Loading...
A review of precision technologies in pasture-based dairying systems
Citations
Altmetric:
Date
2021-02-02
Collections
Files
Loading...
main article
Adobe PDF, 221.46 KB
Research Projects
Organizational Units
Journal Issue
Citation
L. Shalloo, T. Byrne and L. Leso et al. A review of precision technologies in pasture-based dairying systems. Irish Journal of Agricultural and Food Research. 2021. Vol. 59(2):279-291. DOI: 10.15212/ijafr-2020-0119
Abstract
The promised benefits of precision technologies (PTs) include improved efficiency, quality, animal health and
welfare and reduced environmental impacts. To date, PTs (including sensors, algorithms, big data, decisionsupport
tools, etc.) have had a relatively modest impact in pasture-based dairying systems in comparison with
other agricultural sectors such as arable production. The areas animals roam and graze in pasture-based systems
and the associated connectivity challenges may, in part at least, explain the comparatively reduced use of PTs in
those systems. Thus, there are very few technologies designed specifically to increase pasture utilisation with
the exception of global positioning systems (GPS) and Bluetooth-enabled Plate Meters. Terrestrial and satellitebased
spectral analysis of pasture biomass and quality is still in the development phase. Therefore, one of the key
drivers of efficiency in pasture-based systems has only been marginally impacted by PTs. In contrast, technological
development in the area of fertility and heat detection has been important and offers significant potential value to
dairy farmers. In general PTs can be described as good at measurement, data collection and storage but fall down
around interpretation and providing useful outputs to end users. As a result, it is unclear if farm management is
being sufficiently improved to justify widespread adoption of PTs. A needs-driven development of PTs and decisionsupport
tools are required for the succesful integration within agriculture. Further cost/benefit analysis is also
required to determine the efficiency of investing in PTs and what, if any, factors affect the variation in the returns.