Livestock Monitoring Market: Why is It Important?

In order to achieve an optimal operation while successfully managing an animal farm, farmers need to incorporate the latest technology. It can help them in improving productivity while reducing labor costs and energy. Today, manual work can be extremely decreased or even eliminated with the help of various machines and technology. That includes monitoring the livestock.

Many farmers and farming companies increasingly recognize the importance of integrating technology in monitoring their livestock. This has driven the expansion of the livestock monitoring market across the globe. According to a prominent research firm, GMI Research, the livestock monitoring market size reached USD 1,450 million in 2021 and would achieve USD 3,415 million in 2029. This rapid growth is owing to the increasing adoption of Artificial Intelligence and IoT as well as the rising awareness of livestock monitoring benefits including to detect disease.

The Features

Livestock monitoring technologies can include several beneficial features.

1.    Real-time health monitoring and alerts 24/7

As its name suggests, this technology can provide real-time monitoring around the clock including health monitoring as well as tracking their location. It can also give alerts for particular conditions which allows effective and swift response in case of any health issues or other emergency situations.

2.    Early illness prevention

This technology can also identify any concerning situation in a quick manner. That includes any signs of illness, diseases, or lameness. It works by analyzing animal’s pattern when laying, standing, walking, or resting. By identifying the signs of illness, farmers can make quick responses to prevent the illness from becoming worse and avoid it becoming an outbreak in the farm which can be contagious to other animals.

3.    Detect heat

This device can also help in detecting heat which can streamline the animal’s reproduction process. Detecting heat can help in identifying which animal is in their optimal condition to reproduce and can eliminate time and energy to assuming the most appropriate time for animal breeding.

4.    Track asset

By utilizing this technology, farmers can also track their assets in real-time. That includes not only the animals, but also supplies and equipment. With the help of this feature, farmers can identify any inefficient resource distribution while reducing time and energy to find assets when it is necessary.

5.    Geofencing 

Geofencing allows farmers to quickly find out the time the animals enter a space or when they leave it. It can also provide information regarding when they take a long time to dwell. In addition, it can also provide alerts according to the interaction between the animals and the geofenced zone. For example, when the animal is present in an area where it is not supposed to be.

Why is It Important?

With all those features, livestock monitoring can provide countless benefits for the farmers during their farming operations.

1.    Improving risk management

Farmers cannot always keep an eye on their animals 24 hours and 7 days, as they also have a life and a lot of things to do. In this case, livestock monitoring can take over the tasks by monitoring the animals all the time. It will give alerts in case of dangers or any certain conditions. That includes diseases, changing climate, animal stress, and other situations.

2.    Enhanced growth

As this technology can improve productivity and prevent loss, farmers can ensure a higher growth in terms of production output and profitability.

3.    Detailed records for each individual

When there are large numbers of animals, farmers might find difficulties in tracking them one by one manually. Therefore, this technology can help in providing detailed and accurate records for each animal, including their gender, weight, nutrition, among others. This can involve sensors and data analysis where farmers can access the important details regarding their animal’s information in an instant.

4.    Feed management

This technology can help farmers in making schedules for animals’ feeding time including alarms to be a reminder. In addition, it can also monitor the pattern of the animal’s feeding, including the amount of food consumed by each animal individually. This way, farmers can make calculations regarding the food amount and cost for better expense management.

5.    Tracking events

This monitoring technology can also contribute to tracking important events. That includes the birth and death, breeding procedures, medical care, among others. By tracking and recording this important data, farmers can make accurate calculations for better and informed decisions.

6.    Improved planning and controlling

By knowing all the necessary information all the time, farmers have the opportunities to improve their planning and controlling system during the operations while making the right decisions. This way, the farm business can reach its maximum potential and give the best output.

Despite the many benefits that this technology offers, a high initial investment and expensive operational costs can be challenges in the development of livestock monitoring market. In addition, farmers need to have proper knowledge to operate this technology, which can be difficult especially in the rural areas.