Precision livestock farming: potential use in water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) operations

Thanks to advanced technology, physiological, behavioral and production indicators of animals can be reliably measured. Advanced technology also allows facility owners to focus on the health and performance of each animal by diagnosing diseases and problems that cannot be directly detected by the farm owner or technical staff using sensors, cameras, activity meters, technological tools and equipment. Precision livestock farming (PLF) aims at managing animals individually with real-time continuous monitoring of their health, welfare and production/reproduction as well as any environmental factors that may affect them. PLF technologies provide highly detailed data to users to help them measure and manage the performance of individual animals or herds of animals based on various criteria. In addition to providing a very large database for users, PLF technologies provide an instant assessment of the data and use figures and charts to clearly present the results. PLF technologies are mainly used in dairy operations rather than in water buffalo farming; however, this type of production accounts for approximately 200 million animals worldwide. Thus, the aim of this study was to assess the potential use of PLF technologies in operations conducted with these animals. Also, this study aims to provide insight into the sector and to researchers by addressing the opportunities for and potentials of using PLF technologies in water buffalo farming.