Precision Livestock Farming (PLF) technology is a reality. PLF is a combination of developing animal sensing (sensors) tools and decision-making process at the farm level. It also has the potential to support animal feed suppliers, human-food retailers and other players along the supply chain to make better choices. The current challenge for PLF is the integration of the technology in the majority of the farms and not only to the pioneering farms. This book consist of full-length peer-reviewed papers combined with 'questions and answers' sections. It is the result of a joint session hosted by the European Association of Animal Production and brings together research focusing on real-time interpretation of the combination of sensor development, industry, animal genetics, animal nutrition, and animal health. Unique of this 'cross-disciplinary' approach is that 'animal-focused' scientists, engineers, companies as well as farmers' organizations have interacted and combined their strengths and views. 'Precision Livestock Farming Applications - Making sense of sensors to support farm management' provides an update on the state of the art of PLF in interaction with the other scientific and applicative expertise. It is of interest for researchers, students, professionals, farmers, and livestock industry concerned with livestock production management.

This book features influential scholarly research and technical contributions, professional trajectories, disciplinary shifts, personal insights, and a combination of these from a group of remarkable women scholars within precision agriculture. The authors provide a holistic and critical overview of the field of precision agriculture (both crop and livestock), highlighting breakthroughs and impactful research led by women investigators including relevant technologies, decision making strategies, practices, applications, economics, opportunities and challenges. They discuss the urgent need for reduced cost, increased productivity, more optimal use of resources, and reduced impact on our environment. The leading female researchers contributing to this book are creating new technological advances that are revolutionizing agriculture. Focuses on advances in precision agriculture led by leading women researchers, scholars, and professionals; Provides insight into women’s technical contributions in precision agriculture; Takes a holistic approach to precision agriculture, addressing both land and livestock applications.

With the growing popularity and availability of precision equipment, farmers and producers have access to more data than ever before. With proper implementation, precision agriculture management can improve profitability and sustainability of production. Precision Agriculture Basics is geared at students, crop consultants, farmers, extension workers, and practitioners that are interested in practical applications of site-specific agricultural management. Using a multidisciplinary approach, readers are taught to make data-driven on-farm decisions using the most current knowledge and tools in crop science, agricultural engineering, and geostatistics. Precision Agriculture Basics also features a stunning video glossary including interviews with agronomists on the job and in the field.

For nearly a century, scientific advances have fueled progress in U.S. agriculture to enable American producers to deliver safe and abundant food domestically and provide a trade surplus in bulk and high-value agricultural commodities and foods. Today, the U.S. food and agricultural enterprise faces formidable challenges that will test its long-term sustainability, competitiveness, and resilience. On its current path, future productivity in the U.S. agricultural system is likely to come with trade-offs. The success of agriculture is tied to natural systems, and these systems are showing signs of stress, even more so with the change in climate. More than a third of the food produced is unconsumed, an unacceptable loss of food and nutrients at a time of heightened global food demand. Increased food animal production to meet greater demand will generate more greenhouse gas emissions and excess animal waste. The U.S. food supply is generally secure, but is not immune to the costly and deadly shocks of continuing outbreaks of food-borne illness or to the constant threat of pests and pathogens to crops, livestock, and poultry. U.S. farmers and producers are at the front lines and will need more tools to manage the pressures they face. Science Breakthroughs to Advance Food and Agricultural Research by 2030 identifies innovative, emerging scientific advances for making the U.S. food and agricultural system more efficient, resilient, and sustainable. This report explores the availability of relatively new scientific developments across all disciplines that could accelerate progress toward these goals. It identifies the most promising scientific breakthroughs that could have the greatest positive impact on food and agriculture, and that are possible to achieve in the next decade (by 2030).

The agricultural industry is dealing with enormous challenges across the globe, including the limited availability of arable lands and fresh water, as well as the effect of climate change. Machinery plays a crucial role in agriculture and farming systems, in order to feed the world’s growing population. In the last decade, we have witnessed major advances in agricultural machinery and technologies, particularly as manufacturers and researchers develop and apply various novel ways of automation as well as the data and information gathering and analyzing capabilities of their machinery. This book presents the state-of-the-art information on the important innovations in the agricultural and horticultural industry. It reviews and presents different novel technologies and implementation of these technologies to optimize farming processes and food production. There are four sections, each addressing a specific area of development. Section I discusses the recent development of farm machinery and technology. Section II focuses on water and irrigation engineering. Section III covers harvesting and post-harvest technology. Section IV describes computer modelling and simulation. Each section highlights current industry trends and latest research progress. This book is ideal for those working in or are associated with the fields of agriculture, agri-food chain and technology development and promotion.

Given the central role of the food and agriculture system in driving so many of the connected ecological, social and economic threats and challenges we currently face, Rethinking Food and Agriculture reviews, reassesses and reimagines the current food and agriculture system and the narrow paradigm in which it operates. Rethinking Food and Agriculture explores and uncovers some of the key historical, ethical, economic, social, cultural, political, and structural drivers and root causes of unsustainability, degradation of the agricultural environment, destruction of nature, short-comings in science and knowledge systems, inequality, hunger and food insecurity, and disharmony. It reviews efforts towards 'sustainable development', and reassesses whether these efforts have been implemented with adequate responsibility, acceptable societal and environmental costs and optimal engagement to secure sustainability, equity and justice. The book highlights the many ways that farmers and their communities, civil society groups, social movements, development experts, scientists and others have been raising awareness of these issues, implementing solutions and forging 'new ways forward', for example towards paradigms of agriculture, natural resource management and human nutrition which are more sustainable and just. Rethinking Food and Agriculture proposes ways to move beyond the current limited view of agro-ecological sustainability towards overall sustainability of the food and agriculture system based on the principle of 'inclusive responsibility'. Inclusive responsibility encourages ecosystem sustainability based on agro-ecological and planetary limits to sustainable resource use for production and livelihoods. Inclusive responsibility also places importance on quality of life, pluralism, equity and justice for all and emphasises the health, well-being, sovereignty, dignity and rights of producers, consumers and other stakeholders, as well as of nonhuman animals and the natural world. - Explores some of the key drivers and root causes of unsustainability , degradation of the agricultural environment and destruction of nature - Highlights the many ways that different stakeholders have been forging 'new ways forward' towards alternative paradigms of agriculture, human nutrition and political economy, which are more sustainable and just - Proposes ways to move beyong the current unsustainable exploitation of natural resources towards agroecological sustainability and overall sustainability of the food and agriculture system based on 'inclusive responsibility'

Also available as E-book see precision-technology-sensor-applications-for-livestock-farming-companion-animals For more information about the e-book, please contact Sales. Are you a student from an animal science or biology background who wants to work with data and technology, or are you from a business, technology or IT background and venturing into the animal sector? This book will guide you into the exciting cross-over field of data science and animal husbandry. After introducing you to the facts and figures of the main animal sectors, you will be inspired by a truckload of sensor applications for animals, from activity collars to rumen boluses, and from facial recognition to virtual fencing. There are not many study books available that contain information on precision technology and animal knowledge, but this book combines these knowledge areas. In separate chapters, the focus is on dairy cows, pigs, poultry, beef and sheep, horses and companion animals, and the sensor applications for these animals. The main trends and concerns in each animal sector are described, as drivers of the technology. Background knowledge on sensors and an introduction to data science techniques with examples of applications in livestock and companion animals make this book a complete and practical guide to the field of precision technology and sensors in the animal sectors."

Disturbances in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract caused by internal and external influences can cause large economic losses in both the pig and poultry industries. Traditionally, diseases and conditions of the GI tract that can cause losses have been controlled by antimicrobial compounds administered in the feed and (or) water, such as antibiotics, coccidiostats, zootechnical feed additives and trace elements such as zinc and copper. However, legislation and rulings in various parts of the world coupled with a growing sentiment to reduce the use of these compounds in the intensive livestock industries have caused a reassessment of measures to influence GI tract structure and function ('gut health'), and have caused unparalleled interest in alternative strategies (genetic, dietary, management, environmental) to effectively manage the GI tract under conditions of external and internal challenge. Despite the wide array of products and strategies available to the pig and poultry industries that influence 'gut health', a term in itself that is often misunderstood and misinterpreted, it is important that the industries continue to investigate and understand the underpinning sciences that influence GI tract structure and function, especially at critical life stages. Ultimately, the cost-benefit of adopting such practices to influence 'gut health' requires consideration.