The last argument concerns the welfare of the individual animal. Cows have proved to have high diversity in their learning curve with some animals displaying a consistent need for cues and stimuli even after a long period. The negative sides of VF use include the risk of animal long-term exposure to the electric stimulus, negatively affecting animal welfare , and public opinion . In the case of Mediterranean sheep farming, adoption of VF is not as appealing as grazing areas are of medium size . These plots are easier to manage using traditional methods such as daytime shepherding, wire fences or electrical fences in comparison to the bigger grazing plots typical to other areas . Automated grass measurement system , used for evaluation of herbage mass, is another tool for pasture management based on a microsonic measurement device and real-time data transmission. The GH measures the return time for a sonic transmission from its reflective circular plate rested on the grass to the emitter. The time is calculated in order to obtain the traveling distance of the plate, measuring the grass high. The data are integrated with GPS system which provides information about the sample position in the paddock. It can also be uploaded to a digital support tool called ‘Pasturebase Ireland’, allowing an overall vision of regional and national grass availability. This provides key information needed for the planning of animal movement and pasture availability throughout the year.Several flock management software products are currently available on the market for commercial use. The predominant functions include flock registry, yield tracking,tower garden breeding line and decision-making aids for the farmer comparing individual animal with the flock trends and averages. For example, available products such as Sheep Tracker, SumIt, Flock Filer and Farmplan integrate data from various sources in order to provide a general view of the flock dynamics as well as track individual animal and its genetic lineage.
However, the interest on the side of the farmers remains limited, even while understanding possible benefits of implementation of such software. The hesitation of adoption is frequently linked to the perceived role of the stock person, and the notion that software cannot replace the manual labour needed on the farm .Sheep farmers, as any producer, adopt technologies fit for their needs and the value of which they can easily recognize. Examples from modern times can include the Quad bikes considered by farmers ‘the biggest technological step since the barbed wire’ , and electrical fencing, especially when combined with solar panels and movable posts. Both share a common feature; they improve an already known task adding the value of better performance and lower costs. Farmers seem to appreciate technologies that have the least interferences with established routines and that they are able to service and manage by themselves . Precision livestock farming systems and new technologies however require a new set of skills to be acquired , as well as frequently dependent on specialized technicians. The mentioned work of Rieple and Snijders also emphasizes that farmers operate in transparency one to another; therefore, community opinions, acceptance and financial risk taking play a big role in decision-making processes. Among farmers, big economic investments and the deviation of paradigms produce a social pressure which does not encourage innovation. Therefore, technology seems to appear more threatening and less acceptable in comparison to other less evident changes. The lack of network coverage and its instability, especially in mountainous areas, also play a role in the mistrust many farmers have regarding new, communication-based technologies .
Although several solutions are being developed , this still represents an important challenge.The average age of sheep farmers is over 55, a factor highly correlated with attitudes towards innovation, flexibility and tendency towards the risk of investments. An example for farmers’ indisposition towards technologies could be seen regarding the introduction of EIDobligatory use. The move which represents a key step towards smart farming in the extensive sector was not necessarily viewed as such by the farmers themselves. In a recent survey done by Lima et al. among English sheep farmers, 36% agreed and 26% strongly agreed with the affirmation:‘There is too much pressure on farmers by the government and the market to adopt new technologies. A more complete analysis conducted on farmer’s inclinations used surveys, analysis groups and panel experts from different European countries’ . The results show that the main drive for adoption is the economic stability of the farm. With smaller and less profitable farms being reluctant to invest in new technologies . Other major causes included levels of complexity and user interface, as well as correlation to production values. In contrast to expert panel opinions, age and education levels of the farmers had only marginal impacts on technology adoption. The ability to generate income and cash availability were also cited as main reason for PLF system adoption among Kentucky dairy cow farmers, with overload of information, lack of reliability, and poor technical support being the deterring factors . Regarding specifically the sheep sector, a survey conducted by Sheep Net among different European sheep farmers supports the previously described perspectives from other sectors with positive views towards PLF being related to larger income and farm size availability. Dairy farmers stand out for more frequent adoption of PLF systems; however, no distinction was made in the survey between extensive and intensive dairy sheep farms. There is, however, a small but consistent population of early adopters in every production sector . This group is more open to the introduction of new technologies and practices. As peer influence is a big factor in farmer’s decision-making process, the influence of this group could trickle towards other farmers as well. It is also worth mentioning “agricultural startups” led by new farmers which enter the agricultural world for reasons of ethical and ecological views.
This group is usually free of traditional perceptions of agriculture and is more open towards innovation .Around the Mediterranean, the break-even milk price is lower than the average market price in the market . Although other products such as light lamb are a popular secondary product and may add up to 30% of farm income milk prices remain the main inhibiting factor for new investments in technologies . The individual farmer has several financial instruments to his disposal which include both private equity sources and debt schemes, as well as aid schemes . While the private equity could be considered as ‘“Secured funding sources”, where farmers can rely on their production capacity and the ability to obtain bank loans. Subsidies are frequently considered ‘Unsecured funds’ as the accessibility to the funds is based on project presentation and may require technical extension services. While these schemes provide an important source for financial aid, especially for modernization projects, it remains an unstable source in the eyes of many farmers . It is important to note that direct aid, CAP payments and other financial supports for production are considered a reliable part, the annual budget and part the farm gross income considerations.While some such as AD and WC with average costs of 5 000 to 7 000€ may be accessible to farmers using their secured funding sources bigger investments will require the involvement aid schemes. The time-consuming process of application and the bureaucracy barriers represent important deterrents to accessibility. However, in case of coupled payment schemes where financial aid is linked to innovation, farmer’s interest in new technologies may be increased. Such trends were already observed in other coupled CAP aid schemes involving farm modernization .In order to evaluate possible prospects for integration of PLF systems and new technologies in Mediterranean dairy sheep farming, key challenges should be identified.
As in most livestock farming sectors, feed and labour are the largest costs faced by the farmer. In the case of extensive dairy sheep farming, the feed cost is represented by the management of available pasture resources and supplemented feeding, while animal handling and milking activity represent the major labour investments.Rationalization of available grazing area is needed in order to better manage and maximize the pasture productivity. By adjusting stocking density and time, grazing efficiency of a given pasture can be significantly increased. This activity is a time-consuming process which includes the costs of fencing and animal movement which takes a large portion of production costs in extensive systems.Automated drafters allow reduction of animal movement costs by selective entry of animals based on RFID recognition.The development of virtual fencing aims to provide an innovative solution to grazing management introducing the ability to confine and move the animals without the need for manual labour or physical barrier. Application of VF can reduce the costs of fencing, and efficiency of movement is increased due to animal conditioning to signals . Paired with tri-axial accelerometers and/or GPS,stacking flower pot tower a precision grazing may be achieved through data provided on feed intake and grazing patterns. This application is currently under researched with the aim of balancing animal grazing and pasture production .Supplemented feeding in sheep farming takes several forms: barn enclosure and feeding, on-pasture total mixed ration feeding, ‘Creep grazing’ and ‘Bale grazing’ or no supplementation at all. Specifically, in case of dairy ewe’s supplementation, it can also take place in the parlour during milking. In case of inadequate supplementation, animal gain and production are reduced, milk quality suffers which also impacts cheese quality. Mortality rates can also grow especially among pregnant ewes or weaker individual animals with higher metabolic needs and lower fat reserves.
Supplementation increases the production costs and its application for efficiency/cost is key for efficient farm management. Currently, available systems which combine EIDs, automatic weights and drafters aim to increase this efficiency. Among the systems which were reviewed so far, the combination of WC, EIDs and ADs is the most mature products already presented and marketed for common use. Another increasingly available product is personalized feeding in milking parlour allowing a single animal supplementation .This infrastructure and activity is unique to the dairy sector and represents a key investment for the farmers, with milking costs representing over 10% of the production costs per liter . The process is also important for animal health and management, and presents space for integration of PLF systems and new technologies . Incorporation of RFID-based identification in the milking stations can allow the implementation of precision feeding, ADs and better group management. Restoration, upgrading and construction of new parlours also represent a key moment for investment, as frequently there are dedicated support schemes offered by the EU CAP funds for such projects .Technology acceptance and uptake is a complex matter influenced by a variety of factors such as socio-demographics , financial resources and farm size . The current state of extensive sheep farming in FIGS countries does not encourage such acceptance with increasing age and low profitability margins . Investment, especially in new technology it is not an appealing option. However, emerging trends could lead to some changes in the sector representing challenges and opportunities to which sheep farmers will need to adapt. Consequently, farmers’ perception of PLF technologies and their possible advantages could change due to the following conditions.Although sheep milk production represents only 1.3% of total world milk production, it has seen an increase of more than 100% in the last 50 years with average growth of 10–20% per year. Most of its international trade is in the form of cheese products with PDO such as the Italian Pecorino Romano cheese, main importers being the USA and Germany . Increased demand from the industries is a key factor which leads to innovation and intensification of farming practices, and the dairy sheep sector is no different . Increase in sheep meat demand in EU countries, especially from ethnic minorities originally from the Middle East or North Africa, may drive further increase in flock size and lamb production as a response to the growing demand . Wool production in the region is negligible, and although local enterprises try to re-establish traditional wool products the activity remains limited. Main obstacle is the fibre quality of diary breed wool, deemed to coarse for modern production .