VUAS Continues Work on Digital Tool for Latvian Livestock Sector
January 20, 2025
VUAS, in cooperation with the Latvian Rural Advisory and Training Centre, is continuing work on a digital solution to support Latvia’s livestock sector. The project, titled Effective Monitoring of Environment and Animal Welfare Farms (“Efektīvs vides un dzīvnieku labturības saimniecību monitorings”), was launched in 2022 and is led by the Latvian Rural Advisory and Training Centre. The goal is to create a digital tool that not only supports efficient data recording and analysis for farms but also promotes sustainable and environmentally friendly farming practices in near future.
Looking back at what has been achieved in 2024, it’s clear that significant progress has been made. In close cooperation with consultants, farmer organizations, livestock farms, and the Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies, prototypes for dairy, sheep, and beef monitoring systems have been developed. Work continues on other parts of the system as well to ensure the system’s compliance with farmers’ needs.
Notably, the Latvian Rural Advisory and Training Centre and the Latvian Holstein Association have been working together on the dairy module, which is being tested now. Collaboration with Latvian Sheep Breeders Association, the farm Mežoki, and the Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies led to a working sheep monitoring prototype. The beef monitoring prototype involved input from the Latvian Beef Cattle Breeders Association and the Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies.
VUAS is responsible for all programming and has also created a manure management planning tool, which will soon be available.
A key improvement is the integration of data from the Agricultural Data Centre, allowing farmers to access important animal and farm information directly in the new system, “Mans Lauks”. The system will also include tools to record events not currently tracked by the Agricultural Data Centre, like grazing, dry-off periods, or pregnancy checks.
Additionally, developers are currently working on a heat index calculation feature, and development has also begun on an animal treatment tracking log.
The project is expected to be completed by June 30, 2025, and is co-funded by the EU and project partners.
You can read more about the project here: https://new.llkc.lv/lv/nozares/projekti/Efektivs_vides_un_dzivnieku_labturibas_saimniecibu_monitorings
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