Document type: scientific synthesis published in Applied Animal Science
Authors: Giovanni Buonaiuto, Eleonora Nannoni, Luca Sardi, Simona Belperio, Chris Sanzò, Giovanna Martelli
Preview: Purpose – The intensification of swine production has raised concerns about animal welfare, environmental im-pact, and productivity. Precision livestock farming (PLF) technologies offer innovative solutions by leveraging sen-sors, automation, and artificial intelligence to enhance monitoring and management in pig farming. This review explores the current state of PLF applications in swine production, identifying key benefits and challenges associ-ated with their implementation. Sources – This review is based on a systematic analysis of peer-reviewed literature, including studies published be-tween 1990 and 2024. Data were gathered from electronic databases such as PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus, focusing on technologies for health monitoring, feeding op-timization, microclimate control, and welfare assessment in pigs. Synthesis – Precision livestock farming technologies have demonstrated their potential to improve productiv-ity, health, and welfare through early disease detection, automated feeding, and environmental control. Camera-based systems, sound analysis, and radio-frequency iden-tification tracking enhance real-time monitoring, and predictive maintenance reduces system failures. However, adoption remains limited because of high costs, technical complexity, and the need for producer training. Conclusions and Applications – Precision livestock farming represents a promising approach for optimizing swine production, but broader adoption requires cost-ef-fective solutions and interdisciplinary collaboration. Fu-ture research should focus on integrating PLF tools into practical farm settings, ensuring accessibility and user-friendly implementation to support sustainable and ethi-cal pig farming.
From the Applied Animal Science website
