Summary
This literature review synthesises precision livestock farming applications in dairy sheep production across 2018–2025, consolidating evidence on IoT, sensor, computer vision, and artificial intelligence technologies for monitoring and management. The authors identify core technological domains and innovations including lightweight deep-learning models and digital twins, whilst highlighting substantial barriers to practical adoption such as economic constraints, technical limitations, and ethical concerns. The review provides guidance on integrated, welfare-focused PLF solutions tailored to extensive, small-scale Mediterranean dairy sheep systems.
Regional applicability
Whilst the review emphasises Mediterranean dairy sheep systems, the technological frameworks and barriers identified have broad applicability. United Kingdom sheep farming, though predominantly meat-focused, could benefit from comparable PLF solutions for the growing dairy and specialist cheese sectors, though economic viability and farm scale differ from Mediterranean contexts.
Key measures
PLF technology categories: automated weight and body condition monitoring, biometric identification, wearable and IoT sensors, localization systems, behavioural and thermal monitoring, virtual fencing, drone-assisted herding, and decision-support tools.
Outcomes reported
The review synthesises PLF applications in dairy sheep farming across technological domains including automated monitoring, biometric identification, wearable sensors, behavioural and thermal monitoring, and decision-support tools. It identifies technological progress and practical barriers to adoption including economic, technical, interoperability, and ethical constraints.
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