Phenomics and its potential impact on livestock development in low-income countries: innovative applications of emerging related digital technology

Data capture systems in Sub-Saharan Africa and India for dairy cattle and small ruminants have been based on infrastructure similar to those in developed countries and have mainly been unsuccessful. The application of information and communications technology, mobile phones, and other digital innovations has shown some promising results but reliable internet connectivity still poses a challenge. Animal scientists will need to collaborate with an interdisciplinary team of scientists to design the next generation of innovative technologies which are cheap, robust, easy to use, and can function without internet connectivity for effcient capture of performance data in Sub-Saharan Africa. Application of emerging technologies will be critical to attracting youth into agriculture in developing countries and thus ensuring sustainable phenomics platforms. © Mrode, Ekine Dzivenu, Marshall, Chagunda, Muasa, Ojango, and Okeyo.