Drones can be used to monitor animals on pasture and check on their health and whereabouts. This enables the farmer to check stock, for example if ewe and lambs are together. The camera can zoom in from a distance to get detailed information, without stressing the animals. Thermal camera can be used, particularly in forest areas, to help detect sheep. The technology is also used in rangeland grazing systems to find animals and to move animals from landscapes that are difficult to reach.  To assess factors influencing the rate and peak level of uptake of such tool, Italy used the Adoption and Diffusions Outcome Prediction Tool (ADOPT) (https://adopt.csiro.au/home.aspx). 
In this case, Estonian sheep and goat farmers were asked 22 questions which were structured around 4 aspects of adoption; characteristics of the tool/technology; characteristics of the farming population; advantage of using the tool/technology; and learnability. The responses given to each question allow several factors to be calculated, allowing the peak adoption level and the time to near-peak adoption to be predicted. The time to near-peak adoption level is the time it takes to reach 99% of the predicted peak level of adoption. 
We found that it would take 13 years to near-peak adoption of GPS collars, and the peak adoption level by the sheep and goat farmers population in Estonia would be very 34 %. A main reasons behind the peak adoption level was due to the need to develop substantial new skills and knowledge.

GPS- / E-collars are used on the neck of the animal out on pasture and gives information on the GPS position of the animal. The technology is particularly used in rangeland grazing systems to assist farmers in attending their animals and knowing where they are.  To assess factors influencing the rate and peak level of uptake of such tool, Italy used the Adoption and Diffusions Outcome Prediction Tool (ADOPT) (https://adopt.csiro.au/home.aspx). 
In this case, Italian sheep farmers and advisors were asked 22 questions which were structured around 4 aspects of adoption; characteristics of the tool/technology; characteristics of the farming population; advantage of using the tool/technology; and learnability. The responses given to each question allow several factors to be calculated, allowing the peak adoption level and the time to near-peak adoption to be predicted. The time to near-peak adoption level is the time it takes to reach 99% of the predicted peak level of adoption. 
We found that it would take 7 years to near-peak adoption of GPS collars, and the peak adoption level by the sheep farmers population in Italy  would be very 98 %. The main reasons behind the peak adoption level was due to the need to develop substantial new skills and knowledge.

A virtual fencing system is a relatively new technology. It consists of a collar that is put around the neck of the animal and that gives audio cues and electric impulse to keep animals on pasture within virtual decided boundaries. The technology is available on the market in some countries. In some countries there are animal welfare concerns on using this system.  To assess factors influencing the rate and peak level of uptake of such tool, the UK used the Adoption and Diffusions Outcome Prediction Tool (ADOPT) (https://adopt.csiro.au/home.aspx). 
In this case, UK sheep farmers and advisors were asked 22 questions which were structured around 4 aspects of adoption; characteristics of the tool/technology; characteristics of the farming population; advantage of using the tool/technology; and learnability. The responses given to each question allow several factors to be calculated, allowing the peak adoption level and the time to near-peak adoption to be predicted. The time to near-peak adoption level is the time it takes to reach 99% of the predicted peak level of adoption. 
We found that it would take 11 years to near-peak adoption of virtual fencing system, and the peak adoption level by the sheep farmers population in Scotland would be very effective at 2 %. The main reasons behind these rate and peak adoption level were due to the extent of future profit benefit, and the need to develop substantial new skills and knowledge

Nowadays the innovative technology is part of the life and part of the barn as well. To assess factors influencing the rate and peak level of uptake of the Water Trough, we used In Israel the Adoption and Diffusions Outcome Prediction Tool (ADOPT) (https://adopt.csiro.au/home.aspx).
During the 5TH TNWS we actuate the ADOPT about the Milk Feeder for the Israeli sheep farmers, advisors and researchers and they were asked 22 questions which were structured around 4 aspects of adoption; characteristics of the tool/technology; characteristics of the farming population; advantage of using the tool/technology; and learnability.
The responses given to each question allow several factors to be calculated, allowing the peak adoption level and the time to near-peak adoption to be predicted. The time to near-peak adoption level is the time it takes to reach 99% of the predicted peak level of adoption. 
We found that it would take 15 years to near-peak adoption Water Trough, and the peak adoption level by the sheep farmers population in Israel would be very low at 6% after 10 years. The main reasons behind these rate and peak adoption level were due to, respectively, the farmers’ relevant existing skills & knowledge (a majority of farmers would need new skills and knowledge), and the enterprise scale (almost all of the target farms have a major enterprise that could benefit).

Nowadays innovative technology is part of life and part of the barn as well. To assess factors influencing the rate and peak level of uptake of the Water Trough, we used In Israel the Adoption and Diffusions Outcome Prediction Tool (ADOPT) (https://adopt.csiro.au/home.aspx).
We arranged a meeting with Israeli sheep farmers, advisors and researchers and they were asked 22 questions which were structured around 4 aspects of adoption; characteristics of the tool/technology; characteristics of the farming population; advantage of using the tool/technology; and learnability.
The responses given to each question allow several factors to be calculated, allowing the peak adoption level and the time to near-peak adoption to be predicted. The time to near-peak adoption level is the time it takes to reach 99% of the predicted peak level of adoption. 
We found that it would take 8 years to near-peak adoption of Water Trough, and the peak adoption level by the sheep farmers population in Israel would be very effective at 98% after 10 years. The main reasons behind these rates and peak adoption levels were due to, respectively, the farmers’ relevant existing skills & knowledge (a majority of farmers would need new skills and knowledge), and the enterprise-scale (almost all of the target farms have a major enterprise that could benefit).

To assess factors influencing the rate and peak level of uptake of the connected water meter, the Estonia used the Adoption and Diffusions Outcome Prediction Tool (ADOPT) (https://adopt.csiro.au/home.aspx). The connected water meter  makes possible to measure the volume of water consumed on all part of a barn (e.g drinking trough) thanks to a pulse transmitter positioned on the meter.  (https://smartplatform.network/connected-water-meter)

In this case, Estonian sheep farmers were asked 22 questions which were structured around 4 aspects of adoption; characteristics of the tool/technology; characteristics of the farming population; advantage of using the tool/technology; and learnability. The responses given to each question allow several factors to be calculated, allowing the peak adoption level and the time to near-peak adoption to be predicted. The time to near-peak adoption level is the time it takes to reach 99% of the predicted peak level of adoption. 
We found that it would take only 22 years to near-peak adoption of the connected water meter and  the peak adoption level by the sheep farmers population in Estonia would be at 72%. 

To assess factors influencing the rate and peak level of uptake of the EID enabel weight crate, the Estonia used the Adoption and Diffusions Outcome Prediction Tool (ADOPT) (https://adopt.csiro.au/home.aspx). The EID enable weight crate has EID reading capabilities which, when combined with an electronic weigh head, can identify each animal when it is weighed by its EID ear tag / bolus. (https://smartplatform.network/eid-enabled-weigh-crate)

In this case, Estonian sheep farmers were asked 22 questions which were structured around 4 aspects of adoption; characteristics of the tool/technology; characteristics of the farming population; advantage of using the tool/technology; and learnability. The responses given to each question allow several factors to be calculated, allowing the peak adoption level and the time to near-peak adoption to be predicted. The time to near-peak adoption level is the time it takes to reach 99% of the predicted peak level of adoption. 
We found that it would take only 16 years to near-peak adoption of the EID enable weight crate and  the peak adoption level by the sheep farmers population in Estonia would be at 24%. 

To assess factors influencing the rate and peak level of uptake of the EID stick reader, the Estonia used the Adoption and Diffusions Outcome Prediction Tool (ADOPT) (https://adopt.csiro.au/home.aspx). The EID stick reader is a tool for identify animals automatically, record data and upload to database.  (https://smartplatform.network/eid-handheld-reader)

In this case, Estonian sheep farmers were asked 22 questions which were structured around 4 aspects of adoption; characteristics of the tool/technology; characteristics of the farming population; advantage of using the tool/technology; and learnability. The responses given to each question allow several factors to be calculated, allowing the peak adoption level and the time to near-peak adoption to be predicted. The time to near-peak adoption level is the time it takes to reach 99% of the predicted peak level of adoption. 
We found that it would take only 13 years to near-peak adoption of the EID stick reader, and the peak adoption level by the sheep farmers population in Estonia would be at 72%. 

Using a Walk-over-Weigh allows farmers to weigh and record automatically individual animal weight without having to gather them. The animal is attracted to a resource, and passing through the WoW, its EID tag is read and its weight recorded.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQkq8b0Uokk 
The main costs involved are associated with: 
• Capital cost for the  crate – ranges from €5,000 to €15,000
• Individual cost for the EID ear-tag (~ €1.20 each)
There are some additional requirements in terms of farm infrastructure. The weigh crate can run on battery or solar. Up to 100% of animals within a flock will use the weigh crate, more than once in a farming year. 
Farmers will need substantial training to be able to use the weigh crate to its full capacity. 
The benefits of this tool include: 
• Labour/time saving as it speeds up handling of animals, Up to 500 sheep can be weighed and sorted by one person in 1 hour. 
• Improved accuracy of records, as each EID tag is read by the panel reader in the weigh crate, and information is linked to it automatically. 
• Improved information available for management decisions, as it allows a targeted use of nutrition.  
• Can be shared amongst farmers as mobile units exist.
• Reduced stress at handling time for both the animals and the farmer. 

Initial set-up capital cost 2501-5000 euros and individual costs 1-20 euros. 
Milk feeder that mixes and refilles automatically goat/sheep milk powder and water. Warms and maintains milk at the desired temperature (30-40 ° C ) that can be  regulated by the farmer. Eight pipes lead from this unit to eight teats that the kids can suckle ad lib 24 hours a day up the 2 months of age or longer. 
Benefits: labour/time savings, better nutrition, improved use of feed resource, improved welfare. Other benefits:  Consistent quality of milk replacer offered and the means of access. Higher milk intakes of the kids, less scouring, less disease and mortality of the kids. Reduced aggression. Warms and maintains milk at the desired temperature (30-40 ° C ) that can be  regulated by the farmer
 

Relevant for: Dairy goat or dairy sheep 
Initial set-up Capital costs are over 15000 euros.
Postdried hay technology is a complete solution for the whole farm on feeding dry hay throughout the year  indoor situation. High-quality hay without silage  ensures high-quality production (raw milk and milk products without Clostridial bacteria). Good animal health. Pure air in a barn. Optimization of working load (1 person could feed  500 goats a day). 
After the cut, the grass is allowed to wilt for one day (or less) on the field and is then transferred to bunkers. Drying system has various sensors for monitoring air temperature and humidity at different heights of the bunker during the post drying process. The system moves valves as needed. The system uses either warm dry air from attic room or switches on the dryer for removing excess moisture from the air. This is powered by electricity mainly sourced from solar panels. The barn has double ceiling under black tin roof. The sun heats black roof, the air is heated and directed through tunnels to the bunkers. The dried hay is delivered by a suspended forklift on overhead rails. 
Benefits: Better nutrition / meeting requirements better, improved use of feed resource (grazing, concentrates, etc.), product quality improvements (e.g. milk products, etc.), reducing stress to the animals, improves welfare animals.

Introducing a tool able to analyze data from sheep and goat farms. Since the flocks are getting bigger we need to be able to collect data to control what is going on in the farm- birth, pregnancy, vaccinations, diseases etc.
This software is able, once installed, to collect as much possible data from as many as possible devices- parlor, milk tank, pedometers, weighting device etc.
The installation can be on a farm PC, farmer smartphone or any device with an internet connection.
The outcome will supply consistent knowledge of the farm situation on all levels- animal, group and flock.
All the data of the past, present and the forecast for the future are in one place, all very accessible.
The installation and setup are free, a subscription is required and the cost is 50-100 Euro monthly per flock, depending on the flock size.

In order to introduce EWS based on PLF tools to sheep and goat section we present the water trough. This device automatically collects individual animal weight and drinking habits data, enables zero animal habituation and zero interference with existing farmer processes and procedures, optimizes production and increases animal welfare. The  SmarTrough is fitted with multitude of sensors to record individual weight, water consumption and drinking habits of sheep/goats.The collected data is processed by advanced algorithms to generate business insights to the farmer immediately. The insights are then disseminated via a carefully crafted web interface to enable maximization of farm results. The  SmarTrough is a plug and play product. It is mounted, either on an existing trough or an integrated one. Each SmartTrough may serve up to 120 animals and multiple SmartTrough devices maybe be introduced seamlessly in the same yard, farm or pasture.The cost of the system varies depending on farm size, it comprises a one-time payment for the Smart-Trough devices, a monthly subscription, and ear tags.You will need to tag the animals with Trough.AI ear tags for the system to support the individual data collection – the tags are supplied.

Using a GPS collar on animals provide realtime information on the position of an animal. It help the farmer in surveillance of animals on pastures, particularly large rangeland areas.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e7TIxImqTRo 
The main costs involved are associated with: 
•    Cost of buying collars for individual animals in the group – prize ca €100 per collar
•    There is in a need to buy a battery for every season as well as activating a yearly subscription fee per unit. The total per season (per year) is ca ~ €20 per collar
•    Low maintenance costs
There are no additional requirements in terms of farm infrastructure. The GPS- / E-collars can communicate via mobile net, LTE-M, NB-IoT, LoRaWAN or satellite. Farmer must buy the appropriate collar for his area to ensure communication with collar. 
The farmers do not need substantial training to be able to use the collars, and it is considered easy to use.
The benefits of this tool include: 
•    labour/time saving as the farmer gets an overview of whereabout of animals while grazing, and can more easily attend to animals
•    Improved accuracy of records, as each collar will provide data on movement and land use
•    Additional information on animal behaviour
•    Reduced stress for farmer knowing whereabouts of animals. 
•    Help attract new entrants into farming, as well as keep sheep farmers into sheep farming
•    Also, land use is under pressure and documenting land use by sheep is important. 

Using virtual fencing (VF) allows farmers to control whereabouts of grazing animals without putting up physical fences.  
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dlodXcn7M1A  
The main costs involved are associated with: 
•    Cost of buying numerous collars for all animals in the group – prize ca €200 per collar
•    Running costs per collar varies with number of months in use. For one month the running costs are ca (~ €8 each)
•    Low maintenance costs
There are no additional requirements in terms of farm infrastructure, except need of mobile coverage when communicating with collar. The batteri in VF collars need to be recharged, and lasting time of batteri  depends on weather conditions, VF setup and animal behaviour within the VF. 
Instructions on how to implement, set up and start the training of animals is provided by videos and company support service. The farmers do not need substantial training to be able to use the VF, but instructions on how animals learn the system are vital to follow in order to ensure animal welfare. 
The benefits of this tool include: 
•    labour/time saving as there is no need to put up a fixed fence for grazing area 
•    Improved accuracy of records, as each VF collar will provide data on movement and land use
•    Improved information available for management decisions and improved use of feed resources as it allows moving animals to appropriate grazing land at any time
•    It provide additional information on animal behaviour, also related to the rest of the group
•    Reduced stress for farmer knowing whereabouts of animals. 
•    Help attract new entrants into farming, as well as increase use of grazing resources

Drones can be used to monitor animals on pasture; checking on their health and whereabouts. A drone can also be used for surveillance of fences and other installations. Further, moving sheep on pastures i.e. to avoid dangerous landscapes and also for documentation.Sm@RT solutions Norway: Drone (youtube.com) 
The main costs involved are associated with: 
•    the cost of buying the drone. There are numerous drones in different prize categories, but a small quadruple drone commonly used costs between 1000-2500EURO
•    No addtional costs involved, but drone pilot must know regulations on use of drone. 
•    Also, battery capacity and weather contidtions can restric the use of the drone.                                     
•    In Norway the open category lincence allows drone flying in 'Visual Line of Sight (VLOS)’. 
There are no additional requirements in terms of farm infrasturucture, but drone pilot need to follow national regulations on use of drone. 
The benefits of this tool include: 
•    labour/time saving as you can move animals away from dangerous / steep areas and also check on animals from a distance
•    Gather knowledge of conditions in rangelands
•    Less stress for farmer 
•    Documentation 
•    Also, the tool might be of interest to young farmers and may encourage new entrants to sheep farming.

AHDB’s feed (grass and supplementation) budget planner: Helps farmers forecast how much grass is going to be available at certain times of the year and helps to plan when supplementation may be required.
The planner is free to download from the AHDB website and needs to be combined with routine pasture measurements to establish the kg DM per ha of each field or grazing area.
The tool does not require any subscriptions, but users will need access to a computer to download the software on to. Only a short training period (up to an hour) should be required.
The benefits of this tool include:
• Improved information available for management decisions for animal groupings, as it allows a better use of nutrition and use of feed resources (pasture), and data helps to plan when additional supplementation is required.
• By providing the correct nutrition and ensuring the intake requirements of the animals can be better met, this will also help to improve animal welfare.
• The tool is easy to use, once installed onto a computer.
• There are also additional environmental benefits. 
More sophisticated ration software are available, which come at a cost, but allow detailed rations to be set-up for various different classes of animal (pregnant ewes, finishing lambs, etc.). These include “DietCheck for Sheep” and “Small Ruminant Nutrition System”. 

The automatic feeder is useful tool for feeding sheep, it’s available meet sheep and milk sheep production types too. Sheep are identified using their ear tags. If the animal is allowed access to a specific manger the gate goes down. When the allowed access time for that period is over, the access gate goes up, pushing the animal away from the manger so that another animal can get to the gate. The weight of the manger is measured before and after animal access and the weight difference is transferred to the central computer for analysis.
The main costs involved are associated with: 
- Investment is pretty high more than €15,000, because the prices are quite high. The investment cost depends on the company, the brand, and the specials of the tool.
- No subscription needed
- There is no any additional licences or permits
- The lifetime of the investment is more than 5 years, and it increases the the farm infrastructure
- The tool is easy to obtain and a short training enough to study the usage.

The benefits of this tool include:
- Labour and time saving
- Accurate / optimised feed consumption records.
- The system enables to feed animals according their individual requirements even if they share the same pen.
- The automatic feeding is reduce the stress of the animal, and improve the welfare of the flock
- Collecting individual feed intake animal data
- After the installation it is easy to use,
- For the technological side easy to use after installation, and ease of data transfer to other software. 

To assess factors influencing the rate and peak level of uptake of the FecPak G2 kit, the UK used the Adoption and Diffusions Outcome Prediction Tool (ADOPT) (https://adopt.csiro.au/home.aspx). The FecPak G2 kit is a diagnostic platform which allows farmers to undertake faecal egg counts without the requirement for a laboratory or the need to send faecal samples to a laboratory. It is image based, so that sampling can be undertaken at any time and uploaded through the computer software. Results are returned within 24 hours. The tool is used for the detection of common external and internal parasites, and their treatment (https://smartplatform.network/fecpak-g2/).

In this case, Scottish sheep farmers were asked 22 questions which were structured around 4 aspects of adoption; characteristics of the tool/technology; characteristics of the farming population; advantage of using the tool/technology; and learnability. The responses given to each question allow several factors to be calculated, allowing the peak adoption level and the time to near-peak adoption to be predicted. The time to near-peak adoption level is the time it takes to reach 99% of the predicted peak level of adoption. 
We found that it would take only 8 years to near-peak adoption of the FecPak kit, and the peak adoption level by the sheep farmers population in Scotland would be substantial at 58%. 

To assess factors influencing the rate and peak level of uptake of the DNA parentage tool, which, by collecting DNA from animals within a flock, allows farmers to determine lamb parentage in extensive grazing systems (https://smartplatform.network/genomic-parentage/), the UK used the Adoption and Diffusions Outcome Prediction Tool (ADOPT) (https://adopt.csiro.au/home.aspx). 
In this case, industry representatives of the UK sheep sector were asked 22 questions which were structured around 4 aspects of adoption; characteristics of the tool/technology; characteristics of the farming population; advantage of using the tool/technology; and learnability. The responses given to each question allow several factors to be calculated, allowing the peak adoption level and the time to near-peak adoption to be predicted. The time to near-peak adoption level is the time it takes to reach 99% of the predicted peak level of adoption. 
We found that it would take 18 years to near-peak adoption of the DNA parentage testing, and the peak adoption level by the sheep farmers population in Scotland would only be 16%.
The main reasons behind these rate and peak adoption level were due to, respectively, the farmers’ relevant existing skills & knowledge (a majority of farmers would need new skills and knowledge), and the profit benefit in the years that the technology is used (only a small profit advantage in years that it is used). 

There are a number of farm management software packages on the market, all offering a varied selection of options. The basis for such software is to record information on the individual animals performance, the flock/herd, movements, medicines, etc. There is possibility to link the software to a weigh-head or to an EID stick reader.  To assess factors influencing the rate and peak level of uptake of such tool, the UK used the Adoption and Diffusions Outcome Prediction Tool (ADOPT) (https://adopt.csiro.au/home.aspx). 
In this case, Scottish sheep farmers were asked 22 questions which were structured around 4 aspects of adoption; characteristics of the tool/technology; characteristics of the farming population; advantage of using the tool/technology; and learnability. The responses given to each question allow several factors to be calculated, allowing the peak adoption level and the time to near-peak adoption to be predicted. The time to near-peak adoption level is the time it takes to reach 99% of the predicted peak level of adoption. 
We found that it would take 14 years to near-peak adoption of flock management software package, and the peak adoption level by the sheep farmers population in Scotland would be very effective at 98%. The main reasons behind these rate and peak adoption level were due to, respectively, the farmers’ relevant existing skills & knowledge (a majority of farmers would need new skills and knowledge), and the enterprise scale (almost all of the target farms have a major enterprise that could benefit). 

To assess factors influencing the rate and peak level of uptake of the ilk tank weighing, the IT used the Adoption and Diffusions Outcome Prediction Tool (ADOPT) (https://adopt.csiro.au/home.aspx). The milk tank weighing is a weigh scale which, positioned under the tank, allows farmers to measure the milk yielded at group level. 
In this case, Italian sheep farmers were asked 22 questions which were structured around 4 aspects of adoption; characteristics of the tool/technology; characteristics of the farming population; advantage of using the tool/technology; and learnability. The responses given to each question allow several factors to be calculated, allowing the peak adoption level and the time to near-peak adoption to be predicted. The time to near-peak adoption level is the time it takes to reach 99% of the predicted peak level of adoption. 
We found that it would take only 8 years to near-peak adoption of the milk tank weigh, and the peak adoption level by the sheep farmers population in Italy would be substantial at 76%. The main reasons behind these rate and peak adoption level were due to, respectively, the farmers’ relevant existing skills & knowledge (a majority of farmers would need new skills and knowledge), and the profit benefit in years that it is
used (moderate profit advantage in years that it is used). 

To assess factors influencing the rate and peak level of uptake of the milk meter tool, which allows farmers to determine milk yield at individual level, the IT used the Adoption and Diffusions Outcome Prediction Tool (ADOPT) (https://adopt.csiro.au/home.aspx). 
In this case, stakeholders representatives of the IT sheep sector were asked 22 questions which were structured around 4 aspects of adoption; characteristics of the tool/technology; characteristics of the farming population; advantage of using the tool/technology; and learnability. The responses given to each question allow several factors to be calculated, allowing the peak adoption level and the time to near-peak adoption to be predicted. The time to near-peak adoption level is the time it takes to reach 99% of the predicted peak level of adoption. 
We found that it would take 16 years to near-peak adoption of the milk meter, and the peak adoption level by the sheep farmers population in Italy would be 29%.
The main reasons behind these rate and peak adoption level were due to, respectively, the farmers’ relevant existing skills & knowledge (a majority of farmers would need new skills and knowledge), and the enterprise scale (A minority of the target farms have a major enterprise that could benefit). 

There are a number of EID bolus parlour reader on the market that can collect individual animal data and may halp to manage animals within a flock for reproductio, production, health an management purposes.  There is the possibility to connect the reader to a computer  and make decisions. To assess factors influencing the rate and peak level of uptake of such tool, the IT used the Adoption and Diffusions Outcome Prediction Tool (ADOPT) (https://adopt.csiro.au/home.aspx). 
In this case, Sarda dairy sheep farmers were asked 22 questions which were structured around 4 aspects of adoption; characteristics of the tool/technology; characteristics of the farming population; advantage of using the tool/technology; and learnability. The responses given to each question allow several factors to be calculated, allowing the peak adoption level and the time to near-peak adoption to be predicted. The time to near-peak adoption level is the time it takes to reach 99% of the predicted peak level of adoption. 
We found that it would take 5 years to near-peak adoption of EID bolus parlour reader, and the peak adoption level by the sheep farmers population in Italy would be very effective at 28%. The main reasons behind these rate and peak adoption level were due to, respectively, the farmers’ relevant existing skills & knowledge (a majority of farmers would need new skills and knowledge), and the profit benefit in years that it is used (almost all of the target farms have no profit advantage or disadvantage in years that it is used). 

To assess factors influencing the rate and peak level of uptake of such tool, Ireland used the Adoption and Diffusions Outcome Prediction Tool (ADOPT) (https://adopt.csiro.au/home.aspx). 
In this case, Irish meat sheep farmers, advisors, industry members, researchers and vets were asked 22 questions which were structured around 4 aspects of adoption; characteristics of the tool/technology; characteristics of the farming population; advantage of using the tool/technology; and learnability. The responses given to each question allow several factors to be calculated, allowing the peak adoption level and the time to near-peak adoption to be predicted. The time to near-peak adoption level is the time it takes to reach 99% of the predicted peak level of adoption. 
We found that it would take 12 years to near-peak adoption of the Connected Electric Fence, and the peak adoption level by the sheep farmer population in Ireland would be at 16%. The main reasons behind these rate and peak adoption level were due to; no net environmental effects and about half of all farmers would need new skills and knowledge to implement the Connected Electric Fence on their farms. 

To assess factors influencing the rate and peak level of uptake of such tool, Ireland used the Adoption and Diffusions Outcome Prediction Tool (ADOPT) (https://adopt.csiro.au/home.aspx). 
In this case, Irish meat sheep farmers, advisors, industry members, researchers and vets were asked 22 questions which were structured around 4 aspects of adoption; characteristics of the tool/technology; characteristics of the farming population; advantage of using the tool/technology; and learnability. The responses given to each question allow several factors to be calculated, allowing the peak adoption level and the time to near-peak adoption to be predicted. The time to near-peak adoption level is the time it takes to reach 99% of the predicted peak level of adoption. 
We found that it would take 17 years to near-peak adoption of EID readers, and the peak adoption level by the sheep farmer population in Ireland would be at 34%. The main reasons behind these rate and peak adoption level were due to; no net environmental effects and the majority of farmers would need new skills and knowledge to implement EID readers on their farms. 

To assess factors influencing the rate and peak level of uptake of such tool, Ireland used the Adoption and Diffusions Outcome Prediction Tool (ADOPT) (https://adopt.csiro.au/home.aspx). 
In this case, Irish meat sheep farmers, advisors, industry members, researchers and vets were asked 22 questions which were structured around 4 aspects of adoption; characteristics of the tool/technology; characteristics of the farming population; advantage of using the tool/technology; and learnability. The responses given to each question allow several factors to be calculated, allowing the peak adoption level and the time to near-peak adoption to be predicted. The time to near-peak adoption level is the time it takes to reach 99% of the predicted peak level of adoption. 
We found that it would take 10 years to near-peak adoption of the Drone, and the peak adoption level by the sheep farmer population in Ireland would be at 52%. The main reasons behind these rate and peak adoption level were due to; small net environmental effects and about half of all farmers would need new skills and knowledge to implement the Drone on their farms. 

Nowadays the innovative technology is part of the life and part of the barn as well. To assess factors influencing the rate and peak level of uptake of such tool, Hungary used the Adoption and Diffusions Outcome Prediction Tool (ADOPT) (https://adopt.csiro.au/home.aspx).
In this case, Hungarian sheep farmers, advisors and researchers were asked 22 questions which were structured around 4 aspects of adoption; characteristics of the tool/technology; characteristics of the farming population; advantage of using the tool/technology; and learnability.
The responses given to each question allow several factors to be calculated, allowing the peak adoption level and the time to near-peak adoption to be predicted. The time to near-peak adoption level is the time it takes to reach 99% of the predicted peak level of adoption. 
We found that it would take 3 years to near-peak adoption camera, and the peak adoption level by the sheep farmers population in Hungary would be very effective at 97%. The main reasons behind these rate and peak adoption level were due to, respectively, the farmers’ relevant existing skills & knowledge (a majority of farmers would need new skills and knowledge), and the enterprise scale (almost all of the target farms have a major enterprise that could benefit).

Nowadays the innovative technology is part of the life and part of the barn as well. To assess factors influencing the rate and peak level of uptake of such tool, Hungary used the Adoption and Diffusions Outcome Prediction Tool (ADOPT) (https://adopt.csiro.au/home.aspx).
In this case, Hungarian sheep farmers, advisors and researchers were asked 22 questions which were structured around 4 aspects of adoption; characteristics of the tool/technology; characteristics of the farming population; advantage of using the tool/technology; and learnability.
The responses given to each question allow several factors to be calculated, allowing the peak adoption level and the time to near-peak adoption to be predicted. The time to near-peak adoption level is the time it takes to reach 99% of the predicted peak level of adoption. 
We found that it would take 6 years to near-peak adoption camera, and the peak adoption level by the sheep farmers population in Hungary would be very effective at 98%. The main reasons behind these rate and peak adoption level were due to, respectively, the farmers’ relevant existing skills & knowledge (a majority of farmers would need new skills and knowledge), and the enterprise scale (almost all of the target farms have a major enterprise that could benefit).

To assess factors influencing the rate and peak level of uptake of such tool, France used the Adoption and Diffusions Outcome Prediction Tool (ADOPT) (https://adopt.csiro.au/home.aspx). 
In this case, French sheep and goat farmers, advisors and researchers were asked 22 questions which were structured around 4 aspects of adoption; characteristics of the tool/technology; characteristics of the farming population; advantage of using the tool/technology; and learnability. The responses given to each question allow several factors to be calculated, allowing the peak adoption level and the time to near-peak adoption to be predicted. The time to near-peak adoption level is the time it takes to reach 99% of the predicted peak level of adoption. 
We found that it would take 5 years to near-peak adoption of the automatic feeder system, and the peak adoption level by the sheep and goat farmers population in France would be at 17%. The main reasons behind these rate and peak adoption level were due to, respectively, the level of profitability (moderate profit advantage in years that it is used), and the farmers’ relevant existing skills & knowledge (a minority of farmers would need new skills and knowledge). 

To assess factors influencing the rate and peak level of uptake of such tool, France used the Adoption and Diffusions Outcome Prediction Tool (ADOPT) (https://adopt.csiro.au/home.aspx). 
In this case, French goat farmers, advisors and vet were asked 22 questions which were structured around 4 aspects of adoption; characteristics of the tool/technology; characteristics of the farming population; advantage of using the tool/technology; and learnability. The responses given to each question allow several factors to be calculated, allowing the peak adoption level and the time to near-peak adoption to be predicted. The time to near-peak adoption level is the time it takes to reach 99% of the predicted peak level of adoption. 
We found that it would take 9 years to near-peak adoption of the Walk-over-Weighing system, and the peak adoption level by the goat farmers population in France would be at 63%. The main reasons behind these rate and peak adoption level were due to, respectively, the enterprise scale (a minority of the target farms have a major enterprise that could benefit), and the farmers’ relevant existing skills & knowledge (half of farmers would need new skills and knowledge). 

The autodrafter is a huge help for the farm. This is a fully automated drafting system that is smoother, quieter, and easier to set up and operate without manual labour. There are different models available on the market from different companies, for example 3-ways or 5 ways versions. It’s a good tol to control a weighning and tha drafting in the same time.
The main costs involved are associated with: 
- Investment is pretty high more than €15,000, because the prices are quite high. The investment cost depends on the company, the brand, and the specials of the tool.
- No subscription needed
- There is no any additional licences or permits
- The lifetime of the investment is more than 5 years, and it increases the the farm infrastructure
- The tool is easy to obtain and a short training enough to study the usage. 
The benefits of this tool include:
- Labour and time saving
- Accurate / optimised feed consumption records.
- Better management of decisions and feed and feed resources/better response to needs in relation to meat production.
- the automatic drafting is less stresful than the manual, so it reduces the stress of the animals,
- After the installation it is easy to use,
- Variable usage - It can be mobile or permanently fixed in position
 

Milking parlour identification lets you know which animal is on the milking platform. Equipped with an LED, an alert can be programmed to more quickly identify animals that should not be milked. Combined with an automatic feeder, this can be used to distribute an individual ration to each animal. Or milk meters can be used in link to the antenna to monitor individual milk production. Ultra high-frequency antennae can also be used to determine the order in which animals are milked and identify health problems at an early stage. 
The main costs involved are associated with:  
- Investment cost for an in-parlour identification system - between €5,000 and €15,000
- The cost of electronic identification tags can also be taken into account, although they are compulsory in Europe: €1 to €20 per tag.
The milking parlour must be well thought out and adapted to the installation of such a tool. The system is generally mains operated. Up to 100% of adult animals in a dairy flock will use milking parlour identification. 
An online after-sales service is available in case of problems. A half-day training course is recommended before using the tool. 
The benefits of this tool include:
- Increased comfort and working time, because you can more quickly identify an animal that should not be milked, for example.
- Better management of individual animals or batches by distributing a ration adapted to needs. 
- Reduced stress for the farmer at milking time (less risk of milking errors (seek animal, mastitis, etc.). 
- The use of this system can also increase the attractiveness of the farming profession by reducing the amount of time required.

The 3D imaging scanner is a prototype in the form of a gantry that can be used to obtain 3D images of sheep in order to estimate their weight or body condition score. This device, which uses light restraint, is non-invasive and less stressful for the animals.
The main costs involved are associated with: 
- Investment cost for this prototype - €5,000 to €15,000
- No subscription planned at present.
The 3D scan can be integrated into the restraint pen or a corridor, provided that the opaque walls in front of the cameras are removed (a fliet system can be used for restraint). Up to 100% of the animals in a flock will pass through the 3D scan. The device is plugged into the mains.
Half a day's training is recommended to use the tool properly.
The benefits of this tool include:
- Greater comfort and shorter working hours, with less stringent restraint and easier passage for the animals.
- Better individual management of the animals and their diet and health by regularly monitoring their weight and fat cover.
- The scan is easy to move if required and can be shared with other farmers.
- Reduced stress for the animals and the farmer when measuring weight and body condition score.
- The use of this device can also increase the attractiveness of the breeding profession by reducing drudgery.

Fences can be monitored using a tool that measures the current in the wires to detect faults, known as connected fences.
The main costs involved are associated with: 
- Investment cost for a fence monitoring tool - from 500 to 1,000 euros
- A subscription may be required to receive alerts on the smartphone: 1 to 50 euros per month
This tool only works with electric fences. Up to 100% of the animals in a flock can have a controlled fence.
No identified after-sales service. The tool is easy to use and farmers will not need extensive training to use it.
The benefits of this tool include:
- It saves time and effort, because you can check the fence remotely and, if there's a problem, pinpoint where the fence is damaged.
- The tool can be shared between farmers or loaned out occasionally, as it is easy to move around. 
- Reduces stress for the farmer, who is alerted if a fencing problem occurs.

The Aptimiz working time recording and management application geolocates and records the time spent on each of the farmer's tasks. By studying the distribution of working time, it is possible to optimise tasks management on the farm.
The main costs involved are associated with: 
- The annual subscription for the application installed on the smartphone, ranging from €200 to €500
No additional requirements in terms of farm infrastructure are needed, for continuous synchronisation internet coverage is recommended. The application runs on a charged smartphone. 
An online after-sales service is available in the event of a problem.  A half-day training course is recommended to get the most out of the system. 
The benefits of this tool include:
- Increased comfort and working time, as it can be used to optimise travel to save time, for example.
- Increased information gathered by providing data on time spent on different activities.
- Reduced stress for the farmer and employees and increased comfort at work as a result of analysis and discussions on task completion.

Connected milk tank weighing monitor tank weight in real time and automatically record the data. Monitoring tank weight enables milk production to be tracked during milking and could help to detect problems in the flock (health problems, feeding problems, etc.).
The main costs involved are associated with: 
- Investment cost for 4 load cells and a data recording box + gateway - 2,500 to 5,000 euros
- No subscription required
It may also be useful weighing the bowl before the tank to get a more accurate estimate of milk production, or emptying the bowl after each batch. The system is mains operated. 100% of adult animals in a flock will benefit from tank weighing to monitor milk production.
An online after-sales service is available in the event of any problems. A half-day training course is recommended to get the most out of the system. 
The benefits of this tool include:
- Accurate / optimised milk production records.
- Better management of feed and feed resources/better response to needs in relation to milk production.
- Increased information collected on animal milk production.
- Ease of use.

A connected water meter can be installed at the water trough, at the water arrival to the building or to an arrival to an animal group and can be used to monitor water leaks as well as the water consumption of animals in a group or of an individual animal if an RFID antenna is placed near the water trough.
The main costs involved are associated with: 
- Investment cost for a data logging box + gateway - between €1,000 and €2,500
- Cost of a connected water meter - from 50 to 200 euros
- An annual subscription per sensor is required: 200 to 500 euros per year
The water circuit may need to be adapted to suit the sensors chosen. The system is mains-powered, but can also be battery-powered. Up to 100% of the animals in a flock will use the water meter, depending on its positioning.
An online after-sales service is available in the event of a problem. A half-day training course is recommended to get the most out of the system. 
The benefits of this tool include:
- Accurate / optimised water consumption records.
- Increased information on water consumption by animals, buildings and units. 
- Safeguarding against water leaks: water meters can alert the farmer if consumption is too high, resulting in a leak.

Cameras installed mainly in buildings, but also outdoors, enable farmers to monitor their animals and their farm. They can be used, for example, to detect a lambing or kidding or to identify a problem in the flock (health, feeding, robot malfunction, etc.).
The main costs involved are associated with: 
- Investment cost for a camera + recording system - between €1,000 and €2,500
- A subscription in addition to the internet subscription may be required to view the videos remotely: 1 to 50 euros per month
No additional requirements in terms of agricultural infrastructure are necessary, as the cameras can easily be installed on existing buildings. The cameras are generally mains operated. Up to 100% of the animals in a flock will use the cameras depending on their position. 
An online after-sales service is available in the event of a problem. Farmers will not need extensive training to use the cameras. Anyone can view them. 
The benefits of this tool include:
- Comfort and time savings, as the farmer no longer has to make unnecessary journeys during lambing or kidding, for example.
- Better individual management of the animals, as you can intervene if necessary even if the farmer is not on site. 
- The cameras are easy to move around and can be shared with other farmers.
- Reduced stress for the animals and the farmer during lambing or kidding, as the animals are less disturbed and the farmer can still keep an eye on them. 
- The use of cameras can also increase the attractiveness of the farming profession by reducing the amount of time spent on farm.

Ewes can be scanned to diagnose pregnancy and expected litter size. This facilitates nutrition planning pre-lambing. Expected lambing date can also be predicted. A trained operator uses an ultrasound scanner and specially designed crate to quickly identify pregnancy and/or expected litter size. Ewes are marked to record litter size and EID recording may be used. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ActZdYMIIfk
A contractor completes the scanning so no investment needed by the farmer. The contractor usually charges a small amount of €1-2 per ewe scanned, and they may charge a travel fee. No additional farm infrastructure is required but a power source is needed. 
The benefits of this tool include:
• Labour / time saving. 
• Accuracy of records (health, management, movements etc.). 
• Management decisions for animal groupings. 
• Better individual animal management.
• Better nutrition / meeting requirements better. 
• Improved use of feed resource (grazing, concentrates, etc.). 
• Increased information on production system.
• Reduced stress to the animal(s). 
• Improved welfare of the animals(s). 
• Ease of data transfer to other software.
• Reduced stress to farmer / staff
• Environmental benefits (e.g. reduced wastage, improved biodiversity, etc.) 

FECPAK G2 kit is a diagnostic platform which allows one to undertake faecal egg counts without the requirement for a laboratory or the need to send faecal samples to a laboratory. It is image based which allows sampling to be undertaken at any time and uploaded through the computer software. Results are returned to the person who uploads the sample images within 24 hours. https://smartplatform.network/fecpak-g2/
The main costs involved are associated with:
• FECPAK G2 unit and started pack €1200
• Yearly subscription for 200 tests €680
There is no change to farm infrastructure requirements needed, a laboratory is not required but internet access  and power is needed. It does not diagnose liver fluke.
The benefits of this tool include:
• Labour / time saving. 
• Accuracy of records (health, management, movements etc.). 
• Management decisions for animal groupings. 
• Better individual animal management.
• Improved medicine use.
• Product quality improvements (e.g. hay, carcass, growth, milk, etc.). 
• Increased information on production system. 
• Opportunity for sharing / moving device (more than one location).
• Reduced stress to the animal(s). 
• Improved welfare of the animals(s). 
• Easy to use once installed. 
• Environmental benefits (e.g. reduced wastage, improved biodiversity, etc.) 

Flock recording apps (e.g. Sheep Ireland) can be used to performance record individual animals in a flock. Depending on the app, data recorded such as weights, mating information, litter size, parentage, medicine use etc. This facilitates the comparison of animal performance within and between flocks. Data can be input manually or the app can be linked to an EID reader through Bluetooth and record animal EID/tag number automatically. The app will store this information and reports can be generated depending on data recorded e.g. growth rates. No investment is needed to use the application as it is free from Sheep Ireland members but a smartphone is needed with internet access. Sheep Ireland membership is free for commercial farms and between €50-100/year for pedigree registered flocks, it is only available to Irish farmers. Sheep Ireland can provide customer support and advice via email and on the phone.
The benefits of this tool include:
• Accuracy of records (health, management, movements etc.). 
• Management decisions for animal groupings. 
• Better individual animal management.
• Increased information on production system. 
• Compatibility with other devices. 
• Easy to use once installed. 

The sheep conveyor moves and restrains sheep along a race at a speed pre-determined by the operator. The sheep are held upright and cannot move forward or backward in the conveyor. This allows the farmer to stay in one position on either side of the conveyor and administer treatments without moving. The conveyor speed can be adjusted and the sheep can be moved forward, held in one position, reversed or held on their back as required.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AF8_FKwLWE0
The initial investment cost is large (€15,000+) thus requiring a large flock size to justify the cost. Can be difficult to get animals into the conveyor therefore requires an additional person working or effective sheepdog which defeats the purpose of labour saving. There are some additional requirements in terms of farm infrastructure and a power source is needed. 
The benefits of this tool include:
• Labour / time saving.
• Better individual animal management
• Reduced stress to the animal(s)
• Improved welfare of the animals(s)
• Easy to use once installed.
• Reduced stress to farmer/staff

The somatic cell counter allows farmers to monitor the mammary health status. The main costs involved are associated with: 
• the capital costs which can range from around €2500 to €3000.
• plus running costs due to battery consumption and cassettes for processing.
There are no additional requirements in terms of farm infrastructure and up to 100% of animals within a flock can be tested and the information utilised. Samples only need to be collected from the animals. The process may involve a small amount of training for the sample collection and process. 
The benefits of this tool include: Accuracy of records (health, management). Management decisions for animal groupings. Better individual animal management and improved medicine use. 
There is the opportunity for sharing / moving device (more than one location). 
The correct use of the instrument reduces the stress to the animal and improves their welfare. The somatic cell counter is compatible with other instruments and it is easy to use. It has a moderate value for money and maby reccommended on other type of farms.

The milk meters allow farmers to determine the individual milk yield production (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TeDvUnn3ViY&t=18s&ab_channel=H2020SmaRT). The main costs involved are associated with: 
• the initial set-up (e.g. capital costs) which may exceed €15000.
There are no additional requirements in terms of farm infrastructure and up to 100% of animals within a flock can be tested and the information utilised. Mains powe source is required. Technical support needs to be provided after purchase in order to train farmers on how to use the instrument, moreover calibration need to be done at least 3 times per year. Additional technical advices may be needed during its use.
The benefits of this tool include: 
Labour / time saving, accuracy of records (health, management, movements etc.), management decisions for animal groupings and better individual animal management. Moreover a better nutrition can be reached through the better matching of animal's requirements even improving the use of feed resource (grazing, concentrates, etc.). Increased information on production system can be perceived. The milk meters are compatible with other devices and may also reduce the stress of the staff members and of the animal thus improving their welfare.
• The instrument is easy moderately use and allows farmers to monitor the perfomance of their individual animals. It has a medium value for money and maybe reccommended on other type of farms.

Portable NIRS allows farmers and technician to determine the feedstuff  quality on farm (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zfj5F51coRc&t=65s). The main costs involved are associated with: 
• the initial set-up (e.g. capital costs) which may exceed €15000.
• battery costs as energy power supply.
There are no additional requirements in terms of farm infrastructure, licence or subscription and up to 100% of animals within a flock can use the information produced. Technical support needs to be provided after purchase, actually calibration curves need to be updated. Samples of forages or concetrates only need to be collected periodically during the year. The process may involve a moderate training for the sample collection and processing. 
The benefits of this tool include: 
• Better nutrition / meeting requirements better,  as it allows to adjust diet according to animal's needs. •Improved use of feed resource (grazing, concentrates, etc.). •Product quality improvements as well fed animals can potentially have better products. •Increased information on production system. •Opportunity for sharing / moving device (more than one location). 
• The process is easy to use and allows farmers to monitor the quality of the diet at group level and improve productivity and quality of products. 
• The device has a moderate value for money and maybe reccommended for use on other type of farms.

The environmental station + fan cooler allows farmers tocontrol the environmental condition of the shed  (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2jFvc50LNpk&t=64s). The main costs involved are associated with: 
• the initial set-up (e.g. weather station + fan cooler) which can range from around €5000 to €15000.
• running costs (main power source requirements ).
There are no additional requirements in terms of subscription fee or additional licence or farm infrastructure and up to 100% of animals within a flock can take advantage of the technology. The process may involve a small amount of training for the correct use of the technology. 
The benefits of this tool include: 
• Improved medicine use, as the animals can live in a more comfortable environment and overcome unscathed the periods characterized by high temperature. 
• improved use of feed resource, as ameliorate animal welfare conditions and prevent heat stress. 
• The process is easy to use once installed and reduces stress for farmers/staff.  
• It has a high value for money and can be recommended to other type of farms. 

Using an automatic grass plate meter allows farmers to record the grass height and biomass in a field or a pasture. 
The main costs involved are associated with buying the tool - ranges from €500 to €1,000. There are no other costs, nor any additional requirements in terms of farm infrastructure. 
The tool works on battery, and should last more than 5 years. 
The maintenance parts are easy to obtain, but there is no technical support on farm provided after purchase. Farmers will need a very small amount of training to be able to use the plate meter to its full capacity. 
The benefits of this tool include: 
• Improved information available for management decisions for animal groupings, as it allows a better use of nutrition and use of feed resources (pasture), and data helps to plan when additional supplementation is required. 
• Can be shared amongst farmers.
• Improved welfare of the animals and information on food intake and availability. 
• Ease of data transfer to other devices, and ease of use once purchased
• Environmental benefits (improved biodiversity)
It is also useful for rotational grazing systems, and allows farmers to plan for when there is a lot, or very little, grass available. 

Using an EID enabled weigh crate allows farmers to weigh and record automatically individual animal weight, and to sort them according to pre-set criteria (e.g. weight, weight change, breed, sex, etc.). 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cwS4ii8nRLs 
The main costs involved are associated with: 
• Capital cost for the weigh crate – ranges from €5,000 to €15,000
• Individual cost for the EID ear-tag (~ €1.20 each)
• plus some maintenance costs ( between ~€1 to €50)
There are some additional requirements in terms of farm infrastructure. The weigh crate can run on the mains or on battery. Up to 100% of animals within a flock will use the weigh crate, more than once in a farming year.  The maintenance parts can be difficult to obtain, and there is no technical support on farm provided after purchase. Farmers will need substantial training to be able to use the weigh crate to its full capacity. 
The benefits of this tool include: 
• Labour/time saving as it speeds up handling of animals, Up to 500 sheep can be weighed and sorted by one person in 1 hour. 
• Improved accuracy of records, as each EID tag is read by the panel reader in the weigh crate, and information is linked to it automatically. 
• Improved information available for management decisions, as it allows a targeted use of nutrition, as well as medicine use, thus reducing wastage and improving productivity. Sorting animals with a weigh crate facilitate further interventions (e.g. worming). 
• Can be shared amongst farmers as mobile units exist.
• Reduced stress at handling time for both the animals and the farmer. 

The collection of DNA from animals within a flock allows farmers to determine lamb parentage in extensive grazing systems (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IfD3g90uh5Q). The main costs involved are associated with: 
•    the sample collection device (e.g. tissue sampler, nasal swab) which can range from around €1.50 to €3.00 each.
•    plus laboratory processing (from €10 per sample, depending on the level of additional tests included).
There are no additional requirements in terms of farm infrastructure and up to 100% of animals within a flock can be tested and the information utilised. Samples only need to be collected from the animals once in their lifetime. The process may involve a small amount of training for the sample collection process. 
The benefits of this tool include: 
•    labour and time saving, as it removes the need for extra recording at mating and lambing time to establish parentage. 
•    improves the information available for future management decisions, whether as part of an organised breeding programme or based purely on the performance of individual animals (rams, ewes & lambs). 
•    The process is easy to use and allows farmers to monitor the perfomance of their individual animals without the additional stress of matching every lamb to a ewe at lambing time or having to find enough fields for singe-sire mating groups at mating time. 
•    The improved level of information available for a flock (and the individuals within it) will help to improve productivity, reduce wastage and may encourage new entrants to the industry.

An automatic feeder can make the shepherd's work easier. With a use of precision technologies like this productivity can be increased. Precision solutions can help increase feed use efficiency. Results a uniform quality blend and also reduces loss. If here is any feed left between the two feedings can be easily transported using the conveyor belt. With this technology we can increase feed use efficiency and can increase productivity and the profitability of the farm. It may cost a lot to invest in such a technology, but it pays off over time

Nowadays it is not necessary for the shepherd to be present on the pasture as he can even guide the sheep with the help of a drone. With a GPS tracker You are able to monitoring the sheep individually on the grassland. With a GPS tracker (collars) You can monitoring the sheep location and movement history. With these You can get more individual information from the grassland, guide the flock without being on the grassland.

Aptimiz is an application installed on smartphones that permit to measure the time spent on each task / part of the farm. The application works thanks to the GPS which records the time spent in a given place of the farm which is previously divided into several working areas. Each zone is linked to a particular building, part of the farm or task. The GPS recording must be done continuously throughout the day and for the time desired by the farmer to have enough data to answer his questions about the organisation of the work. The application can be used by the farmer and/or his employees to have an overview of the organization of work on the farm. The results can allow the farmer to point out the tasks that take more time, the routes or organisations that are not optimal or even plan the time and distribution of employees.

The monitoring of milk production is an important indicator of the good health and good nutrition of dairy sheep and goat. Nevertheless, individual monitoring requires milk meters and an electronic identification by an RFID antenna of the animal in the milking parlor and are solutions that are often too expensive and complex to implement for farmers. On the other hand, tanks generally only allow the visualization of their capacity and not the recording and feedback of this information. The installation of weigh sensors under the milk tank makes it possible to have the weight of the tank continuously and therefore the milk production of the different lots. Thus the breeder can hope to detect health problems, food or other problems thanks to the weight data of the tanks recorded and the order of passage of his lots / animals in the milking parlour.

The watering of ewes, goats and their followers is a key point in the management of animal health and milk production. Nevertheless, there is a lack of references and objectified knowledge around the water consumption of sheep and goat. The installation of water meters at the trough linked to an RFID identification antenna allows the recording of individual watering data and thus the monitoring of the drinking behavior of the animals. Access to this data makes it possible to approach the detection of health problems by identifying behavior of abnormal lots, behavior of abnormal individuals or even a change in the behavior of an animal.

During the first national workshops, farmers identified the need to be able to identify a behavior changing of their animals without the need to be on the farm. The identification and alert of a behavior changing can answer to different uses such as monitoring heats or lambing and kidding, the identification of troubles in feeding or health problems or even answer to questions aroud animal welfare. The cameras answer these different questions by allowing the farmer to lok at and monitor his lots of animals on his computer or smartphone and to be able to intervene if necessary and at the right moment while limiting labour and presence on farm. There is currently no camera in small ruminants with automatic image processing that alerts the farmer of a behavior changing, but artificial intelligence and machine learning could improve this point.

This system involves a milk replacer unit that mixes milk powder and water and warms it to a temperature that can be determined and regulated by the farmer. Eight pipes lead from this unit to eight teats that the goats can suckle from ad lib 24 hours a day. This optimizes the intakes of milk replacer by goat kids while group housed by ensuring easily accessible ad lib feeding of pre-weaned goat kids. Multiple feeding points and all-time access means that there is less likelihood of aggression among the kids than if there was only one feeding point and/or if milk replacer were only offered at intervals during the day. It allows the kids to feed when they are motivated to do so. It also reduces labour costs and time for staff feeding the kids. This system also allows the satisfaction of goat kids’ motivation to suckle, so reducing cross-sucking and other sucking vices. The kids are removed from their dams at around 6 days old (earlier removal can lead to scouring and higher mortality). From then until they are two months old the kids are offered milk replacer ad lib from the teats. They are also offered clean hay, concentrates and clean water. The kids may need some training to use the teats, but soon learn. Benefits include: consistent quality of milk replacer offered and the means of access. Higher intakes of the kids, less scouring, less disease and mortality. Reduced aggression. Reduced labour costs and time. Can be used for sheep lambs also. Problems with this system are the availability of necessary space and suitability of housing to fit requirements. Additionally, the kids may show preference for one teat, and queue up to use this preferred teat rather than suckling on the other teats. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ve5gvDqdbuo

To get quality hay with high protein and energy content harvested grass should be at the right growth stage. However, quite often the rainy period makes it impossible to make hay at the correct growth stage. Another aspect is that many dairy goat and sheep farmers prefer to feed their animals with hay diets (without silage) to reduce the exposure of bacteria to milk. This solution optimises the time of hay cutting at the ideal growth stage regardless of the weather conditions and ensures consistent high quality hay for dairy goats throughout the year. After the cut, the grass is allowed to wilt for one day (or less) on the field and is then transferred to bunkers. The bunkers include a ventilation system from beneath which regulates the humidity of the air entering the bunker, and that leaving the bunker. This is powered mainly from solar panels. The roof is retractable to allow natural drying on dry days. When dried the hay is delivered by a suspended forklift on overhead rails. This system ensures year-round high quality hay for the feeding of dairy goats. Labour demands for the delivery and management of feed are reduced. Hay-making time is shortened, from cutting to storage it can be completed in one/two days irrespective of the weather. The feeding process is more efficient, taking less time than were it done manually. As the post-cut hay spends little time on the field, there is less contamination of the hay from soil and atmospheric microbes, and in addition the nutritional quality parameters (including protein and energy) of the hay are higher and there is less need for concentrate feed. Limitations to this system include the availability of necessary space and suitability of housing and unpredictable costs of energy required to ventilate the drying bunkers. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RWV-82AOBMU

Deciding on feeding groups pre-lambing, distribution/management of concentrate allocation during lambing, lambing records/ewe performance, and scanning and dividing ewe groups for appropriate nutrition were needs identified by farmers in the Sm@rt project. To address these needs the Irish partner proposed pregnancy scanning as a solution. Pregnancy scanning is used to diagnose pregnancy and expected litter size, thus facilitating the nutrition plan pre-lambing. A trained operator uses an ultrasound scanner and specially designed crate to quickly identify pregnancy in ewes and expected litter size. Ewes should be restricted from feed for about 10 hours in advance of scanning. At scanning, ewes are marked and/or EID recorded to record litter size. Pregnancy scanning is quick and stress free for ewes as it is carried out with sheep in a standing position. It is highly effective at identifying barren ewes which can be culled or removed from the pregnant ewes. Subsequently ewes can be grouped according to the expected number of lambs scanned to avoid under or over feeding. The farmer needs access to a trained operator to carry out pregnancy scanning and subsequently requires facilities to group ewes according to litter size and feed accordingly.

Detection of internal parasites and faecal egg sampling were some of the needs identified by farmers in the Sm@rt project. The FECPAKG2 was proposed by the Irish partner to address these needs. The FECPAK G2 kit is a diagnostic platform which facilitates the undertaking of faecal egg counts without the requirement for a laboratory or the need to send faecal samples to a laboratory. It is image based which enables sampling to be undertaken at any time and uploaded through computer software. To use the FECPAKG2 kit, a detailed guide on sample preparation, connecting the device to the internet and uploading the images through the FECPAK software need to be followed. Results will be sent back to the person who uploaded the sample images within 24 hours. The tool doesn't diagnose the presence of liver fluke and requires a computer with internet access, but has the advantage of being able to be undertaken without laboratory facilities and results are fast.

Flock recording apps were proposed by the Irish partner to solve needs/challenges identified by farmers in the Sm@rt project, which inlcude: recording/collecting/analysing health data is time-consuming,recording tags health issues (including withdrawal period), combining of individual health data and all other data, lambing records/ewe performance, performance recording (growth rates, slaughter data etc.), and added value of digital technologies (cost, use of technologies at some periods). Flock recording apps (e.g. Sheep Ireland) can be used to performance record individual animals in a flock. Depending on the app, data recorded can include body condition score, weight, mating information, litter size, parentage, medicine use etc. Performance information facilitates the comparison of animals within and between flocks. Data can be input manually or the app can be linked to an EID reader through Bluetooth to record animal EID/tag number automatically. The app will store recorded information and reports can be generated depending on data input e.g. growth rates, medicine use, ancestral data etc. All animals need to be individually identified (i.e. tagged) to use flock recording apps. The app needs to be downloaded to a smartphone, then the animal ID can be input or their tag can be scanned with an EID reader to record data as required. The data is subsequently uploaded and saved online when the phone is connected to the internet. This tool saves time compared to manually writing and enables the data to be uploaded to data bases to facilitate the creation of flock reports, which can be used for selecting replacements, culls, rams, drafting for slaughter etc. The app can also collate all data to provide ancestral information to facilitate mating groups.

Needs identified by farmers in Sm@RT included the detection of internal parasites and their treatment, and the dosing/vaccinating of sheep. The sheep conveyor was proposed by the Irish partner to help with this need/challenge. The sheep conveyor moves and restrains sheep while enabling the operator to administer vaccines, drenches, etc. with minimal physical strain by the farmer. It moves sheep along a race at a speed pre-determined by the operator. The sheep are held upright and cannot move forward or backward in the conveyor. This allows the farmer to stay in one position on either side of the conveyor and administer treatments to sheep as they approach him/her on the conveyor. The conveyor speed can be adjusted by the operator and the sheep can be moved forward, held in a static position, reversed on the conveyor or held on their back as required. This tool reduces physical strain on the farmer and allows multiple treatments to be administered at once by a number of operators to save time. Some limits to the conveyor include; some sheep may need to be pushed onto the conveyor, it is not suitable for heavily pregnant ewes and operators are unable to carry out body condition scoring while animals are in the conveyor.

Recording information about the herd is vital for management. 
With the endless benefits of computerization – such as automation, better accuracy, less data loss, ability to compare current and historic outcomes, and more, livestock farming has seen the usage of management systems go into every aspect of the work. 
Today with the advancement of mobile (handheld) application for collecting and analyzing data and presenting insights a farmer may easily introduce a sheep management software into its farm no matter its size. 
The solution is relatively cheap and easy to install (phone application) and self-explanatory in its basic usage. Moreover, it allows for later upgrades and connection to much more advanced systems and abilities (such as weighing and sorting systems, veterinary reporting and government systems)/

Main benefits of such management system are – 1. Cheap 2. Easy to use 3. No need for any infrastructure – smartphone will do. 4. Enjoy best practices from other farmers, which are implemented into the software screens and processes.

When sheep are out on rangeland with a shepherd it is challenging to record continuous information about their whereabouts for usage analysis. 
A GPS tracking device can record geographic information about where the animals are/were and durations of stay in various locations. 
The aim of using GPS-collars to get information on the geographic location is for management of the grazing land resource. 
Since the solution records the data for later use it can be battery operated, and information downloaded periodically – which means - no need for wireless connection for data upload.
if there is mobile coverage in the grazing area the downloading of the data maybe automatic and easier. 
To benefit from GPS tracking on your animals you need to have access to PC and to install (the included) map software that allows to track historic locations of the herd (to be able to manage the rangeland), 
Since cost of a GPS-collar is relatively high, it is usually put on one member in a flock rather than individually – benefits remain.

One of the main issues identified by farmers was weighing. Selecting optimal lambs for marketing is a crucial aspect in making profit. 
The aim of the weighing trough is to collect individual animal data and (per farmer demand), analyse the data and mark (spray paint) animals automatically according to farmer demands (e.g. - mark all animals that are over 60KG). 
When the animal comes to drink, the various sensors collect individual id, weight, water consumption and more.
Following data collection, sophisticated algorithms derive various insights (e.g. - abnormal drinking pattern that suggest illness) and alerts the farmer via mobile application. The farmer will get a message stating the ID of the animal and the relevant issue to be looked at. 
To implement this solution, you need 
a) to have all your animals tagged and their individual information entered into a software 
b) To have a device mounted in your shed on the water trough and 
c) to advise which alerts you want to receive automatically from the system (e.g. - weight alert for marketing, insufficient weight gain, etc..). 
Some of the benefits to using that tool are - 
1. It automates data collection for management decisions while not adding stress to animals or farmer (Zero effort from both). 
2. Reduces labour effort by marking animals automatically
3. Allows for effective and efficient management that saves a lot of money

This instrument enable the early detection of troubles such as clinical and sub-clinical mastitis.The monitoring of mastitis and the udder health management is possible by a rapid on-farm determination of somatic cell count. It allows to detect mastitis at an early stage resulting in a cost effective control of mastitis and easier flock management. The DCC is a portable instrument that gives results in just 45 seconds with simple to use disposable cassettes with DNA-specific fluorescent reagent to read the milk sample. The farmer only has to take a milk sample from the teeth, insert the cassette and read the result (no. cells/μL of milk). The treatment of mastitis at an earlier stage is very important for farmers to have a quicker recovery and less production loss. Moreover it is possible to control more efficiently the spread of mastitis and lower the risk of penalties or loss of bonus payment.

The collection of individual animal milk production automatically and the management of animal’s data is a need showed by most farmers who want to manage their flock precisely. The milk meter displays easy-to-read individual data on milk yield, instant milk flow and milking time duration in clear red digits (e.g. DeLaval) to simplify effective, daily flock management. Milk conductivity and temperature may be also recorded (e.g., AfiMilk, Lactocorder). To implement the flow milk meter you must position it in the milking parlour equipped with automati drop-off, have all animals tagged and their individual information entered into a software (DeLaval, AfiMilk or others). This instrument allows to monitor the milk yield individually at each milking. Animal's data are managed by a flock management software so that individual warnings may be set based on milk yield drops and/or conductivity raising for an early detection of mastitis and other pathologies ordistress conditions. Farmers may also formulate adequate feeding plans according to animal's requirements. The calibration of the instrument is a necessary procedure to guarantee the accuracy of the tool throughout the entire lactation. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8B_0V0S5bVw

Summer heat stress and the resultant hyperthermia are important challenges facing the dairy sheep farms that result in economic annual losses due to reduced milk yield, lowered reproductive rates, and depressed immune function. The environmental station, coupled with fan cooler system, allows to check the microclimate of the farm and helps the animals to overcome unscathed the periods characterized by high temperature by moving uniformly a high air flow. The ventilation system can be managed in automatic mode to regulate the functioning of the entire system based on air temperature and humidity index (THI index) detected by appropriate probes. To implement the tool is needed a humidity and temperature control unit system. Air ventilation is set up to start when air humidity and temperature conditions overcome certain limits. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lcK_w_uGANU

The evaluation of forage quality and comparison to references/chemical analysis of feedstuff on farm is a need showed by many farmers. AgriNIR is a portable NIR analyzer for forages or conserved and grains that measures the percentage of Moisture (Dry Matter), Starch, Crude Protein, ADF, NDF, Ash, Crude Fat and many other nutrients in seconds. 
This instrument monitors the dry matter content of feed ingredients, improving the consistency of the rations. It checks the dry matter of forages in the field, helping to determine the right time for the harvest. It assesses the quality of the feed purchased and stocked.
To implement the tool you need to put the feed sample in to the cup analyser and read the results of the analysis in the display, print or store them in a USB key. Its functioning is possible with a power supplier and a software to be installed in a PC. For some feedstuff (e.g. some fresh forages) may need a calibration based on wet chemistry. The expected benefits for farmers and technicians are several: for example, there is no sample preparation; it is portable and can be moved easily by a trolley; it needs less the one minute to read the results and it allows to make real time decisions.

When sheep graze on vast unfenced rangeland mountain areas it is challenging to attend to the animals regularly and to have information about their whereabouts, individual health and welfare. The use of GPS collars gives information about where the animals are. The aim of using GPS-collars to get information on the whereabout of sheep in vast rangeland areas, and further to get behaviour information at flock and individual level for health and welfare monitoring. It has potential to save work hours when gathering sheep in the autumn and to improve the welfare of sheep as sheep that were perceived to be lost may be found before winter. There are a number of companies providing GPS collars for sheep and goats. You need to know if there is mobile coverage in the grazing area or not in order to select the appropriate product for your farm. There are different GPS collars that communicate position through satellite or through GSM. To implement GPS tracking on your animals you need to have access to PC or smartphone, get login information to the relevant platform and register correct information to each collar. Costs of a GPS-collar are quite high if put on all animals in a flock, and thus a system of ear tags being proximity loggers that are read by a few GPS collars is a proposed solution. Introducing proximity logges together with GPS-collars is expected to reduce costs and enhance implementation in the small ruminant sector. 
www.telespor.no
www.findmy.no
www.gjetargut.no
www.realtimeid.no

Fencing is a costy and time consuming work load for the farmer, and a limiting factor for access to grazing areas. Access to good quality grazing areas that provides feed for ruminants is an important resource in the small ruminant sector and is of economic important. Access to such grazing land also has potential for welfare improvement as it gives access to feed and free roaming activity. The Nofence virtual fencing system consists of an app and a solar-powered collar that communicates on mobile phone networks. The collar provides GPS position data. The fencing function relies on the GPS, but it is recommended having mobile coverage in the major parts of the pasture for monitoring and control in the app. The Nofence collar trains the animals to turn around on audio. To implement the tool you need to follow the instructions from the technology provider. For the Nofence system you need to: 1) Download the Nofence-app and define the pasture, 2) Place the collar on all adult animals in the herd 3) Teach the animals to respond to the audio warning and 4) Monitor the animals in the Nofence-app. Benefits are access to new areas and fresh pastures whenever the farmer decides, allows exclusion zones to prevent animals from entering, gives access to land that does not have a permanent fence. Further, it lets you track your animals’ movements in real-time. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyOb6_pFOkvJnko2jJkJTnw
https://www.nofence.no/en-gb/what-is-nofence

When sheep graze on vast unfenced rangeland mountain areas it is challenging to attend to the animals regularly and to have information about their whereabouts, individual health and welfare. A main challenge in this farming system is regular surveillance of individual animals and finding all animals when collecting them in the autumn before winter. Both these two challenges can be helped with a number of different approaches i.e. the use of GPS collars and proximity tags to know where the sheep are, and drone with thermal cameras for automatic image detection of sheep in the landscape. The aim of using a drone with a thermal camera is to identify sheep in vast rangeland areas. Identifying potential sheep in the landscape with a drone has potential to save work hours for the farmer when gathering sheep in the autumn and to improve the welfare of sheep as sheep that were perceived to be lost may be found before winter. Commercial companies may provide thermal image cameral services, however the software of identifying sheep automatically from these images is not verified and commercially available as of today to our knowledge. Benefits of using the tool: It improves work load of the framer and the welfare of the animals. The prerequisite to using this tool is that there is a drone company available with certificate to use the drone and that legal regulations allow drone in the grazing area. https://www.gardsdrift.no/desember-2015-droner-gardsdrift/varmesokende-…

When ewes and lambs are grazing in outdoor conditions, it is useful to understand how much grass is available to ensure optimum grazing conditions for the ewes and a timely weaning of lambs. One of the solutions proposed by Sm@RT is to use automated grass measurement devices to answer these needs. The aim is therefore to monitor grass growth and condition to make the relevant management decisions. These tools can be either hand-held or attached to the back of a quad bike, and are automatic methods for collecting grass height / biomass information, with a link to a mobile phone app / computer software (e.g. AgriNet). If using the hand-held reader, you just need to walk in the field and take regular measurements, or, you can use the device that attaches behind a quadbike and drive to the field. There are many benefits to using these automated grass measurement devices. They are useful for monitoring and assessing grass growth and for assessing the number of days grazing available. They are also useful for rotational grazing systems & systems that have a large number of fields. They should improve farm decision making, and help with grazing management, especially when fattening lambs. They are also valuable to monitor flock performance, and the data collected can be stored and accessed easily.

Some of the main issues idenfitified by farmers were to do with lamb weighing (inside/outside); sorting and moving animals, drafting fat lambs for selling and timely weaning. Most of these issues can be helped with the use of electronic ID tags and an EID-enabled weigh crate. The aim for this tool is to collect individual animal data and draft groups of animals (manually or automatically). When the animals go through the crate, and in front of an RFID antenna, they are identified via their EID tag/bolus. The weigh crate (mobile or fixed) collects individual data (e.g. weights) linked to the animals tag/bolus. If the crate has an auto-shedder, the sheep can also be sorted automatically. To implement this solution, you need a) to have all your animals tagged and their individual information entered into a software (Tru-Test or other); b) to have a crate set-up in your shed or on pasture; and c) to know how you want your animal to be split automatically (e.g. by weight threshold for weaning, weight gain, breed, etc.). There are benefits to using that tool. First of all, it reduces stress and improves the safety of both the animal and shepherd, it can be permanently fixed in position or mobile, and it allows easy data collection for management decisions. The only prerequisite to using this tool is that all animals need to be EID tagged or have an EID bolus. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ctdGwHzacQ0

One of the needs identified by farmers in Sm@RT was the difficulty to determine the parentage of lambs in an extensive setting. One innovative tool that was proposed by the UK partners is the use of a DNA test to know the pedigree of a lamb. The test is a service that provides animal parentage information using DNA collected as a tissue sample, thus allowing the identification of the sire and dam of a lamb. To implement the tool, you need to DNA test all of your ewes and rams prior to mating. At lambing (or marking), take a sample from the lamb’s ear with a special tagger provided. You can then send the tissue samples for DNA testing, and you will receive the results of your lamb parentage. Such a tool is useful for flocks that lamb in extensive systems or that are not routinely lambed indoors. It is also beneficial for flocks that use multi-sire mating groups. With such a tool, the farmer can assess the ram success rate, as well as assessing ewe rearing performance when monitoring lamb growth and survival of lambs allocated to each ewe. This information is useful to manage flock reproduction management.