The animal-based food products derived from livestock farming are a significant contributor to global food security. Although to ensure food security, agricultural production has significantly increased along with the global population. Still, there is a jarring gap in equal food distribution across the world.
To overcome food insecurity among the global population, an efficient food management system is also crucial to maintain an optimal production of food. Similarly, livestock monitoring, and management is a prominent part aspect of agricultural practices.
In developing nations, the contribution of livestock farming goes beyond food production. It serves various purposes, such as animal skin, fertilizer, and fuel, as well as animal-based nutritional value. Livestock is also linked to the social and cultural heritage of millions of poor farmers for whom livestock ownership ensures a degree of economic stability.
On the other hand, the global food economy is progressively shifting toward the change in the food consumption patterns toward animal-based products. The demand for animal protein is surging rapidly. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) statistics, the trend is likely to continue in upcoming years. Emerging nations such as China, India, Brazil, Argentina, and Indonesia are observing a massive growth in livestock product consumption.
Moreover, technological advancements such as the Internet of Things (IoT), automated dairy installations, pasture and feeding technologies, herd management systems, and automated cleaning systems aid in enhancing the proficiency in livestock monitoring and management and turn, increasing the production of animal-based food products.
According to the BIS Research market report, the global livestock monitoring & management market is expected to grow significantly due to the substantial support of the government in terms of investments, favorable initiatives, and trade policies.
Modern Technologies Enhancing the Livestock Monitoring and Management System
1. IoT in livestock monitoring- The IoT-enabled livestock management provides data solutions on various aspects of cattle health. Tools such as a wearable collar or tag with sensors to monitor the location, temperature, blood pressure, and heart rate of animals enable real-time tracking of cattle health. The tracker device is small, and light-weighted and does not feel heavy on an animal’s body. The technology is designed to keep track of livestock behavior, which helps the farmers to take better care of the animals.
Moreover, with the help of mobile applications associated with IoT devices, farmers are able to create virtual boundaries to secure locations where livestock can move freely with complete safety. The tracker sends a notification to the mobile application if the livestock wanders beyond the fences. It can also notify the farmers if the livestock consumes something toxic. Adaption of IoT in livestock farming has made the process of health monitoring of thousands of cattle on the livestock farm much easier for the farmers.
2. Advanced herd management- As some strict animal safety regulations have been implied upon livestock farms, operators are adopting advanced technologies to safely monitor and control the activities of cattle. The traditional use of harnesses and controlling methods on animals potentially affected the animal’s life expectancy and reduced their food production capability. Therefore, cattle owners prefer non-intrusive solutions.
An advanced herd management system allows farmers to maintain the well-being of the animals. It is a less invasive method for keeping track of animals and eliminates the need for branding/tagging. Herd management is also ensuring the adoption of best practices while taking care of the large herds, such as safe and healthy pregnancies of cattle. Technologically advanced herd management systems are one of the easiest and most cost-effective techniques to ensure animal safety.
3. Pasture and feeding technologies- For optimal production of animal-based food products, it is essential to meet certain nutritional requirements for the animals while taking care of the overfeeding issues. The automated feeders play a crucial role in maintaining an animal’s health and well-being. With automated feeder systems, an appropriate amount of nutritional feed can be provided to cows, swine, and other animals by catering specifically to the animal’s needs. Moreover, pasture monitoring technologies also help farmers identify how much extra feed will be needed based on the available feed in the pastures.
4. Automated cleaning system- Hygiene and cleanliness is crucial to maintain the health of the animals as well as for the safe production of food. An automated cleaning system helps remove dirt and waste from animal enclosures and move it to a pile that can then be easily moved using machinery. Removing waste helps reduce the risk of diseases and maintains a clean environment on the farm.
5. Automated dairy Installations- Milk is one of the most prominent animal products. The advanced automated dairy systems enable cows to be milked on their own time. This significantly reduces stress on cows, as it doesn’t have to uncomfortably hold milk while waiting for milking time. Milk monitoring sensors can also help monitor the milk quality, as well as keep track of potential diseases, such as mastitis.
Conclusion
The advanced technologies are enabling sustainable and efficient livestock farming that can cater to a large global population while taking care of the animals. Moreover, extensive R&D activities and large investments are being made to ensure the development of these technologies. Various government and private research institutes and favorable trade policies are putting in substantial efforts to identify the benefits of these advanced livestock monitoring and management solutions for augmenting global food production. The need for sophisticated livestock farming techniques is necessary to bridge the demand and supply gap along with attaining sustainability in the production.
