Updated and modernized animal husbandry practices include advance technologies, facilities and
equipment which together Improve production, decrease labour requirement and also welfare of
animals. Livestock welfare emphasizes offering basic needs keeping in view health and comfort of
animals. Use of automation software and computer further reduces human errors if provided with
electronic identification system. Early warning system for disease detection and diagnosis is important
to reduce treatment cost. Moreover, sensor system further improve efficiency using change in
behaviour as cues. Five freedoms considered as golden standard to estimate welfare status which
mainly include freedom from hunger, thirst and discomfort. Animals are sentient, as they use to seek
positive and avoid negative experiences. Mental and emotional state of animals like pain, hunger,
distress and comfort comes under Affective states. Welfare of animal assessed by DAWA scale, which
includes animal, its environment and management. With advances in proteomics and genomics new
bio-markers are discovered to detect diseases at early stage, along with oestrus detection and
pregnancy diagnosis for better management. Similarly, genomic selection along with microclimate
control highlights stress mitigation to improve food safety. In other words, contemporary animal
farming proposes immense opportunity for convenient production and welfare concern.
Key words: Automation, biomarker, early signal, sensor, welfare concern
|
