Abstract
Diversity of production systems and specific socio-economic barriers are key reasons explaining why the implementation of new technologies in small ruminants, despite being needed and beneficial for farmers, is harder than in other livestock species. There are, however, helpful peculiarities where small ruminants are concerned: the compulsory use of electronic identification created a unique scenario in Europe in which all small ruminant breeding stock became searchable by appropriate sensing solutions, and the largest small ruminant population in the world is located in Asia, close to the areas producing new technologies. Notwithstanding, only a few research initiatives and literature reviews have addressed the development of new technologies in small ruminants. This Research Reflection focuses on small ruminants (with emphasis on dairy goats and sheep) and reviews in a non-exhaustive way the basic concepts, the currently available sensor solutions and the structure and elements needed for the implementation of sensor-based husbandry decision support. Finally, some examples of results obtained using several sensor solutions adapted from large animals or newly developed for small ruminants are discussed. Significant room for improvement is recognized and a large number of multiple-sensor solutions are expected to be developed in the relatively near future.
Highlights
Small ruminant farms are numerous and very diverse as a result of their differences in geographic and socioeconomic conditions (Pulina et al, 2018)
The trend is for traditional small ruminant farms to become more specialized, moving either towards more extensive or intensive production systems
According to the specific scenario and barriers previously described, this Research Reflection reviews the basic concepts as well as many of the currently available sensor solutions, and describes the structure and elements needed for the implementation of Precision Livestock Farming (PLF) systems in small ruminant farms
Summary
Small ruminant farms are numerous and very diverse (sheep or goat, local breeds, different production purposes and degrees of intensification) as a result of their differences in geographic and socioeconomic conditions (Pulina et al, 2018). These small ruminants are located close to the industrial areas where the new technologies are produced at low prices, which should facilitate the implementation of PLF systems adapted to their local requirements. The main economic driver for PLF systems in dairy cattle has been oestrus detection, which is not such a high priority for small ruminant farmers.
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