Precision Livestock Farming (PLF) Systems: Improving Sustainability and Efficiency of Animal Production

Tzanidakis, Christos; Simitzis, Panagiotis; Panagakis, P.

doi:10.1007/978-3-031-16620-4_15

Cited by 4 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 355 publications

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“…The more efficient an animal is, the lower the emissions per unit of product, such as milk or meat (Grossi et al, 2018) across the supply chain or sector. Improving animal production efficiency through adoption of PLF technologies has the potential to maximize the profitability of average and high yielding dairy systems and therefore improves environmental and economic sustainability of the sector (Tzanidakis et al, 2023). For example, on dairy farms, utilizing PLF technology such as an estrus detection tool could reduce GHG emissions through more accurate detection of estrus, leading to more successfully timed artificial insemination (AI).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The impacts of precision livestock farming tools on the greenhouse gas emissions of an average Scottish dairy farm

Ferguson,

Bowen,

McNicol

et al. 2024

Front. Sustain. Food Syst.

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Precision livestock farming (PLF) tools are increasingly used in daily herd management to improve health, welfare, and overall production. While not intended to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions on farm, PLF tools can do so indirectly by improving overall efficiency, thereby reducing the emissions per unit of product. This work modelled the potential effects of commercially available PLF tools on whole enterprise and product emissions of two average Scottish dairy farm systems (an 8,000 L and 10,000 L herd) using the Agrecalc carbon footprinting tool. Scenarios modelled included an improvement in fertility and an improvement in fertility and yield from the introduction of an accelerometer-based sensor, and an improvement in health from introduction of an accelerometer-based sensor, with and without the use of management interventions. Use of a sensor intended to improve fertility had the largest reduction in total emissions (kg CO2e) of −1.42% for a 10,000 L farm, with management changes applied. The largest reduction in emissions from milk production (kg CO2e) of −2.31% was observed via fertility technology application in an 8,000 L farm, without management changes. The largest reduction in kg CO2e per kg fat and protein corrected milk of −6.72% was observed from an improvement in fertility and yield in a 10,000 L herd, with management changes. This study has highlighted the realistic opportunities available to dairy farmers in low and high input dairy systems to reduce their emissions through adoption of animal mounted PLF technologies.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The impacts of precision livestock farming tools on the greenhouse gas emissions of an average Scottish dairy farm

Ferguson,

Bowen,

McNicol

et al. 2024

Front. Sustain. Food Syst.

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“…It is necessary to increase the efficiency of animal husbandry to ensure the production of sufficient food to meet the needs of a growing population, contribute to reducing the impact of environmental pollution and ensure the availability and accessibility of food [9,10]. Precision animal husbandry can improve livestock efficiency by providing farmers with the tools they need to make data-driven decisions and optimize practical management.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Modernization of calf rearing technology elements in cattle breeding

Khatkova,

Khatkov,

Golembovsky

et al. 2024

BIO Web Conf.

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The purpose of the research is to establish the timing of technological operations when feeding hay into feeders of different designs and the growth characteristics of calves with different growing technologies during the dairy period. On the 3rd day after birth, a control and experimental group of bull calves of the Simmental breed of 15 heads each were formed. Before reaching the age of 7 months, the calves of the control group were raised according to the technology adopted on the farm using manual milk feeding and hay consumption from a common feeder together with adult livestock. The eponymous peers of the experimental group were raised under nursing cows with full suction, rolled hay was fed to them in a coarse feed feeder designed for all age and gender groups of cattle, which was located in a common paddock with limited access to adult livestock (patent for invention RU 2810529 C1, 12/27/2023). The experimental groups of calves were provided with the same amount of coarse feed. The use of a new feeder ensured greater hay consumption than by individuals who consumed this feed from a feeder common to calves and adult animals with differences of 11.2 abs.%. Feeding hay from a common feeder meant filling it daily throughout the entire dairy period, which required 15 seconds of daily time, whereas according to the developed feeder – five times a day, the duration of each filling is on average 55 seconds, which indicates the obvious advantage of the new design. At the age of 7 months, the calves of the suckling group were superior in body weight (by 19.4 kg, P>0.999) to their peers of the traditional (economic) cultivation technology adopted in dairy cattle breeding, which were fed coarse feed from a common feeder. The differences in profitability obtained between the compared groups of calves amounted to 10.2 abs.% and turned out to be in favor of the experimental group individuals, which confirms the effectiveness of the implemented solutions in the practice of raising calves.

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“…Increasing efficiency in livestock production is needed to ensure that enough food can be produced to meet the demands of a growing population, help reduce the environmental impact, and ensure that food is available and affordable [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]. Precision livestock farming (PLF) has the potential to increase efficiency in livestock production by providing farmers with the tools they need to make data-driven decisions and optimise their management practices.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Literature Review on Technological Applications to Monitor and Evaluate Calves’ Health and Welfare

Silva

Conceição

Pereira

et al. 2023

Animals

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Precision livestock farming (PLF) research is rapidly increasing and has improved farmers’ quality of life, animal welfare, and production efficiency. PLF research in dairy calves is still relatively recent but has grown in the last few years. Automatic milk feeding systems (AMFS) and 3D accelerometers have been the most extensively used technologies in dairy calves. However, other technologies have been emerging in dairy calves’ research, such as infrared thermography (IRT), 3D cameras, ruminal bolus, and sound analysis systems, which have not been properly validated and reviewed in the scientific literature. Thus, with this review, we aimed to analyse the state-of-the-art of technological applications in calves, focusing on dairy calves. Most of the research is focused on technology to detect and predict calves’ health problems and monitor pain indicators. Feeding and lying behaviours have sometimes been associated with health and welfare levels. However, a consensus opinion is still unclear since other factors, such as milk allowance, can affect these behaviours differently. Research that employed a multi-technology approach showed better results than research focusing on only a single technique. Integrating and automating different technologies with machine learning algorithms can offer more scientific knowledge and potentially help the farmers improve calves’ health, performance, and welfare, if commercial applications are available, which, from the authors’ knowledge, are not at the moment.

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Precision Livestock Farming (PLF) Systems: Improving Sustainability and Efficiency of Animal Production

Cited by 4 publications

References 355 publications

The impacts of precision livestock farming tools on the greenhouse gas emissions of an average Scottish dairy farm

The impacts of precision livestock farming tools on the greenhouse gas emissions of an average Scottish dairy farm

Modernization of calf rearing technology elements in cattle breeding

Literature Review on Technological Applications to Monitor and Evaluate Calves’ Health and Welfare

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