Harnessing Technology to Revolutionize Livestock Farming in China
China’s livestock farming sector is undergoing a significant transformation, thanks to the integration of advanced technologies. The Aoqun Animal Husbandry farm in Tianjin is at the forefront of this revolution, showcasing the country’s growing influence in the global market.
Smart Farming Practices
The farm’s adoption of smart farming practices has led to significant improvements in lamb mortality rates. Through collaboration with Saudi Arabia, Aoqun has helped reduce lamb mortality rates from over 20 percent to below 10 percent. This achievement highlights the potential of smart farming to transform traditional livestock farming practices.
- Intelligent barn systems regulate barn temperatures, reducing the risk of heat stress and improving animal welfare.
- Robots identify and clean manure passages, reducing labor costs and improving hygiene.
- A feed efficiency monitoring system tracks each animal’s feed intake, weight, and feeding time, enabling precise control over nutrition and health.
Advanced Technologies
The farm’s use of advanced technologies has enabled the development of high-resolution 3D images of sheep muscle, fat, and bone tissues. This technology has the potential to revolutionize the breeding and production of livestock.
- CT scanning technology produces detailed images of sheep muscle, fat, and bone tissues.
- The technology enables the tracking of weight, growth, and health conditions for each sheep.
- The farm’s “Sheep Internet” platform allows managers to design more rational and scientific breeding plans.
Global Impact
Aoqun’s innovative approaches have attracted international attention. The farm has been visited by inspection delegations from countries such as Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Iran, and South Africa.
| Number of jobs created | 80 |
| Number of farmers trained | 5,000 |
Local Impact
The farm’s success has had a significant impact on local communities. Over 80 jobs have been created in areas such as breeding, livestock care, and logistics. Additionally, over 5,000 farmers have received free training to boost their livestock-raising skills.
“Tuanbo town has abundant sunlight and geothermal resources, allowing the sheep barns to utilize geothermal energy for temperature control. Moreover, relying on the Tuanbo Lake Wetland, there is an abundance of natural forage and clean water, providing a natural grazing area for the sheep and further reducing breeding costs.”
Future Plans
Aoqun plans to showcase its achievements at the 2025 Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit. The farm hopes to exchange and learn from other international mutton sheep breeding enterprises and promote cooperation between enterprises like Aoqun Animal Husbandry and SCO member states. Definition: Smart farming
Smart farming refers to the use of advanced technologies, such as sensors, drones, and data analytics, to optimize livestock farming practices. Highlight: Closed breeding
Closed breeding refers to the practice of breeding sheep within a closed system, where the breeding stock is isolated from external influences to ensure genetic purity and improve production performance.
Feed efficiency monitoring involves tracking an animal’s feed intake, weight, and feeding time to optimize nutrition and health.
Intelligent breeding techniques involve the use of advanced technologies, such as genetic analysis and data analytics, to improve breeding decisions and production performance.
Conclusion
China’s livestock farming sector is undergoing a significant transformation, thanks to the integration of advanced technologies. The Aoqun Animal Husbandry farm in Tianjin is at the forefront of this revolution, showcasing the country’s growing influence in the global market. As the farm continues to innovate and improve its practices, it is likely to have a significant impact on the global livestock farming industry.