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Precision Livestock Farming: Scientific Concepts and Commercial Reality |
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Thomas Banhazi, Daniel Berckmans, Paddy
Schofield, Heiner Lehr, Matthew Tscharke, Hugh Crabtree, Cheryl McCarthy and
John L Black, Precision
livestock farming - scientific concepts and commercial reality, Proceedings of the XVth International Congress
on Animal Hygiene (2011)
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Precision
Livestock Farming (PLF) is potentially one of the most powerful developments
amongst a number of interesting new and upcoming technologies that have the
potential to revolutionise the livestock farming industry. If properly
implemented, PLF or Smart Farming could (1) improve or at least objectively
document animal welfare on farms, (2) reduce GHG emission and improve
environmental performance of farms, (3) facilitate product segmentation and better
marketing of livestock products, (4) reduce illegal trading of livestock
products and (5) improve the economic stability of rural areas. However, there are only a few examples of
successful commercialisation of PLF technologies introduced by a small number
of commercial companies which are actively involved in the PLF
commercialisation process. To ensure
that the potential of PLF is taken to the industry, we need to: (1) establish a
new service industry, (2) verify, demonstrate and publicise the benefits of PLF,
(3) better coordinate the efforts of different industry and academic
organisations interested in the development and implementation of PLF
technologies on farms, and (4) encourage commercial sector to assist with professionally
managed product development.
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