Modeling and simulation for decision support in precision livestock farming

ABSTRACTPrecision Livestock Farming (PLF) is a system that allows real-time monitoring of animals, which comes with many benefits and ensures maximum use of farm resources, thus controlling the health status of animals. Decision support systems in livestock sector help farmers to take actions in support of animal health and better product yield. Due to the complexity of decision making processes, modeling and simulation tools are being extensively used to support farmers and decision makers in livestock industries. Modeling and simulation approaches minimize the risk of making wrong decisions and helps to assess the impact of different strategies before applying them in reality. In this paper, we highlight the role of modeling and simulation in enhancing decision-making processes in precision livestock farming, and provide a comprehensive overview and categorization with respect to the relevant goals and simulation paradigms. We, further, discuss the associated optimization approaches and data collection challenges.