298 Can phenomics contribute to improved livelihood and food security in South Africa?

In South Africa, there are almost 14 million cattle, which constitute 1.6 million dairy and 12.5 million beef cattle. Of the latter, approximately 53% are kept in commercial systems and the remaining 47% in informal systems. Phenotypic and pedigree recording of livestock faces constraints in terms of the extensive nature of the farming systems and the large informal livestock sector consisting of communal and small-holder farmers, which is characterized by a general lack of resources such as financial, infrastructural and extension support. Animal recording thus remains a challenge in both the commercial and informal agricultural sectors. This review will evaluate the use of precision phenotyping in the beef and dairy cattle industries of South Africa, and highlight the challenges, limitations and possible impact of the technology. Measuring objective, relevant phenotypes, such as activity level, temperature, and weight of an individual animal over time, could assist in detecting sickness before it exacerbates to the point of death. Weight measurement would be especially useful in the developing sector, where infrastructure is not available and could provide insight into the nutritional needs of the livestock, timing of the mating period, the possibility of disease or internal and external parasites. Measuring vital parameters and using them to predict various future occurrences would empower emerging farmers to optimize productivity by providing critical information to the farmer at any given time. Phenomics will provide new and emerging farmers the opportunity to participate in the agriculture economy, which will have a lasting effect of upliftment and empowerment and also contribute to the country’s agriculture output and its gross domestic product. Farmers will benefit from the use of automated technologies in terms of improved animal welfare and economic sustainability in resource-poor areas.