The Role of Modern Technologies in Dairy Farm Development and Economic Benefits

Abstract

The demand for milk and milk products in Georgia is increasing every year. Accordingly, local production and imports are increasing. According to the 2021 data of the National Statistics Office of Georgia, the coefficient of self-sufficiency in the last 4 years is at the same denominator - 81%. In 2021, compared to the previous year, the number of imported products decreased, domestic production increased, but despite this, the number of exported products almost halved. [1] Unlike fresh milk, milk powder is not produced in Georgia at all, and the amount of imported product is quite large, due to the fact that the necessary amount of fresh milk is not obtained in the country. For example, according to the data of 2019, the total value of imported milk powder in Georgia amounted to 17.7 million US dollars. The average milk yield (liters per year) of cows and buffalos is low in Georgia compared to other countries. According to the data of 2021, the figure was 1589 liters, while in the same year the figure in Israel was 12025 liters. [2] One of the secrets of Israel's success is technological innovation. From the above-mentioned facts, it can be seen that the field of production of milk and milk products in Georgia needs to be developed. At the first stage, it is important to increase the amount of product to the level that the self-sufficiency ratio exceeds 81% and approaches the maximum. This will reduce the amount paid in imported products. The second stage will be to increase the production of export products. This article discusses the new technologies that are used to create Smart dairy farming (SDF) - a concept that can meet the increased demand for quality dairy products. In this type of farms, the Internet of Things (IOT - a network of physical objects, where things are connected to each other with sensors, software and other technologies in order to connect various devices and systems and exchange data with the help of the Internet) and data-oriented techniques are used. These technologies create a great opportunity for smart dairy farms to establish precisely and correctly selected care principles, improve the physical condition of the animal and ultimately increase the amount of milk obtained. Keywords: Smart dairy farming, IOT, milk products.