Precision livestock farming (PLF) uses sensors, cameras, and AI to monitor individual animals continuously, enabling earlier detection of welfare problems at scales impossible through manual inspection.
Precision livestock farming represents a significant opportunity to improve farm animal welfare at scale. The central welfare benefit is earlier detection: technologies that identify lame, sick, or stressed animals before signs become obvious to human observers reduce the period of suffering before treatment. Individual monitoring also enables more targeted, evidence-based interventions. However, PLF is a tool, not a solution: it requires human response to alerts, appropriate training, and integration into farm welfare culture. Technology cannot replace skilled, motivated stockpersons — it can amplify their effectiveness.