COMPUTER APPLICATION

IN ANIMAL AGRICULTURE
• Computers have revolutionized the livestock industries, by

• Improving efficiency, productivity, and sustainability.

• By leveraging on technology, livestock farmers can make more informed decisions and adapt
to the challenges of a rapidly changing environment.
GENERAL APPLICATION OF COMPUTER IN LIVESTOCK INDUSTRY

1. Data Management and Analysis: Computers are used to collect and store data related to
weather patterns and livestock health. This data can be analysed to make informed decisions about
livestock practices, breeding programs.
• 2. Livestock Management: Computers are used to monitor and manage
livestock health and productivity. For example, smart sensors can be used to
track individual animal behaviour, health parameters, and production metrics.
This data can help farmers make informed decisions about feeding, breeding,
and healthcare.

• 3. Forecasting and Planning: Computers are used to analyse historical data

and create predictive models for, disease outbreaks, weather patterns, and
market trends. This information can help make better decisions about
production and marketing their products.
4. Market Access: Computers and the internet provide livestock producers
with access to online marketplaces, price information, and marketing tools.
This helps them reach a wider customer base and get better prices for their
products.

5. Education and Training: Computers are used to provide training and

education to livestock managers on best practices, new technologies, and
regulations. Online courses and webinars help improve skills and knowledge
in the sector.
6. Precision feeding systems: Automated feeders dispense customized rations based on
individual animal needs, optimizing feed utilization and reducing waste.

7. Automated milking robots: Improve animal welfare and milking efficiency, freeing
up labour for other tasks.

8. Genetic selection and breeding: AI algorithms analyse animal data to identify

desirable traits and optimize breeding programs for improved productivity and disease
resistance.
• COMPUTER APPLICATION IN PASTURE AND RANGE
MANAGEMENT
• The use of satellite imaging and geographic information systems (GIS) helps
farmers to monitor
vegetation growth, plan grazing patterns, and optimize land use.
Technologies Available for Pasture and Range Management

• Drones: can be used for monitoring livestock, vegetation, and water sources in
vast pasture land.
This technology provides real-time data which helps in making informed
decisions for better management.
• GPS Tracking Systems: Global positioning system (GPS) tracking systems
help in tracking the movement of livestock and monitoring their grazing
patterns. This data allows ranchers to optimize grazing areas and prevent
overgrazing, leading to sustainable management.

• Remote Sensing: Remote sensing technologies such as satellite imagery can

provide valuable insights into pasture and range conditions. By analysing this
data, farmers can assess vegetation health, detect changes, and plan
accordingly for better management practices.
• Water Management Systems: Implementing water management systems like
automated waterers and water tanks can improve water access for livestock.
Proper water management ensures hydration for animals, leading to better
health and productivity levels in the long run.

• Mobile Applications: Mobile applications designed for pasture management

can help farmers keep records, track expenses, and schedule tasks efficiently.
These apps enable better organization and planning, ultimately improving
productivity and sustainability in pasture management.
• Weather Forecasting Tools: Weather forecasting tools provide farmers with
accurate information on weather patterns and climatic changes in their region.
With this data, farmers can plan grazing schedules, irrigation, and other
activities to mitigate risks and adapt to changing conditions.

• Soil Testing Kits: Soil testing kits can help farmers analyse soil nutrients, pH
levels, and structure, crucial for selecting suitable forage species. By
understanding soil conditions, farmers can make informed decisions on
pasture establishment, leading to better productivity and sustainability
• Electronic Identification Systems: Electronic identification systems such as
radio frequency identification (RFID) tags or microchips can help track
individual animals for better monitoring and management.
This technology enables farmers to keep accurate records, monitor animal
health, and improve overall management practices.

• Livestock Monitoring Sensors: Livestock monitoring sensors can track

animal health parameters like body temperature, heart rate, and activity levels
in real-time.
DEFINITION OF TERMS

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• Nutrition – the science involving various chemical and physiological activities, which
transform feed elements (nutrients) into body elements.

• Nutrients – a nutrient is defined as any feed constituent or group of feed constituents of

the same general chemical composition or a pure chemical compound that aids in the
support of animal life. The constituents of a feed that are capable of being transformed into
body elements are known as nutrients.

• Feedstuff/Feed ingredients – a feeding stuff is any product, whether of natural origin or

synthetic, that when properly used, has nutritional value in the diet. It includes natural
feeds of animal origin (fish meal, meat and bone meal, meat meal, etc.), plant origin
(soybean meal, groundnut cake, etc.) synthetic (some amino acids eg. methionine) and
other pure nutrients. 12
• Diet - is the amount of feed regularly given to or consumed by an animal over an extended period of time. It
is formulated to meet specific metabolic or physiological function such as growth, lactation, maintenance of
pregnancy, reproduction, etc.

• Ration - is the total supply of feed given to an animal in a twenty-four hour period, i.e., the amount of feed
supplied/taken by an animal in a day.

• Feeding – is a practical application of nutrition, i.e., consideration of management, formulation, palatability,

economics, etc.

• Balanced diet – the food or feed that contains/supplies all the essential nutrients in the proper amounts
required for optimum performance of the animal.

• Feed mill – is an establishment/place where feeds/commercial feeds are produced for animals using
specialized equipment according to the feed formulation. 13
• Basal (Energy) Feeds – nutritionally, basal feeds are mainly concentrated sources of energy being especially
rich in starches and sugars. They are grains and grain by-products that contain no more than 16% protein and
18% crude fiber.

• Supplement – is a feed or a feed mixture used with another feed to improve the nutritive balance of the total
ration or diet e.g. vitamin-mineral premix, prebiotics etc.

• Feed additive – a substance (or mixture of substances) added to the feed to meet a specific purpose. They are
generally considered as materials used to enhance the effectiveness of nutrients and exert their effects on
improving animal performance. An additive may enhance the nutritive value, sensory value or shelf life of the
feed. Additive is involved in the production, processing, packaging and/or storage of the feed without being a
major ingredient. e.g., enzymes, toxin binder, pellet binder, preservatives, colourants, probiotics, prebiotics,
etc.

• Concentrate – is usually described as feed or feed mixture which supplies primary nutrients (protein,
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• IN POULTRY

• Computers are used in pure line and breeder farms to keep individual record of
breeding stock and selection of the next generation. Computers have
simplified the job of the breeders, by simplifying the data processing.

• In least cost feed formulations by all feed manufacturers and integrators, by

linear programming. By using computers, it is possible now to formulate least
cost feed formulations, using unconventional feedstuffs, without affecting the
performance of the birds.
 COMPUTER METHOD OF FEED FORMULATION
• Combines linear programming and least cost feed formulation using computer
applications (Microsoft Excel, specialized softwares, online applications, etc.
Benefits
• It is more accurate
• It makes feed formulation easier and faster
• It reduces the incidence of human error

Limitations
• It requires the knowledge of certain computer softwares
• Electronic gadget such as computer is required
• Knowledge of linear programming and slightly advanced MS Excel functions may be
required
FEED FORMULATION

17
Feed formulation is the act of combining and re-
combining specific ratios of feed
ingredients/feedstuffs to obtain feed that meets the
nutrient requirement of farm animals.

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 Benefits of feed formulation

• Animals get almost exactly its body and production needs.

• Farmers get optimum production (Profit) due to balanced diet.

• Prevents wasteful expenditure.

• Improves immunity and animal health.

• Reduces chances of infertility and improves reproductive efficiency

• Gives room for variety of ingredients to be used

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Problems facing the feed industry
• Feed ingredient adulteration

• Poor quality of feed ingredients

• Unpredictable nature of the climate

• Technical knowledge in terms of seed, harvesting, grading, etc.

• Absence of adequate information on proper balancing of nutrients

• Steep increase in the prices of raw materials

• Irregular and inadequate supply of raw materials 20

Factors to consider before formulating diets
• Nutrient composition/nutritive value of the feed ingredients to be used

• Availability of the feedstuff to be used

• Presence of antinutritional factors (ANFs) in the feedstuff

• Recommended inclusion level of the feedstuff, if any

• Cost of the feedstuff to be used

• Class (species) of the animal(s) to be formulated for

• Nutrient requirement of the animal

• Stage of production of the animal

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• Production targets
 EXAMPLES OF NUTRIENT
SPECIFICATIONS/REQUIREMENTS OF
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 Nutrient composition tables used in feed formulation
• National
Listing of
Approved
Feed
Ingredients
for Feedmills
in Nigeria by
Nigerian
Institute of
Animal
Science
(NIAS)
https://nias.gov.ng/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/2023-NATIONAL-LISTING-OF-APPROVED-FEED-INGREDIENTS-FOR-
FEEDMILLS-IN-NIGERIA.pdf
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• COMPUTER APPLICATION IN ANIMAL PRODUCTION

Automation of the farm, control of house environment, feed production, hatchery operation,
mortality monitoring, shed, cage and equipment design as well as other day-to-day operations. All
these are possible by the use of IoT (it describes devices with sensors, processing ability, software
and other technologies that connect and exchange data with other devices and systems over the
internet or other communications networks.)

• 1. Real-time monitoring of livestock conditions

Essential elements, including temperature, humidity, and other environmental conditions, are
continuously monitored by IoT-enabled systems. Farmers can quickly react to aberrant conditions
since they have access to real-time data on the health of their cattle. IoT systems can control
temperature and humidity levels in livestock settings by combining sensors and actuators.
• 2. Environmental monitoring for optimal living conditions

IoT technologies allow for thorough environmental monitoring in areas with

animals. Establishing the best and most pleasant animal housing conditions includes
air quality monitoring, ventilation management, climate adjustments, and lighting
optimization
• 3. Tracking and geofencing capabilities
The Internet of Things (IoT), which offers location tracking and virtual boundaries,
facilitates livestock tracking. Farmers can do this to keep an eye on the movement
of their livestock, stop theft, and get notifications if it wanders outside of set
borders.
• 4. Health monitoring and early detection of illnesses

The continuous monitoring of cattle vital signs, including heart rate and respiration, is made
possible by IoT-enabled equipment. Farmers can spot early indications of sickness or suffering
by evaluating this data, allowing for prompt intervention and treatment.

• 5. Optimization of feeding processes

Through automated feeding systems, IoT systems optimize feeding procedures. These
devices distribute accurate feed quantities, cutting down on wastage and guaranteeing that
each animal gets the right amount of nourishment. Additionally, this capability makes it
possible to optimize feed for better animal health and productivity.
• 6. Water management for continuous supply
IoT systems monitor the water levels in tanks or troughs used for cattle.
Automated refilling techniques guarantee a steady water flow, reducing
dehydration and ensuring that animals always have access to this vital
resource.
• 7. Automated data collection and analysis for informed decision-making
Livestock management that is IoT-enabled automates the gathering and
archiving of data from multiple sensors. Advanced analytics tools are then
used to examine this data, giving farmers important information they can use
to make well-informed decisions about things like optimizing breeding
programs or changing farming practices
• 8. Remote control and automation of tasks

IoT technology makes remote access and management of environmental elements in

livestock regions possible. Farmers can improve operational effectiveness and animal
welfare by remotely adjusting settings for lighting, ventilation, and other aspects. In
addition, automating gate operations can reduce human work and improve farm
management.
• 9. Predictive maintenance for equipment

IoT systems keep track of the performance and usage trends of the equipment used in
managing cattle. Farmers can schedule preventive maintenance by examining this data
to preserve their equipment's longevity and best performance, saving downtime and
expenses.
 APPLICATION IN POULTRY
• Data-backed farm management– With the application of AI, poultry farmers can save huge on

energy resources while ensuring accurate and sustainable farm management practices. By

analysing real-time data with AI technology, poultry farmers can efficiently manage daily farm

activities through precise temperature control, light, and humidity to promote better flock health.

• Disease diagnosis and prevention: Keep your poultry flock’s health under check with AI-

enabled supervision. AI-powered systems can timely detect concerning poultry behaviours,

vocalizations, and other signs of illness to alert farm owners about the precursors to diseases.

Advanced detection of masked symptoms can proactively help in the prevention of outbreaks.
• Embryo Detection: By implementing ML (machine learning) and AI-enabled systems,
poultry farmers can separate fertile eggs from infertile ones to accurately utilize energy
resources for incubation rather than wasting them on infertile eggs. With the machine
learning model, farm owners can also monitor and evaluate the development status of
the embryo.

• Efficient Flock Management: With the adoption of AI and ML, poultry farm owners
now can efficiently and accurately manage poultry flocks for enhanced productivity
without any errors. From determining sex in the embryo using magnetic resonance
imaging (MRI), predicting hatching probability, assuming breeding times, and
monitoring reproduction to identifying high-value breeding stock and precise quality
control, every aspect of flock management is accurately taken care of by AI.
• AI.M accurate with artificial vision: Also known as computer vision, in poultry management is

continuously evolving, driven by advancements in computer vision algorithms, imaging technologies, and AI

capabilities. By leveraging visual data and machine learning techniques, farmers can gain deeper insights,

enhance flock management, improve productivity, and ensure better welfare and health outcomes for their

poultry.

• Elevating efficiency with remote sensing: Remote sensing technology plays a valuable role in poultry

management by providing useful information about the environment and conditions within poultry farms.

Remote sensing provides valuable spatial and temporal data that can enhance decision-making, improve

resource management, and optimize poultry farm operations. By utilizing remote sensing technologies, poultry

farmers can make informed choices regarding environmental conditions, disease prevention, land use

planning, and sustainable management practices.