Precision Management for Grazinglands

Because of the growing field labor shortage worldwide, the use of technology to manage animal production systems and increase production efficiency has become essential. This is especially true in grazing systems where large-scale monitoring and management are challenging. 

Researchers from the University of Florida and Universidade Federal de Viçosa in Brazil have written a comprehensive review of the main technologies available or under development to assist producers in managing grasslands. The review also addresses the main challenges researchers and extension officers will face in coming years. Increasingly, satellites, drones, and remote-sensing techniques are being integrated with machine learning and other technologies, such as wearable sensors, cloud computing, and the Internet of Things. These technologies are useful for management practices such as stocking-rate adjustment, grazing management, nutritive value estimations, fertilizer application, weed management, botanical composition evaluations, and degradation monitoring. 

Precision farming can make livestock production more efficient and sustainable. However, to increase adoption of these new technologies, more collaboration is needed among farmers and professionals in data science, artificial intelligence, agronomy, and animal sciences. This cooperation can advance software and app development to boost on-farm implementation.