Harnessing Technology for Animal Health Monitoring

Advancements in technology simplify animal health monitoring, offering real-time data, wearable devices, and remote tracking, enhancing care and early detection for improved veterinary interventions.

FREMONT, CA: Maintaining food security, economic stability, and animal welfare in Asia Pacific's vast and varied landscapes depends critically on animal health. Historically, manual data entry and visual observation were the main methods used to monitor the health of animals. These methods were prone to inefficiencies and human mistakes. Technology is changing, bringing us a new era of proactive health management and precision livestock production.

IoT devices and smart sensors are leading this change. These sensors can be affixed to collars, ear tags, or even inserted into the skin to continuously gather important information about an animal's movements, temperature, heart rate, breathing, and feed consumed. These data can be wirelessly transferred to centralised platforms, giving real-time information about the animal's health. This makes it possible for farmers to recognise early indicators of disease, stress, or discomfort, allowing for prompt treatment and preventative actions.

Smart sensor deployment is accelerating throughout APAC, especially in China, Japan, and South Korea. The APAC animal health monitoring market is expected to develop at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 18.6 per cent and reach $3.2 billion by 2025. The demand for premium meat and dairy products, growing consciousness of animal welfare, and government programmes encouraging smart farming technologies are some of the causes driving this increase.

Smart sensors have advantages that go beyond early illness detection. Farmers can optimise feeding practices, enhance resource allocation, and maximise animal output by analysing animal movement and feed consumption data. In addition to increasing income, this lowers emissions and resource waste while promoting environmental sustainability.

In addition to sensors, artificial intelligence (AI) is becoming increasingly important in monitoring animal health. Massive animal data sets may be analysed by AI algorithms, which can then spot trends and anticipate possible health issues before they materialise. This enables proactive and individualised health care, adjusting interventions to the unique requirements of every single animal.

For instance, AI-powered platforms in China use facial recognition technology to analyse minute variations in pigs' facial expressions to identify sick ones. Early illness detection facilitates prompt treatment and stops the disease from spreading across the herd. AI-based tools are being used in India to examine cow manure to identify mastitis early on, a prevalent and expensive disease in dairy cows. The prompt action guarantees the safety and quality of milk products while preventing losses in milk production. There are still issues with mainstream acceptance, though. These technologies might be expensive to install initially, and farmers need assistance and training to use them efficiently.

Notwithstanding these difficulties, there is no denying the potential advantages of technology-driven animal health monitoring. These innovations could completely transform animal husbandry in Asia-Pacific by maximising productivity, increasing efficiency, and offering real-time insights into animal health. Future improvements in animal health monitoring should result in happier, healthier, and more productive animals as technology develops and becomes more widely available.