestock systems according to four broad types—commodity-based; value seeking; subsistence and nature-based. Each type presents contrasting modes of value creation in downstream processing; as well as from the perspective of One Health. The ideal result of digital technology adoption is an equitable and substantial diversification of supply chains, increased monetization of animal product quality, and more sensitive management to meet customer demands and environmental threats. Such changes have a significance beyond the immediate value generated because they indicate endogenous growth in livestock systems, and may concern externalities imposed by the pursuit of purely commercial ends.

Digital livestock systems and probiotic mixtures can improve the growth performance of swine by enhancing immune function, cecal bacteria, short-chain fatty acid, and nutrient digestibility

“…Thus, preemptive responses are required. A digital livestock system has been developed to resolve the farming animal crisis due to climate change and to maintain sustainable livestock production (1,2). The development of a digital livestock system for precision livestock farming (PLF) has led to the implementation of remote monitoring systems using cameras, microphones, and accelerometer sensors.…”

“…The development of a digital livestock system for precision livestock farming (PLF) has led to the implementation of remote monitoring systems using cameras, microphones, and accelerometer sensors. Rapid progress has been made to improve animal welfare and production, and various systems managed by high-tech equipment have been introduced to livestock farming (1)(2)(3). Digital livestock systems, including feeding, weighing, and sorting systems, wearable sensors, and climate control systems, have been implemented in swine farming in an effort to improve swine production, animal behavior and welfare, sound detection, and 3D camera application information (4,5).…”

“…In the digital era, an intelligent PLF and ICT (information and communication technology)-based climate-smart livestock system (hereinafter referred to as a digital livestock system) is being commercialized as future megatrend strategies using big data converged with the 4th industrial revolution's ICT, Internet of Things (IoT), wireless biosensors, mobile phones, artificial intelligence (AI), automatic systems, and drone technology (1,2,(10)(11)(12). A digital livestock system is a new technology developed for the animal livestock industry that can improve humans' and animals' lives through ICT convergence, where the demand for information across the supply and food chains is the source of power for the development and expansion of digital agriculture (13)(14)(15).…”

Effect of digital livestock system on animal behavior and welfare,and fatty acid profiles of egg in laying hens

“…These results indicate that the digital livestock system can be used as a future livestock farming algorithm to significantly improve egg fatty acid profile, animal behavior, and welfare in laying hens. (Geetanjali et al, 2017;Neethirajan, 2020;Baker et al, 2022). Maintenance of animal health including laying hens is essential for animal welfare.…”

“…Data are saved and updated on the webpage. Smart sensing platform can be used for monitoring environment variables and feeding management of poultry houses (Choukidar and Dawande, 2017;Neethirajan et al, 2020;Baker et al, 2022). Therefore, many countries have made efforts to improve the production, behavior, and welfare of layer using a digital livestock system based on such advantages.…”