Innovations in Livestock Farms

Dear Colleagues,

In recent decades, the livestock industry has managed production according to high quantitative and qualitative criteria, placing modern livestock farming within a highly competitive national and international supply chain. Nevertheless, animal husbandry has been exposed to a wide variation in profit levels due to considerable variability in product price and energy and feed costs. For these reasons, it is necessary that the livestock industry improve competitiveness by adopting innovative production processes and improving animal welfare. Development and miniaturization of sensors along with continuing costs reduction encourage the implementation of new technologies in livestock farms, allowing increases in their efficiency and productiveness. However, to design and use new management systems towards an improvement of the livestock sector, more knowledge is needed about the relationships among animal wellbeing, productions, technology, and large data sets.

The aim of this Special Issue is to provide innovative experimental research, models, and tools focusing on new livestock farming technologies, including the related economic and environmental impacts. This Special Issue may include but is not limited to:

• Innovative technologies for animal husbandry;
• Performances of new technologies in livestock farming;
• Animal monitoring systems;
• Influence of sensors and automatisms on animal performances and wellbeing;
• Sustainable livestock farming systems;
• Augmented reality applications.

Prof. Maria Caria
Dr. Giuseppe Todde
Guest Editors

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