Integrating innovative TECHnologies along the value Chain to improve small ruminant welfARE management

4th series National Workshops

4th series of TechCare National Workshops (NWs)
Topic: Assessment of pilot trials of Precision Livestock Farming (PLF) tools for small ruminants
When: 11/2023 till 06/2024
Where: 8 countries (France, Greece, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Norway, Spain, UK)
No. Participants: 159
NWs Summary: A common list of materials was prepared for the 4th series of NWs comprising the workshop invitation together with a consent form for the participants, the workshop agenda, a survey concerning the perspectives of stakeholders on the Precision Livestock Farming technology, a short presentation of the main key points, aims and objectives of TechCare project and a series of videos that outline the use and the results of pilot testing the following PLF tools: Individual milk meters, weather stations, RFID tags and readers, milk tank scales and weight crates. The stakeholders provided their feedback on the usefulness of each PLF tool and the importance of the obtained results from the pilot trials. Moreover, the stakeholders had the chance to ask and discuss potential issues that would face during the application of the PLF tools in their own farms. Finally, the stakeholders were asked to comment on whether they would be eager to try the aforementioned PLF tools in Large Scale studies.
Main Outcomes: The 4th series of NWs highlighted a strong interest among stakeholders in utilizing technology to enhance animal welfare and farm efficiency. In France, farmers showed keen interest in weight monitoring solutions. Similarly, stakeholders in Greece recognized the utility of weight crates for both sheep and goats, emphasizing the correlation between weight and health. They also mentioned that analog volumetric milk meters are considered more reliable than electronic milk meters, which have a lot of problems. In Ireland, participants pointed out that regular weighing is essential for identifying health issues, particularly in lambs, while also advocating for simpler weighing systems that integrate with existing setups. The discussions across all countries underscored a common theme: while there is enthusiasm for PLF tools, practical concerns such as accessibility, cost, and the need for user-friendly systems remain prominent. In Italy, stakeholders recognized the value of milk meters when paired with other sensors but noted the challenges posed by expensive weight cranes requiring farmers training. Spanish participants highlighted the importance of integrating weather stations with other tools to detect welfare issues, while British stakeholders called for clearer metrics to validate the utility of meteorological data in sheep farming. Across all discussions, the necessity for technical support in data management and interpretation was frequently mentioned, as well as concerns regarding the compatibility of new technologies with existing systems.

Copyright pictures NIBIO, UAB, ELGO-DIMITRA, AGRIS