Impacts of using a precision livestock system targeted approach in mountain sheep flocks
Impacts of using a precision livestock system targeted approach in mountain sheep flocks
复制标题
DOI：
10.1016/j.livsci.2017.12.002
复制
发表时间：
2018-02-01
影响因子：
1.8
通讯作者：
McCracken, Davy
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Morgan-Davies, Claire;Lambe, Nicola;McCracken, Davy
尽管高山绵羊系统受到限制生产力和经济活力的气候和环境障碍的影响，但它们具有重要的经济作用，维持具有高自然保护价值的栖息地和物种，并支持提供一系列造福于社会的生态系统服务。在广泛的山区绵羊系统中使用精准畜牧业（PLF）可以为动物生产性能、经济效益和劳动力带来好处。本文介绍了一项为期 3 年的实验结果，其中 PLF 原则在一个大型山区羊场实施，并评估了这种方法是否可以使更多边缘羊系统受益。 900 只母羊群（600 只苏格兰黑脸母羊，300 只 Lleyn 母羊）被平均分为两个独立的系统，一个系统在群体层面对羊群进行常规管理 (CON)，另一个系统对羊群中的个体进行 PLF 管理协议，其中使用电子称重、记录和绘图设备，并与动物的电子识别 (EID) 标签相连。比较和对比了两种主要的管理策略；一项与怀孕母羊的冬季喂养有关，另一项与夏季羔羊的驱虫治疗有关。年度劳动力概况是通过测量执行与两个管理系统相关的个人任务所花费的时间来创建的。计算了两个系统的净利润（磅/母羊）。此外，如果采用 PLF 原则，则使用商业数据扩大年度劳动力概况，以量化更传统管理的山区农场的潜在劳动力节省。分析表明，两种不同的管理系统在母羊体重、妊娠中期扫描数据、母羊和羔羊死亡率或断奶后羔羊体重方面没有产生任何显着差异。然而，在 CON 和 PLF 之间，需要驱虫治疗的羔羊比例显着减少了 40%，导致驱虫药的使用量减少了 46%。全年PLF管理系统所需人工总量减少了36%。过去 3 年中，两个系统的 PLF 净利润平均差异高出 3 磅/母羊。对于采用 PLF 方法的更传统农场，分析表明劳动力减少 19%，相当于每只母羊节省 1.60 磅。这项研究表明，对于农民来说，考虑使用 PLF 技术管理单个山地母羊群比在羊群或批次水平上管理是有益的。
Although mountain sheep systems suffer from climatic and environmental handicaps that constrain productivity and economic viability, they have an important economic role, maintain habitats and species of high nature conservation value and support the provision of a range of ecosystem services of benefit to society. Using Precision Livestock Farming (PLF) in extensive mountain sheep systems could bring benefits for animal performance, economical performance and labour. This paper presents results from a 3 year experiment where PLF principles were implemented on an extensive mountain sheep farm and an assessment made of whether or not such an approach could benefit more marginal sheep systems. A 900 ewe flock (600 Scottish Blackface ewes, 300 Lleyn ewes) was divided equally into two separate systems, one where the flock was managed conventionally (CON) at group level, and the other where the individuals in the flock were subjected to a PLF management protocol where electronic weighing, recording and drafting equipment were used, linked to the electronic identification (EID) tags of the animals. Two main management strategies were compared and contrasted; one relating to winter feeding of the pregnant ewes, the other relating to anthelmintic treatment of lambs during the summer. Yearly labour profiles were created by measuring the time spent doing individual tasks associated with the two management systems. Net margins ( pound/ewe) were calculated for the two systems. Additionally, the yearly labour profiles were scaled-up using commercial data to quantify potential labour savings on more traditionally managed mountain farms if PLF principles were adopted. Analyses indicated that the two different management systems did not result in any significant difference in terms of ewe weights, mid-pregnancy scanning figures, ewe and lamb mortality rates, or lamb weight post-weaning. However, the proportion of lambs needing anthelmintic treatment was significantly reduced by 40% between the CON and the PLF, resulting in a reduction of 46% in the amount of anthelmintic used. Over a whole year, the total amount of labour required in the PLF management system was reduced by 36%. Across the 3 years, the net margin for the two systems showed an average difference of 3 pound/ewe higher in the PLF. For a more traditional farm embracing a PLF approach, analyses suggested labour reduction of 19%, equating to 1.60 pound/ewe savings. This study shows that it is beneficial for farmers to consider managing a mountain ewe flock at an individual rather than at flock or batch level using PLF technology.