Everyone knows what “farm-to-table” means, even if they’ve never really tried it. Indulging in a leisurely brunch on a gorgeous Saturday morning with mimosas in hand might obscure the labor-intensive process that goes into the preparation of our favorite dishes.
Concerns that farmers face today include the need for better infrastructure and communication, as well as the rise in demand for animal proteins, food spoilage, and sickness. AgTech is no exception to the current wave of technological upheaval that is sweeping the globe. As a means of reconnecting with our roots and learning from those at the forefront of the industry, we set out on a journey.
It’s difficult to dispute that the traditional cattle industry is one of the most vital, but also one of the least well-served. On a daily basis, we rely greatly on the renewable, natural resources offered by animals. Why is it so difficult for this industry to adopt new technologies? Of course, the basic solution is money.
There is a lot of variation in the profitability of the cattle business, so it isn’t always a suitable investment option. If less money is invested, there will be fewer technical adoptions.
Major Challenges Faced by Animal Agtech
Reinvigorating animal agriculture research is critical to long-term solutions for world hunger. Animal agriculture’s contribution to the global food supply is expected to roughly treble by the year 2050, according to current projections.
The expected growth in the global population from 7.2 billion to between 9 billion and 10 billion people in 2050 is partly responsible for the rise in demand. As the world’s population grows, so does the need for land, water, and energy for livestock and grain farming.
Due to rising urbanization and incomes in emerging nations, it is expected that the per capita consumption of animal meat would increase significantly throughout this time.
Climate change and animal disease transmission provide additional hurdles to satisfying the need for animal agriculture in 2050 in light of global environmental issues, such as global warming.
Even in a stable environment, animal agriculture research would face considerable challenges in helping to right the existing unfair distribution of animal calories and the need to incorporate social science research to better understand and adapt to changing customer preferences.
A thriving animal research economy will also be essential to addressing possible risks to animal agriculture in a way that maintains global food security.
Some of the challenges that animal agtech is facing are:
- Due to population expansion, the need for animal protein has increased.
- Increasing global affluence
- Increased consumption of animal protein per person
- The global environmental change affects:
- Climate
- Ecologies
- Sources of protein derived from animals
- Water and land shortage
- Changes in consumer preferences
- The public’s worries regarding animal agricultural methods have led to changes in national and international regulations.
- Role of trade restrictions and other governmental measures on animal agriculture in various parts of the globe
- Health issues, such as new infectious illnesses and foodborne infections
- Due to a lack of funds for further studies,
Advanced Technology and Animal Farming
According to conventional wisdom, livestock management encompasses all agribusinesses whose primary focus is on raising and selling animals. Livestock must be fed and cared for correctly by livestock managers, while financial records must also be kept in accordance with regulations.
Despite this, recent discoveries reveal that livestock management is being revolutionized by the use of modern technologies.
As technology has improved over the last eight to ten years, agricultural data collection and management have become more efficient. Examples of this technology include genetics, nutrition, digital technology, and more.
Farmers can now keep track of infectious illnesses in their herds digitally, which has improved feed availability and allowed them to better treat sick animals. Farmers have also been able to enhance the health of dairy cows as a result of this technique.
Thanks to this new technology, farmers can keep an eye on their cattle for any signs of sickness. For example, keep an eye out for breathing issues. Pregnancy in dairy cows may also be detected by temperature changes in the animals’ bodies. Additionally, faces are used to check the health of chickens (undergoes molecular analysis).
In contrast, traditional approaches to livestock management are laden with perils. It’s tough to keep an eye on farm animals in congested facilities for symptoms of illness or damage, for example. Under these conditions, farmers will have a difficult time checking the health and well-being of their livestock.
Climate change has exacerbated animal health issues. As a result, the need for real-time, accurate technologies for detecting sickness and determining its mechanism of transmission is important to make better decisions. When using data-driven livestock farming, the ultimate aim is to maximize animal productivity while minimizing production costs.
Use of Sensors, Big Data, and Machine Learning in Livestock Farming
The use of AgTech in livestock production would enable consistent daily monitoring of farm animal health and well-being. Biometric sensors, big data, and machine learning may be used to identify animal health issues.
– Sensors
The physiological state of farm animals is monitored using biometric sensors. Data is collected by these sensors and saved in a database. A series of instructions are followed to execute the precise solution, and the data is then analyzed by algorithms. Farm animals’ behaviour is likewise monitored using these sensors.
Biometric sensing allows farmers to collect animal data without the intervention of employees (monitor animals for health and welfare) (monitor animals for health and welfare). These sensors may collect physiological and behavioral data from the animals.
If there are any changes in the animal’s behavior, these sensors will alert the farmers and enable them to assess the animal for any illness.
Farmers would be able to react quickly and make choices in real-time if biometric sensors were installed on livestock.
The ability to identify and prevent disease at an early stage is one of the most important applications for biometric sensors.
Using biometric sensors on dairy cows may provide valuable insight into the health and well-being of the herd.
Milking behavior, mastitis, and other diseases of the udder may be detected by these sensors. They can also detect ketosis in cattle. Improving these conditions can increase production efficiency to its maximum potential.
– Big Data
The big data models in livestock farming give insights into the dietary requirements, reproductive status, and variations in physiology.
This information is gathered via sensors and processed before being presented to the animals in a way that might infect them with the disease.
Even phenotypic and environmental data may be included in these models’ calculations. Livestock producers benefit from the use of big data models via increased output. For example, it may aid in the fields of food and illness detection, reproduction, and genetics.
– Machine Learning
Statistical forecasts are now possible thanks to machine learning algorithms. Machine learning algorithms can predict the phenotype in cattle based on genetics. These methods might be used to identify and predict maternal health issues, including mastitis and cystic ovarian disease.
Critical failures may be avoided if these technologies are used. Farmers would be able to better manage their resources if they used fewer medicines and antibiotics. Animal illness outbreaks may be successfully predicted using biometric sensors, big data, and machine learning algorithms. Thanks to these predictive algorithms, farm animal productivity may be enhanced without wasting any resources.
The ‘Connected Farmer’ platform from Dimitra Technology links farmers and claims to boost agricultural and animal productivity. On this platform, smart agricultural solutions are offered in order to improve food safety and security. Farmers may use it for a number of different applications to improve the efficiency of their operations.
How Did Folio3 Help Superior Farms, and How it Can Help your Business?
Superior Farms’ manual procedures became more difficult to manage as the company expanded. Managing, tracking, and maintaining paper-based records became more complex. The customer was able to get rid of the paper-based operations with the digital solution, thanks to Folio3.
In addition to saving time, the digital transition also resolved challenges with data quality and transparency. Their location, quality, and compliance with USDA rules were digitized as part of the solution.
If you want to grow your livestock business, then Folio3 Agtech is your best bet. Whether you’re a farm or ranch owner, animal caregiver, feed yard operator, or animal care professional, Folio3’s deep understanding of the AgTech business and skill in designing industry specific software solutions will help you enhance and simplify your processes and practices. By combining all of your assets, operations, and personnel into a single system, they offer software that streamlines your maintenance processes and provides a rapid return on investment.
