Artificial intelligence and sensor technologies are transforming animal welfare monitoring. Understanding their potential and limitations helps stakeholders evaluate their role in welfare improvement.
Animal welfare technology is evolving rapidly from an experimental curiosity to a practical tool with demonstrable impact. AI systems that detect lameness before visual signs are obvious, or flag respiratory abnormalities in pigs overnight, close observation gaps that chronic welfare problems exploit. However, technology is only as good as the welfare science underlying it: AI trained on poorly validated indicators will miss real problems and generate false alarms. The most impactful welfare technology is deployed alongside — not instead of — trained stockpeople who can interpret alerts and respond effectively. Technology's role is to extend human observation capacity, not replace human judgment and compassion.