Application of Information and Electronic Technology for Best Practice Management in Livestock Production System

Abstract

The demand of food, either plant or animal origin, is rising with the increase of human population. Due to limitation of land, water, and other natural resources, farming by manual processes may face challenges in near future. It is thus the need of the hour to find alternatives that will help to accomplish greater productivity and return in farming. Through the fourth industrial revolution, we are already in the age of digital technologies and computers and high-speed internet; tab and smart phone are now the most common modern technologies. Several advanced technologies such as computer programming, Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs), Internet of Things (IoT), Wireless Sensor Networks (WSN), cloud computing, big data analysis, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), Drone technology, and Robotics have already transformed our everyday life with greater gains and efficiencies. These technologies have already reached real farms from research labs. The livestock farm industry is now the hotspot for the application of these advanced technologies to monitor farm animals in real-time basis, optimize food intake, predict diseases, and improve animal health. Digitalization has made possible shifting of agriculture from input-intensive to knowledge-intensive system. There are many digital technologies for smart and precision livestock farming. However, the question puts forward which digital technologies could presently be practiced in the management and operations of livestock farm. Of particular interest is to illustrate advanced digital technologies available for use rationally to achieve greater efficiencies in livestock farming and make livestock enterprise profitable.