Utilization of data from precision livestock farming technologies by practicing veterinarians and farmer expectations of the veterinarians' role

Background
Precision livestock farming (PLF) technologies are used in many dairy cattle herds. However, the veterinarians´ current engagement in PLF data utilization and their attitudes towards PLF data are largely unknown. The aim of the present study was therefore to investigate to what extent veterinarians already use PLF data, how useful they perceive these to be for their daily work and what farmers expect regarding data utilization by veterinarians.

Methods
A questionnaire study, with each one questionnaire for practicing cattle veterinarians and one for dairy farmers, was carried out. These were designed based on the results of a pilot study where interviews with cattle veterinarians regularly utilizing PLF data had been carried out to discuss how and when they use PLF data in their daily work. Both questionnaires contained questions about which PLF data are used by veterinarians and how often. Furthermore, mutual expectations, barriers to data utilization and future perspectives were investigated.

Results
Almost all veterinary participants (58 of in total 59) use sensor data for their work. The most frequently used data types in the context of treating individual animals were cow activity, rumination, milk yield and milk conductivity. These data were used regularly by 65, 72, 81 and 54 % of the veterinarians, respectively. For herd health advisory services, these data types were used by 31, 39, 56 and 17 %. Almost all veterinarians (95%) agreed or tended to agree to the statements that PLF data is useful for them and that these data will play a role in their future work.
In total, 85 farmers participated. Of the technology users (n=76), 69% agreed or tended to agree that involving their veterinarian in data utilization improves animal health in their herd. In addition, 53% agreed or tended to agree that they would like to be proactively approached by their veterinarian regarding the sensor data. However, the most common sensor data types (activity, daily milk yield and rumination time) are currently used by veterinarians in only 30 – 50% of farms recording these.

Conclusions
Veterinarians are already widely involved in the utilization of PLF data in dairy cow farms and perceive these data as being useful for their work. Also, the farmers see advantages in the involvement of the veterinarian and many want to be proactively asked about the available data.