Online Reporter
Judith Phiri, [email protected]
ZIMBABWE’S livestock farmers must adopt digital livestock systems, a new phenomenon transforming agriculture globally, to enhance food security, contribute to the attainment of Vision 2030 goals and grow the national herd to 12 million by 2034.
Digital livestock systems entail the integration of advanced technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence (AI) and big data analytics into traditional animal husbandry to improve health, productivity, welfare and environmental sustainability.
Studies show that these systems transition farming from reactive, manual observation to proactive, data-driven management, allowing farmers to monitor individual animal health and behaviour in real-time rather than relying on population-level averages.
Livestock management platform Fuya software architect and livestock farmer, Mr Providence Ncube, said the high cost of the information gap was affecting farmers.
“By adopting digital livestock systems, you ensure that the national disease control is recorded with real-time data. There will be district-level surveillance and province-wide visibility, which are important in protecting the national herd.
“The digital kraal, a modern, technology-driven solution for livestock management and trading, provides IoT-based ear tags and global positioning system (GPS) cloud-based monitoring to track herd health, security and pasture management in real-time,” he said.
He said such systems were low-cost scaling for farmers, as inclusive technology may be affordable. No upfront infrastructure costs are incurred, and the investment pays for itself when one animal is saved.
Mr Ncube said the instant value of digital livestock systems was the herd health score, which allows farmers to use software that tracks vitals, symptoms, treatments and recovery for every animal.
“The other instant value of these systems is the automated task engine and withdrawal tracking. These ensure food safety, meat quality, prevent carcasses from being rejected at the abattoir, as well as protecting the farmer’s reputation and profit,” he added.
“The digital passport in livestock systems allows for easy traceability, which is the currency of international trade. There is also a verifiable lifetime history of every animal and immutable audit logs key to transparency for regulators.”
He said traceability was also important when farmers take their animals to abattoirs.
International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) Zimbabwe country representative, Professor Sikhalazo Dube, said the integration of advanced technologies was revolutionising traditional livestock management practices.
“AI and IoT technologies are transforming livestock management, focusing on increasing production and reinforcing biosecurity. These play a key role in optimising herd health, improving feed efficiency and reducing environmental impact through smart data integration.
“These technologies not only increase operational efficiency but also encourage animal welfare and traceability, resulting in safer and more sustainable livestock supply chains,” he said.
He said the continuous expansion of digital agriculture, combined with infrastructural development and inclusive innovation, indicates potential for developing resilient livestock systems.
Prof Dube said for large-scale operations, livestock digital systems focus on automated, data-driven management, while small-scale farmers use mobile apps for advisory, herd management and market access.
Coopers Zimbabwe special development projects executive, Prof Joseph Kamuzhanje, said animal health should be data-driven and scientific, capitalising on digital livestock systems.
“Farmers should utilise technological tools to enhance disease prevention, diagnosis and treatment for both livestock and companion animals.
“They should adopt a business-oriented mindset, treating livestock as an enterprise guided by facts, strategy and data-informed decision making, with strong animal health as a foundation for trade and profitability,” he said.
Studies indicate that globally, digital technologies hold immense potential to improve efficiency in livestock management, enhance animal welfare and support environmental sustainability.
However, adoption remains relatively low, particularly among smallholder farmers, leaving significant untapped potential for livestock farmers’ resilience and productivity.
