Piloting Precision Pastoralism: moving upland agriculture into a big data world

Sustainable Food Production Research Group
Sheep on Dartmoor
 
As the biodiversity crisis and climate change intensifies, the role of upland agricultural practice is changing. New programmes, such as the Sustainable Farming Incentive and the Environmental Land Management Scheme (ELMS), are encouraging traditional pastoral agriculture to move towards providing ecosystem services, such as improved soil health and biodiversity, carbon sequestration and natural flood management.
This change in priorities poses a significant challenge for farm operations, particularly in extensive pastoral settings where grazing behaviour and animal movements at a large scale will determine landscape impact and future opportunities to capture payments for ecosystem services. However, with suitable technology and methodological support this shift could present vast opportunities for farmers and the environment.

Bringing precision farming to upland systems

Many agricultural sectors are moving towards precision agriculture using management systems that collect vast amounts of data to inform and improve the effectiveness of their practice, from animal health and welfare to production and environmental impact. However, these approaches are rarely used in extensive pastoral systems.
The Piloting Precision Pastoralism research project aims to integrate advances in precision livestock farming (high-throughput movement ecology, accelerometery and mapping) into upland farming practice. The big data generated by these techniques will both help inform pastoral farmers about animal health, welfare and behaviour, and also generate data for understanding the role of livestock in ecosystem services and nature-based solutions.
Cow on Dartmoor

Using animal-mounted sensors

This proof-of-concept study engages key farmer, landowner and conservationist stakeholders to test the application of animal-mounted biologgers. We will attach both state-of-the-art (GPS with accelerometers) and off-the-shelf GPS collars to upland breeds of cattle, sheep and ponies to record movement and behaviour data as they roam freely on Dartmoor. This will allow us to compare the performance of the most accurate, but expensive, state-of-the-art loggers against off-the-shelf devices, which could offer a cost-effective alternative.
As an interdisciplinary study, this project draws on expertise from the University's Schools of Biological and Marine Sciences; Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences; and Engineering, Computing and Mathematics. Our findings will inform future research in precision agriculture and support future skills needed within the sector to make the most of these developments and new payments for ecosystems services.

The project in action

  • Inform UK upland farming management practices by detailing, with greater accuracy, information about animal behaviour, welfare and production.
  • Proof of concept of methodology to support application of precision livestock farming within upland pastoral agriculture and ecosystems delivery.
  • Engage key stakeholders, including upland farmers, landowners and residents, flood management groups and conservation bodies, on the potential future application of biologger technology to support both agricultural and environmental goals.
  • Support a range of interrelated University of Plymouth projects in the fields of big data/GIS, animal behaviour and environmental management.
 
 
 

Deploying our sensor technology in the field

Movement ecology and animal behaviour – two factors crucial for understanding more about pastoral agriculture – are undergoing a big data revolution.

Sheep with a biologger collar Tracking animals with biologgers
 State-of-the-art data-loggers are now able to inform us, with greater accuracy, on the behaviour and fine-scale movement of animals, providing invaluable information about their impact on the environment.

Mapping software image for precision pastoralism Making sense of the data
 Combining data from our Mammal-Trek Remote biologger collars with mapping software (GIS) it is possible to determine precisely where the animals are, what the habitat is like and, critically, what the animal is doing.

Sheep in a controlled data test site Applying research in real-world situations
 The work is supported by Owlacombe Farm and Middle Dunstone Farm, both in Devon, offering a unique opportunity for researchers to use state-of-the-art equipment directly in the field, monitoring animals in real-life situations.

This work is at the forefront of big data science as it incorporates recent advances in high-throughput movement ecology, accelerometery and mapping. This will be one of the first projects to use these technologies to bring upland farming into the Precision Livestock Farming framework. Crucially, the precision that is now offered will allow, for the first time, a greater understanding about the role that animals have on wider environmental processes.

Mark WhitesideMark Whiteside
Lecturer in Animal Welfare

Next steps

This project is only just scratching the surface in how big data and sensor-based technologies can inform and influence our agricultural practice. We will take this research forward by incorporating environmental sensors (soil, air, water) to help tease apart the complex interplay between animal behaviour, movement, welfare and the environment. We will then start to investigate technologies that will allow for the retrieval of data from the uplands that will allow for real time monitoring and automation.
Tractor mowing fields by the sea

Sustainable Food Production Research Group

At the University of Plymouth, our cross-disciplinary researchers study all aspects of food production and its impact on the natural environment.
Find out more about our plant and animal productive systems research, and how we are applying automation and sensor technology to ensure sustainable food production without compromising ecosystem services and biodiversity.

Centre of Research excellence in Intelligent and Sustainable Productive Systems (CRISPS)

The Centre of Research excellence in Intelligent and Sustainable Productive Systems (CRISPS) brings together a vibrant community of transdisciplinary researchers, working towards addressing the challenge of sustainably feeding a global population of 9 billion. Founded upon research excellence in aquaculture, agricultural technology and soil health, and underpinned by investment in cutting-edge facilities, the Centre will create the critical mass required to ensure impactful research and real-world deployment in the UK and beyond.
Centre of Research Excellence in Intelligent and Sustainable Productive Systems (CRISPS) lead image showing a hand holding soil and a plant.