Applicability of Rumen Bolus Sensors in Sustainable Precision Livestock Farming

Rumen bolus sensor technology has been applied for roughly a decade in the precision livestock farming of ruminants. Despite its substantial potential, widespread adoption remains limited, largely due to the incomplete functionality of current sensors, their relatively high cost, and the still insufficient scientific understanding of the physiological and husbandry-related parameters they are intended to measure. This article reviews the capabilities of rumen bolus sensors, their technical and informatic foundations, their role within precision livestock farming, and the results reported to date. It further examines how the functions and applications of bolus sensors align with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs 2, 3, 8, 9, 12, and 13), as well as the sustainability challenges associated with their use. Finally, the paper identifies potential technological development pathways that could enable rumen bolus sensors to become highly effective and widely adopted tools in the future.