What technology is commonly used to track livestock health and production?

Electronic identification (EID) is a key technology used in livestock management to monitor health and production. This system involves using unique electronic tags that are attached to animals, allowing for the automatic collection of individual animal data. This technology enables farmers to track various aspects of livestock health, such as growth rates, reproductive status, and medical treatment history, which are all crucial for efficient management and decision-making.

EID significantly enhances record-keeping accuracy and assists in managing large herds where individual animal tracking would otherwise be challenging. The aggregated data from EID systems can also give insights into overall herd health and productivity trends, enabling better management practices and targeted interventions to improve animal welfare and production efficiency.

In contrast, other technologies, while beneficial for certain aspects of livestock management, do not focus solely on health and production tracking in the same way. GPS tracking is primarily used for location purposes, biometric sensors can monitor physiological signs but are less common than EID, and automated feeding systems serve to streamline feeding processes rather than directly track animal health and productivity.