Integration of Digital Technologies into Goat Management in North-Eastern Kazakhstan

Precision livestock farming is increasingly applying digital tools to improve industry productivity and resource efficiency. This study evaluated the integration of a suite of digital technologies—RFID identification with electronic ear tags, the Sheep Auto Drafter automated weighing and sorting system, near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS, FOSS DS 2500), and the “Korall” diet-balancing software—into the flock management system of 6000 Altai Mountain down goats under the agro-ecological conditions of north-eastern Kazakhstan. The chemical composition of six feed types was determined by NIRS: roughages contained up to 35.6% crude fiber and 35.6 mg/kg carotene; concentrate feeds provided up to 14.6% crude protein and 50.5% starch. Digital diets covered the metabolizable energy requirements of does (BW 34 kg) at 12.84 MJ/day and of bucks (BW 48 kg) at 16.86 MJ/day, in accordance with NRC (2007) norms. Over a two-month period 30 2.5-year-old does and 30 2.5-year-old bucks were monitored, and the live weight of the does increased by 4.2% and that of bucks by 5.3%, with average daily gains of 23 g and 42 g respectively. Assessment of exterior conformation and body indices of these 60 animals revealed pronounced sexual dimorphism: bucks had a significantly higher chest index (70.6% vs. 51.2% in does), while does showed a higher leg length index (51.2% vs. 43.8%). Digital diet analysis identified estimated dietary inadequacies relative to nutritional requirements of vitamin D, copper, and cobalt, justifying targeted premix correction. The results confirm the feasibility and potential benefits of integrating these technologies into goat management systems in Central Asia.