Adoption of precision livestock farming devices in the dairy cattle sector: An assessment based on agroeconomic modelling

This study investigates the potential adoption of pedometers as a Precision Livestock Farming (PLF) technology in Italian dairy cattle farms, using data from the Italian Farm Accountancy Data Network (year 2021).¹ Two types of pedometers - market-available and prototypal stand-alone (SA) - were evaluated through simulations performed with the AGRITALIM agroeconomic model. Results indicate that adoption rates relevantly increase as the cost of investment needed reduces, up to exceeding 50 % of the sample farms in the case of SA pedometers. Moreover, adoption is higher in large, intensive farms located in plains, while those in mountainous and hilly areas face challenges related to infrastructure and cost-effectiveness of the investments. These findings highlight the importance of context-specific support mechanisms within Common Agricultural Policy measures to facilitate PLF adoption in diverse farming conditions and to increase the number of livestock farms engaged in climate change mitigation and adaptation actions.