User- friendly technology backed

While the use of the latest computer t echnologies have so far been fairly limited in the livestock sector barring some dair y and low ground producers, hill and upland sheep farmers could have as much - or more - to gain from the use of such systems in their flocks.

That was the view of a group of scientists involved in the new project aimed at getting Precision Livestock Farming ( PLF) techniques more widely recognised and used in the sector.

UK Government funding has been secured for the SmartSheep project which will develop tools to encourage the adoption of PLF technologies in UK sheep flocks and widen their uptake.

The researchers said that although all UK sheep were electronically identified with a tag, few had taken advantage of the benefits PLF methods could offer.

Dr Fi on a Kenyon of the Moredun Research Institute and Smartsheep project leader said that Targeted Selective Treatment ( TST) was an example of how the ability to electronically identify sheep could be utilised.

“Under performing lambs are identified using an algorithm so that they maybe sing led out for treatment, optimising the worming process. TST has major benefits in terms of saving time and money and combating wormer resistance,” she said.

However she pointed out t hat uptake of TST was currently hampered by the lack of user- friendly methods of accessing the required algorithm. She said the project would engage directly with the farming community to create a user- friendly way to utilise the technology.