Precision livestock farming: a qualitative exploration of swine industry stakeholders
IntroductionPrecision livestock farming (PLF) technology development has proliferated recently, but on-farm adoption has lagged. Understanding PLF stakeholders’ views, practical applications, limitations, and concerns are necessary to understand the factors influencing the adoption of PLF technology...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2023-05-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Animal Science |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fanim.2023.1150528/full |
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| author | Babatope E. Akinyemi Belinda Vigors Simon P. Turner Faical Akaichi Madonna Benjamin Anna K. Johnson Monique D. Pairis-Garcia Dale W. Rozeboom Juan P. Steibel David P. Thompson Cassey Zangaro Janice M. Siegford |
| author_facet | Babatope E. Akinyemi Belinda Vigors Simon P. Turner Faical Akaichi Madonna Benjamin Anna K. Johnson Monique D. Pairis-Garcia Dale W. Rozeboom Juan P. Steibel David P. Thompson Cassey Zangaro Janice M. Siegford |
| author_sort | Babatope E. Akinyemi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | IntroductionPrecision livestock farming (PLF) technology development has proliferated recently, but on-farm adoption has lagged. Understanding PLF stakeholders’ views, practical applications, limitations, and concerns are necessary to understand the factors influencing the adoption of PLF technology.MethodsUsing semi-structured online interviews, 12 influential stakeholders’ PLF views and lived experiences were investigated. A phenomenological paradigm was used to generate qualitative data that was analyzed using template analysis.ResultsWe identified two unique groups of stakeholders, namely the PLF enthusiast and PLF cautious groups. The majority of the participants were well aware and had firsthand experience with the PLF technologies that are currently being used in the swine industry.DiscussionWe found that PLF technology was perceived to improve specificity in decision-making, better care for pigs, improve animal health and welfare, increase labor efficiency, and improve resource-use efficiency. Poor internet connectivity and the inability to use PLF data for decision-making due to needing to first complete daily on-farm tasks were considered key obstacles to its implementation. To integrate PLF technology into the existing barn environment, it is necessary to modify farm buildings and infrastructure and management protocols. Stakeholders’ main concerns with PLF technology included data privacy issues and the influence of PLF technology on human-animal relationships and farmers’ duty of care to the animals. In conclusion, stakeholders perceived camera systems for monitoring pig health and welfare and ensuring individual pig identification as a high priority in PLF development going forward. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-09T13:25:19Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-6ef175a7cc4f43c1984787a0f761f73f |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2673-6225 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-09T13:25:19Z |
| publishDate | 2023-05-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Animal Science |
| spelling | doaj.art-6ef175a7cc4f43c1984787a0f761f73f2023-05-10T12:49:51ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Animal Science2673-62252023-05-01410.3389/fanim.2023.11505281150528Precision livestock farming: a qualitative exploration of swine industry stakeholdersBabatope E. Akinyemi0Belinda Vigors1Simon P. Turner2Faical Akaichi3Madonna Benjamin4Anna K. Johnson5Monique D. Pairis-Garcia6Dale W. Rozeboom7Juan P. Steibel8David P. Thompson9Cassey Zangaro10Janice M. Siegford11Department of Animal Science, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United StatesScotland’s Rural College, Easter Bush, Edinburgh, United KingdomScotland’s Rural College, Easter Bush, Edinburgh, United KingdomRural Economy, Environment and Society Department, Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC), Edinburgh, United KingdomDepartment of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United StatesDepartment of Animal Science, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, United StatesDepartment of Population Health and Pathobiology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, United StatesDepartment of Animal Science, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United StatesDepartment of Animal Science, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, United StatesAgriculture and Agribusiness Institute, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United StatesAgriculture and Agribusiness Institute, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United StatesDepartment of Animal Science, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United StatesIntroductionPrecision livestock farming (PLF) technology development has proliferated recently, but on-farm adoption has lagged. Understanding PLF stakeholders’ views, practical applications, limitations, and concerns are necessary to understand the factors influencing the adoption of PLF technology.MethodsUsing semi-structured online interviews, 12 influential stakeholders’ PLF views and lived experiences were investigated. A phenomenological paradigm was used to generate qualitative data that was analyzed using template analysis.ResultsWe identified two unique groups of stakeholders, namely the PLF enthusiast and PLF cautious groups. The majority of the participants were well aware and had firsthand experience with the PLF technologies that are currently being used in the swine industry.DiscussionWe found that PLF technology was perceived to improve specificity in decision-making, better care for pigs, improve animal health and welfare, increase labor efficiency, and improve resource-use efficiency. Poor internet connectivity and the inability to use PLF data for decision-making due to needing to first complete daily on-farm tasks were considered key obstacles to its implementation. To integrate PLF technology into the existing barn environment, it is necessary to modify farm buildings and infrastructure and management protocols. Stakeholders’ main concerns with PLF technology included data privacy issues and the influence of PLF technology on human-animal relationships and farmers’ duty of care to the animals. In conclusion, stakeholders perceived camera systems for monitoring pig health and welfare and ensuring individual pig identification as a high priority in PLF development going forward.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fanim.2023.1150528/fulladoptionchallengesprecision livestock farming (PLF)perceptionspigs |
| spellingShingle | Babatope E. Akinyemi Belinda Vigors Simon P. Turner Faical Akaichi Madonna Benjamin Anna K. Johnson Monique D. Pairis-Garcia Dale W. Rozeboom Juan P. Steibel David P. Thompson Cassey Zangaro Janice M. Siegford Precision livestock farming: a qualitative exploration of swine industry stakeholders Frontiers in Animal Science adoption challenges precision livestock farming (PLF) perceptions pigs |
| title | Precision livestock farming: a qualitative exploration of swine industry stakeholders |
| title_full | Precision livestock farming: a qualitative exploration of swine industry stakeholders |
| title_fullStr | Precision livestock farming: a qualitative exploration of swine industry stakeholders |
| title_full_unstemmed | Precision livestock farming: a qualitative exploration of swine industry stakeholders |
| title_short | Precision livestock farming: a qualitative exploration of swine industry stakeholders |
| title_sort | precision livestock farming a qualitative exploration of swine industry stakeholders |
| topic | adoption challenges precision livestock farming (PLF) perceptions pigs |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fanim.2023.1150528/full |
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