New Age Technologies & Dairy Industry : Empowering India’s Dairy Farmers
The dairy industry in India, a backbone of the agrarian economy, is undergoing a transformative phase with the integration of new age technologies. These technologies are empowering dairy farmers by enhancing efficiency, improving animal health, and streamlining operations.
Automated farming is revolutionizing modern Dairy farming , but is this a boon or bane on the society is a matter of concern. On the farm, technology is changing the way farmers manage farmland and farm animals – such as the use of satellite driven geo-positioning systems and sensors that detect health & manage the Dairy farm. This revolution continues to gain momentum at an increasing rate, with improvements throughout the processes of production, herd maintenance, shipping and distribution, as well as preservation and improvements made to the milk itself.
The technological revolution seen over the past few decades has re-evaluated and restructured pretty much every Industry, how each operates, and the tools each business uses to control their business, maximise production output, and grow effectively.
Introduction
The livestock population in India is about 536 million, of which about 300 million are milch cattle. Internet of things (IoT) and artificial intelligence (AI) can play a significant role in optimising the dairy sector and meet the increasing demand for quality products. The department of animal husbandry (DAHD) recently came out with an expression of interest (EOI) for innovative tech products services being developed or already provided by startups and private companies where the ask includes the use of IoT and drones in the dairy industry. New-age smart techniques using IoT devices could help farmers with increased milk production, advanced monitoring of cattle health, and anomaly detection, thereby streamlining the business and processes. Although smart dairy farming using IoT may be a costly affair; yet offers the promise of cost recovery with longer usage. IoT can help reduce environmental issues, optimise resource utilisation, and enhance animal health by using advanced sensing technologies and data analysis. A traceability system to properly enumerate and record animals’ needs can address many of our current and future needs in sectors like livestock insurance, buffalo meat export, artificial insemination and vaccination services, diseased animal tagging, etc. A robust biometric-based livestock identification and traceability system can address these needs. For better quality milk, cattle must reproduce one calf a year to maintain the lactation period. Normally, lactating cattle undergo heat every 21-28 days, but it is not easy to know this manually. The heat can stress the cattle, which affects milk production and causes reduction in the milk quality with lower fat, casein, lactose, and protein content. The AI-enabled ear tag could forewarn the farmer about the state of animal and scheduling artificial insemination.
Under the National Digital Livelihoods Mission, DAHD already has an ambitious programme to ensure the unique identification of animals that will become the foundation for all livestock programmes. The ongoing effort to tag major livestock species in the country with a unique identification number will enable farmers to maintain and share their digitally signed animal records, access services, trade animals, and sell their products.
The dairy industry in India works largely on procurement play. With an average of two cows each, dairy farmers have been the sole suppliers of milk to larger cooperatives and milk brands. In fact, most of the large brands we see are only processors and not producers of milk themselves. With businesses now setting up their own large-scale farms and owning cattle to become producers, the industry as a whole is going through major changes. By adopting the role of both supplier and producers, they are gaining an edge as they have complete control over the milk production, quality, and efficiency. Since these boutique farms already have the cattle and the capital, the only thing required to make it a profitable business is the implementation of technology. It is amply clear that the demand already exists. There are certain aspects of farm management which if handled through technology can reduce costs and make operations efficient. A few of them are:
The Health of the Cattle
Getting a high yield from cattle depends entirely on their health. While tracking the health of a larger number of cattle at a farm can get tough, there are trackers in the market that work the way smart watches work. These trackers monitor the heart rate and other vital signs of the cow and analyzes its health. Some of these can also track the heat period, and other aspects, just by analyzing their movement patterns. An overview of such health reports is available with the vets who help in quick response and action.
Anomalies in Milk Production
Near Field Communication, Radio Frequency Identification (RFID), and Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) are technologies that have been in use for a long time to track the health of cows. Systems today provide animals with a unique identification number that helps track the animal’s production and understand their health patterns. Using these existing technologies, hardware installed at farms, such as milking parlors, are able to ID the cow or buffalo. Once identified, its milk production is then matched with standard patterns and production history in order to understand and identify anomalies. Identification of such anomalies can help dairies reduce losses and increase production efficiency.
Field to Yield Impact
Fodder plays a very important role in milk production, as it has a direct impact on the quality and taste of milk. The feed constitutes the major cost of a dairy’s operation. Hence, it is very important that the feed is of the best quality, to ensure a greater yield in terms of both quantity and quality. Milk processors in India pay the producers based on the fat level – higher the fat content, the higher the payout. These different aspects of the feed and the yield have to be documented by the dairy farms in order to get the required information and a better understanding of the feed to yield impact. This is possible only via a collective effort by the dairies, which can happen over a period of time when more and more dairy farms become digitized. It is something that we can hope to see in the near future.
Product Lifecycle Tracking
Since the margins for milk processors are higher in the case of value-added products, tracking the lifecycle of milk, to the market and the quantity that comes back – within expiry range – can make a big difference. Milk that gets returned from the market while still within the expiry range can further be converted to products like ghee, paneer, buttermilk, curd, etc. which reduces the losses significantly and also adds to the margin. Enabling tracking of the product lifecycle, like tracking the retailers who are carrying products which are about to reach expiry and collecting them in a timely manner, through an alert system can make great difference.
Last Mile Delivery
Since the milk producers and processors both play the scale game with low margins, saving costs on every front and increasing efficiency are very important factors. Last-mile delivery includes dropping off milk either to the retailer or to the household (in case of B2C). Both B2B and B2C deliveries require management of cold chain to avoid spoilt products and also to maintain quality. Tracking of logistics and route optimization along with temperature reporting are some simple options to do the same. In many cases, the pouches develop leaks, while the bottles and the crates used get damaged, leading to losses. These losses are not entirely avoidable, but understanding the root cause or identifying the problem areas can help in corrective measures being taken. The first step to solving a problem is recognizing that there is one.
TECH INNOVATIONS FOR DAIRY OPERATION
Gone are the days of low-tech livestock operations. From parlor monitoring systems to detection of hidden mastitis in your herd, companies are introducing technology that improves not only herd health but also your bottom line.
MILKMAVEN
Combining advanced hardware and software, Milk Maven uses sensors to continuously check pulsator health, milk, wash, glycol temperature and the vacuum pump. If Milk Maven detects any issues, a notification is sent to a computer or mobile device with a web browser, offering suggestions on the possible source of the problem. The cloud-based application, which is a division of Farm Maven, also lets you perform diagnostics of the milking phase ratios with the click of a button.Cost is dependent upon size of parlor.
RT10 SSC
- With the RT10 SCC and iPhone app, you can easily identify high SCC or subclinical mastitis cows and make better decisions to lower your overall SCC. This SCC readings can be determined in seconds – without the expense and time of sending samples off to the lab.
- The device not only provides a cow’s SCC but also indicates the type of bacteria most likely to have caused the high SCC, which can help in determining proper treatment.
This tool allows you to export data into a spreadsheet or email a file to share with trusted advisers.
QSCOUT FARM LAB
- Undetectable to the naked eye, sub-clinical mastitis is often missed. Yet, it diminishes milk production and threatens herd health. Annually, mastitis costs the U.S. dairy industry $2 billion, or about $200 per cow.
- It’s time to challenge mastitis with a new breed of on-farm diagnostics: QScout Farm Lab. This portable diagnostic analyzer identifies and differentiates leukocytes (white blood cells) in milk. Each of the three blood cell types – macrophage, neutrophil, and lymphocyte – plays a role in fighting infection and each has a different function.
- Understanding their roles and ratios allows for more accurate detection of subclinical mastitis.
Managing Animals with AI
Food and water play an important part in milk yield. It is important that milch cattle consume adequate and quality water. Their water requirements are closely related to milk production, the moisture content of the feed, and environmental factors such as air temperature and humidity. Similarly, cattle feed determines the amount of nutrients available to the animal for health and production. Lack of nutrients limits production and affects animal health. Overfeeding increases feed costs, can lead to excessive nutritional load on the environment, and can be dangerous to health.
The next stage for NDLM could be the IoT-enabled cattle management system where the tag can have utilities that regularly provide reports over the software dashboard screen. The development of a verifiable biometric livestock database will help bring better efficiency to the animal husbandry sector.
Innovation in AI technology
Newer experiments in this direction include the muzzle or nose biometric of cattle. Using a picture of the face of an animal, the app generates a unique identification number for the cattle that can be linked to the INAPH or Pashudhaar number issued by DAHD. Such an app can collate animal-wise data and link to the unique biometric identifier. Besides remunerative dairy farming, such traceability will also support cattle trading.
Uses of AI technology in the dairy industry
The other major use of the AI and technology would be in disease control. Major outbreaks can be identified and controlled by using AI-enabled tags. For milch animals, lameness, mastitis, foot and mouth disease, and milk fever are common fatal diseases. IoT-enabled tags can detect the changes in the health of the cattle. Proper actions and medication are executed before it turns worse, and can prevent animal and financial losses.
Since milk is the universal commodity used throughout the world, it also requires better management and storage. The use of IoT technology in the pressurised tanks has increased the serving capability of milk-based goods and has reduced their vulnerability to colloidal degradation or bacterial growth. Also, pressure management in the milk storage tanks must be performed to reduce the adverse pressure creation, which could result in expensive maintenance, downtime, or mechanical failure.
Supply chain monitoring is critical in the dairy industry, where the nature of both raw material and finished product is perishable. It relies on factors such as first and last-mile distance and transit temperature, weather, packaging, and cold storage availability. The use of the IoT can aid in better delivery management by making the details of the product available on the interconnected device, enabling better decision-making, thereby avoiding wastages.
Drones In The Cattle Industry
The application of drone technology in the cattle industry is a testament to the sector’s progressive adoption of modern technology. Drones, or Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), are utilized in various capacities to enhance herd management and pasture monitoring.
Application of Drones in Herd Monitoring
Drones equipped with high-resolution cameras and other sensors are used for real-time monitoring of herds. They provide a bird’s-eye view of the cattle, enabling ranchers to monitor their livestock from a safe distance. This aerial perspective is invaluable in large-scale operations where watching each animal individually can be daunting. Drones can easily traverse different terrains, providing instant feedback about the location and condition of the cattle. This is particularly beneficial in case of a disease outbreak or locating lost or stray animals.
Benefits of Drones in Pastoral Farming
Drones are instrumental in pasture management as well. They can assess the quality and quantity of forage, helping ranchers make informed grazing decisions. Moreover, drones equipped with multispectral sensors can analyze soil health and detect issues like overgrazing, erosion, or pest infestations early on. By facilitating a proactive approach to pasture management, drones contribute significantly to the sustainability and profitability of pastoral farming.
Wearable Technology For Cattle
Wearable technology has been a game changer in monitoring and managing cattle health and behavior. These devices, attached to the cattle’s body, provide real-time data crucial for maintaining the well-being and productivity of the herd.
Overview of Wearable Devices for Cows
Wearable devices for cattle come in various forms, including collars, ear tags, and boluses. These gadgets have sensors that monitor body temperature, heart rate, and movement patterns. For instance, smart collars can track a cow’s activity levels and rumination patterns, providing insights into its health and nutritional status. Similarly, smart ear tags can monitor the cow’s location, aiding in theft prevention and recovery. The data collected is transmitted wirelessly to the farmer’s smartphone or computer, providing a continuous stream of information that can be used to make timely interventions.
Impact of Wearable Tech on Cattle Health Monitoring
The impact of wearable technology on cattle health monitoring is profound. It facilitates early detection of illnesses and other health issues, allowing for prompt treatment and thereby reducing the severity and spread of diseases. Furthermore, it aids in stress detection by monitoring behavioral changes, which is crucial for ensuring the welfare of the animals.
Wearable tech also plays a significant role in reproductive management by accurately detecting heat cycles and calving events. By providing a wealth of data, wearable technology empowers farmers to manage their herds more effectively and make data-driven decisions that enhance productivity and profitability.
Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) In The Cattle Industry
Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology is critical to efficient livestock management. It allows for identifying and tracking individual animals, ensuring traceability and accountability in cattle operations.
Understanding RFID Technology in Livestock Management
RFID technology comprises two main components: a tag and a reader. The tag attached to the animal contains a unique identification number read by the RFID reader. This setup enables the automatic identification and tracking of cattle without requiring line-of-sight or manual scanning. The data collected through RFID systems is crucial for maintaining accurate records of each animal’s history, including its health, vaccinations, and movements.
Advantages of RFID Technology in Cattle Tracking
RFID technology brings numerous advantages to cattle tracking. It enhances the accuracy and efficiency of record-keeping, which is essential for compliance with regulatory requirements and certification programs. Additionally, it facilitates real-time cattle monitoring, aiding in theft prevention and recovery. Moreover, RFID systems streamline the management of large herds by automating routine tasks like inventory counting and data entry, freeing up valuable time and resources for other critical aspects of cattle farming.
These technological advancements are not merely about modernization but equipping the cattle industry with tools instrumental in overcoming contemporary challenges. As the quest for higher efficiency, better animal welfare, and sustainability continues, embracing these technological trends is imperative for the modern cattle farmer.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) And Machine Learning (ML) In Cattle Farming
Integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) in cattle farming is reshaping the landscape of modern agriculture. These technologies enable the processing and analysis of vast amounts of data to derive actionable insights, optimize operations, and predict outcomes with a higher degree of accuracy.
Use of AI and ML in Dairy Production
In dairy farming, AI and ML optimize milk production and improve herd health. Advanced algorithms analyze data from various sources, including wearable devices, milking systems, and feed monitoring platforms, to provide insights into each cow’s health and productivity.
For instance, AI can predict the best time for milking based on the cow’s past behavior and physiological signals, ensuring optimal milk yield. Furthermore, machine learning algorithms can identify patterns indicating potential health issues such as mastitis or metabolic disorders, enabling early intervention.
Predictive Analytics in Cattle Health and Breeding
Predictive analytics powered by AI and ML are becoming indispensable in cattle health management and breeding programs. By analyzing historical and real-time data, these technologies can forecast potential outbreaks of diseases, allowing for proactive measures to prevent or mitigate their impact. In breeding, predictive models can suggest the best mating pairs to enhance desirable traits in the offspring, thereby improving the genetic quality of the herd over time.
The Role Of Data Analytics In The Cattle Industry
Data analytics is at the heart of modern cattle farming technology. It transforms raw data into meaningful insights that drive informed decision-making, enhancing the efficiency and profitability of cattle operations.
Improving Production Through Data-Driven Decisions
The ability to make data-driven decisions is crucial for improving production in cattle farming. Analytics tools process data from various sources, providing a comprehensive view of the herd’s performance. This includes monitoring growth rates, feed conversion ratios, and reproductive success, among other key metrics. By understanding these parameters, farmers can make well-informed decisions regarding feeding strategies, breeding programs, and health interventions, ultimately leading to higher productivity and better return on investment.
Predictive Analytics and Decision Support Tools
Predictive analytics and decision support tools go further by forecasting future outcomes based on historical and real-time data. They can predict potential challenges like disease outbreaks or nutritional deficiencies and suggest preventive measures. Moreover, they can recommend optimizing feeding schedules, managing grazing patterns, and selecting the best breeding pairs. By leveraging these tools, cattle farmers are better equipped to handle risks and seize opportunities that contribute to the long-term success of their operations.
Challenges And Opportunities With Technology In The Cattle Industry
As with any sector, the incorporation of technology in cattle farming comes with its set of challenges and opportunities. Addressing these challenges head-on while harnessing the opportunities is crucial for advancing the industry sustainably and profitably.
Addressing the Barriers to Technology Adoption
The barriers to technology adoption in cattle farming include a need for more technical knowledge, high upfront costs, and concerns about data privacy. Education and training on the benefits and usage of technology, along with financial incentives, can help overcome these barriers. Furthermore, establishing robust data privacy and security measures will build trust among farmers, encouraging them to adopt modern technological solutions.
Future Trends and Innovations in Cattle Farming Technology
The horizon of cattle farming technology is bright, with potential innovations like blockchain for traceability, advanced genetic engineering, and autonomous robotic systems. These advancements promise to streamline operations further, improve animal welfare, and enhance transparency in the supply chain. By staying abreast of these trends and being open to innovation, the cattle industry is poised to evolve in alignment with the emerging global sustainability and productivity standards, securing a prosperous future for all stakeholders involved.
Conclusion: The Future Of Cattle Farming With Technology
The fusion of modern technology with traditional cattle farming practices is a catalyst for enhanced efficiency and productivity and a blueprint for sustainable agriculture. As the global population increases, meeting the rising demand for animal products responsibly and sustainably is imperative. Technology emerges as a formidable ally in this endeavor, providing the tools and insights necessary for modern-day cattle farmers to thrive amidst evolving challenges and expectations.
Embracing Change: Technology as an Enabler in the Cattle Industry
The transition to a tech-driven cattle industry is an exciting journey with growth, learning, and improvement opportunities. Technology is an enabler, aiding cattle farmers in making well-informed decisions, optimizing resources, and ensuring the well-being of their livestock. The gamut of technologies, ranging from wearable devices, drones, and RFID to sophisticated AI and data analytics platforms, provides a robust infrastructure for modern cattle farming operations. Embracing these technologies is synonymous with fostering a culture of continuous improvement, innovation, and sustainability in the cattle industry.
Final Thoughts on Technology’s Role in Sustainability and Efficiency in Cattle Farming
The narrative of technology in the cattle industry is a compelling testament to human ingenuity and the relentless pursuit of betterment. As technology continues to evolve, so does the potential for elevating cattle farming to new heights of efficiency, sustainability, and profitability. The judicious adoption and integration of modern technological solutions are instrumental in propelling the cattle industry forward, aligning it with the global sustainability agenda, and ensuring its relevance and competitiveness in the 21st-century agricultural landscape.
FAQs
How does wearable technology benefit cattle farming?
Wearable technology facilitates real-time monitoring of cattle health and behavior, enabling early detection of diseases, stress, and other issues. It also aids in reproductive management by accurately detecting heat cycles and calving events.
What are the advantages of using drones in cattle farming?
Drones provide aerial monitoring of herds and pastures, aiding in real-time decision-making. They can assess forage quality soil health and help locate lost or stray animals, making them a valuable asset for modern cattle farmers.
How is Artificial Intelligence (AI) utilized in cattle farming?
AI is utilized in various capacities, including optimizing milk production, detecting health issues, and enhancing breeding programs. It processes and analyzes data to provide actionable insights that help in improving overall herd performance.
What are the barriers to technology adoption in the cattle industry?
Some barriers include a need for more technical knowledge, high upfront costs, and concerns about data privacy. Overcoming these barriers requires education, training, financial incentives, and robust data privacy and security measures.
Compiled & Shared by- This paper is a compilation of groupwork provided by the Team, LITD (Livestock Institute of Training & Development)
Image-Courtesy-Google
Reference-On Request
