19fbtechreview.comJAN - FEB 2025and safeguard against disease spread. The benefit of the fermentation process is not only disinfecting the litter but also reducing heat generation from feces and mitigating odor. After spraying it with disinfectant, the farmer should gather the litter into small piles, approximately one cubic meter each; these piles should be covered with plastic sheets or scooped into sacks and left undisturbed for at least three days before removing them from the farm. Some farmers opt to further enhance decomposition by adding molasses and effective microorganisms (EM) to litter before applying in the planting area. However, it is required to turn the litter regularly to prevent the deterioration and death of EM due to heat and poor ventilation. Another crucial view of sustainable farming is the efficient utilization of resources such as animal feed, water, and labor. A significant question is, how much feed remains unconsumed after depopulation? And how to reduce it? Technology has emerged as a powerful tool to replace human labor in this regard. By leveraging technology, we can accurately calculate and predict feed intake to minimize leftover feed after depopulation. This is a meaningful improvement over the traditional method of farmers relying on rough estimations without standardized procedures or manuals. However, technology also empowers farmers to predict weather patterns by analyzing historical and current data. This foresight will allow farmers to proactively manage environmental conditions within the chicken house, such as stocking gas for brooding or adjusting fan and cooling pad settings, particularly during the crucial brooding phase of broiler life.Data is taking the role of a cornerstone of precision farming or smart farming. Every aspect of the farming operations is required to be monitored, recorded and analyzed to maximize resource utilization and productivity. The United States and Japan are role models of precision animal farming, where a shortage of human labor and the cost of hiring is prohibitive.The principle of Precision Farming:1. Utilize technology to record all data (such as chicken weight, feed intake, etc.) and gather and analyze them.2. Setting targets based on the data analyzed.3. Setting and implementing a plan to achieve those targets.4. Evaluating performance to identify areas for improvement.Benefits of precision farming:1. Decreasing the cost of hiring human labor.2. Continuous stable operation farming from lacking human labor.3. Effective use of resources such as animal feed, reducing feed leftover after depopulation, or stocking gas in the brooding period.Technology investments principally drive the initial cost of precision farming. However, farmers must also consider the potential reduction at the target compared to the cost of technology and the payback period. Given these factors, is it a crucial time for a transition of animal farming practices toward the future? "Insanity is doing the same thing repeatedly and expecting different results," Albert Einstein.
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