Precision Livestock farming

Question 1

1. What is the meaning behind C I T D for a living organism?

Answer 1

• Complex, Individual (high intervariability), Time-varying (high intravariability), dynamic

Question 2

2. Describe in key word one PLF application of your choice. How far does C I T D influence this application? (Chance or challenge)

Answer 2

• cow toilet. Chance. Complex and uncontrolled urination can be controlled by stimulating automatically special nerves.
• AMS (automatic milking system)
  milking robot milks cows automatically –> decreased workload
  milking is no longer time-of-day demanding (time varying)
  continous data aquistition during milking process (complex data, milk flow, also quality)
  
  • Every different udder shape (“individual”) but shape and position of teats is stored and known by the robot

Question 3

3. What is your opinion? Can digital agriculture contribute to sustainable agriculture? (short statement, appr. 5 sentences)

Answer 3

Yes it can contribute to a sustainable agriculture. Through examples like the cow toilet, urine can be separated from other manure, therefore less ammonia is formed. This is helping keeping GHG down in livestock production systems. Another advantage comes from the productivity data from cows. Higher productivity, lower emissions and therefore control of that aspect can help reducing GHG. Transponder
- increase of productivity and lowers production cost
- inhibits soil degradation
- Efficient use of resources