The Impact of Precision Livestock Farming Technologies on Productivity, Animal Welfare, and Environmental Sustainability

Precision Livestock Farming (PLF) has emerged as an approach in modern animal production, integrating advanced technologies such as sensors, automation, data analytics, and artificial intelligence to enable continuous, individualised monitoring of livestock and their environment. This review examines the impact of PLF technologies on three critical dimensions of livestock systems: productivity, animal welfare, and environmental sustainability. PLF applications, including wearable and environmental sensors, automated feeding and milking systems, and video-based monitoring, allow for early detection of health and behavioural deviations, optimisation of feed efficiency, and improved reproductive and disease management. These technologies support proactive, data-driven decision-making that enhances productivity while promoting animal welfare and reducing the environmental footprint of livestock production. Despite these benefits, the adoption of PLF faces significant challenges, including high initial investment costs, technical limitations, system integration issues, data ownership and privacy concerns, and ethical considerations related to automation. Future research and policy efforts should focus on developing cost-effective, scalable solutions, standardised data frameworks, and supportive regulatory measures to enable equitable and responsible implementation across diverse production systems. By addressing these challenges, PLF offers a pathway towards more efficient, welfare-oriented, and environmentally sustainable livestock production, contributing to global food security and resilient agricultural systems.