Precision Livestock Farming for Mediterranean Water Buffalo: Some Applications and Opportunities from the Agridigit Project

AGRIDIGIT is a wide spectra project dealing with digital agriculture. It wanders from forestry, to agrometeorology, crop and livestock production for a full range sustainability of the sector. The sub-project PLF4MILK focuses on precision farming of dairy cattle and buffalo, branching out into 5 Working Packages (WPs). This paper refers to buffalo (WP4). The aim of WP4 was to increase efficiency of buffalo farms through the precision farming approach. Specific objectives are the development of breeding and feeding protocols to ensure a higher welfare in buffalo, according in particular to thermal stress and individual enteric methane (CH4) emissions measurements. Analysis of behavior, welfare and milk production according to the season, monitored by individual sensors and punctual weather station, was performed from July 2020 to January 2021. Ear tags measuring activity, resting, eating, rumination and ear temperature coupled with a milk meters electronic system were used. The study of enteric CH4 emission trough individual measurements is based on remote controllable laser detectors. Data are then integrated each other. Multivariate approach and local and/or non-parametric regressions allow to highlight patterns of (co)variance among data from different sensors. Data will be used to set up algorithms and models suitable for buffalo. A software interface for decision supporting, will be released. The project addresses the needs for a higher efficiency in buffalo milk supply chain along with the improvement of animal welfare and environmental sustainability.