Unraveling and Navigating Paradoxical Tensions in Integrating Livestock Health Monitoring Systems: Case Studies From Chinese Farms

ABSTRACT Integrating digital technologies, such as livestock health monitoring systems, into farming can enhance productivity and animal welfare by providing real‐time data for decision‐making. However, adopting these systems introduces paradoxes that challenge traditional farming practices. Using a longitudinal qualitative case study approach and drawing on Paradox Theory, this study investigates the tensions that emerged during livestock health monitoring systems implementation across three Chinese farms. We identified key tensions in learning, organizing, belonging, and performing, as well as compound paradoxes specific to farming contexts. Our findings reveal that while digital systems streamline routine tasks, they also create challenges in balancing tensions such as automated processes with human expertise, collective decision‐making with individual accountability, and efficiency with personalized care. The study proposes two new concepts— activity‐driven perception and technology‐integrated landscape —to explain how farmers navigate these tensions and incorporate digital technologies into their daily routines. These findings contribute to a deeper understanding of the socio‐technical dynamics of digital transformation in agriculture and offer practical insights for managing technology adoption in farming environments.