Review: Grass-based dairy systems, data and precision technologies

Abstract

Precision technologies and data have had relatively modest impacts in grass-based livestock ruminant production systems compared with other agricultural sectors such as arable. Precision technologies promise increased efficiency, reduced environmental impact, improved animal health, welfare and product quality. The benefits of precision technologies have, however, been relatively slow to be realised on pasture based farms. Though there is significant overlap with indoor systems, implementing technology in grass-based dairying brings unique opportunities and challenges. The large areas animals roam and graze in pasture based systems and the associated connectivity challenges may, in part at least, explain the comparatively lower adoption of such technologies in pasture based systems. With the exception of sensor and Bluetooth-enabled plate metres, there are thus few technologies designed specifically to increase pasture utilisation. Terrestrial and satellite-based spectral analysis of pasture biomass and quality is still in the development phase. One of the key drivers of efficiency in pasture based systems has thus only been marginally impacted by precision technologies. In contrast, technological development in the area of fertility and heat detection has been significant and offers significant potential value to dairy farmers, including those in pasture based systems. A past review of sensors in health management for dairy farms concluded that although the collection of accurate data was generally achieved, the processing, integration and presentation of the resulting information and decision-support applications were inadequate. These technologies' value to farming systems is thus unclear. As a result, it is not certain that farm management is being sufficiently improved to justify widespread adoption of precision technologies currently. We argue for a user need-driven development of technologies and for a focus on how outputs arising from precision technologies and associated decision support applications are delivered to users to maximise their value. Further cost/benefit analysis is required to determine the efficacy of investing in specific precision technologies, potentially taking account of several yet to ascertained farm specific variables.

Developing an approach to assess farmer perceptions of the value of pasture assessment technologies

“…Pasture‐based livestock systems are increasingly viewed as having benefits for animals and the environment, while providing farmers with a low‐cost feed (Hanrahan et al., 2017; Schaak & Musshoff, 2018; Shalloo et al., 2018). Studies have also shown the link between improved grazing management performance and overall farm business performance (Fariña & Chilibroste, 2019; Hanrahan et al., 2018; Neal & Roche, 2020).…”

“…In the past decade there has been an increased focus on the development and use of “precision” technologies in agriculture, where data are collected by sensors at a fine temporal and spatial resolution (Rojo‐Gimeno et al., 2019). Despite generally low adoption of precision technologies for pasture measurement (Shalloo et al., 2018), there has been significant ongoing research and development of such tools. These include satellite‐based methods (Eastwood et al., 2017), near‐earth sensors (Bell et al., 2018; Pullanagari et al., 2013; Schaefer & Lamb, 2016; Trotter et al., 2010), and animal‐based sensors (Greenwood et al., 2014).…”

A Vision for Development and Utilization of High-Throughput Phenotyping and Big Data Analytics in Livestock

“…Notable examples include the ability to detect animal health problems requiring human intervention (e.g., lameness in cattle), monitor animal behavior to evaluate the function of feeding systems that impact health of broiler chickens, and the use of sounds to detect illness (Berckmans, 2017). Digital agriculture and PLF have been touted as a means to improve precision of breeding, feeding, and management of animals and plants in a way that will improve sustainability and reduce the environmental footprint associated with agriculture (Weersink et al, 2018). Efforts in Europe to advance PLF technologies and applications have largely been more advanced than those in the United States.…”

“…There is a growing literature on precision agriculture, which often overlaps with many big data concepts (e.g., Wolfert et al, 2017;Morota et al, 2018;Weersink et al, 2018). The goal of precision agriculture is to use detailed, frequently collected observations on individual animals to make appropriate management decisions.…”

Herbivore nutrition supporting sustainable intensification and agro-ecological approaches

“…González et al (2018) reviewed sensor and information technologies that allow monitoring of nutritional processes in individual animals, and discussed the challenges to integrate the increasing amount of data and computation of simulation models. Shalloo et al (2018) argued for a user need-driven development of precision technologies. They reviewed the opportunities and challenges to implement precision technologies for an improved economical return in grass-based dairy systems.…”