Fundamentals in agriculture and food

Automation systems in animal husbandry
Advances in animal husbandry have also been made in sheep and pig 
farming. For example, Advanced shearing automatons have been created and 
are presently in commercial utilization within Australia. The actual shearing of 
wool is controlled by hydraulically positioned shearing machines with force 
feedback, while trajectory calculations are continuously updated during the 
shearing process (Perez et al.,1998). 
In addition, various feeding systems are used in sow management, 
including electronic catering services for commercial purposes structures that 
feed one at a time and computer-controlled structures that allow sows to eat 
from 1/2 feed formulations to meet their nutritional needs (Lopes et al.,2002; 
Wang et al.,2006). 
Furthermore, weighing systems based on imaging systems and 
mechanical scales have been developed (Schofield et al.,2002), and 
physiological variables are measured using image analysis and ultrasound 
probes to determine back fat to monitor feeding and growth of animals (Tillett 

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FUNDAMENTALS IN AGRICULTURE AND FOOD | 164 
et al.,2002; Xin and Shao,2005). These advances have greatly improved 
efficiency, productivity, and animal welfare in the industry.
Continued research and development are expected to drive further 
technological advances in the future (Harrell et al., 1990; Hoyt et al., 2007; De 
Villiers, 2008). 
Conclusion 
This chapter has provided an overview of the major advances in 
automation systems in various areas of agriculture. In this regard, field 
machinery, automatic steering, autonomous vehicles, and robots have shown 
promising results in terms of precision, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness. 
Automated irrigation systems, seedling production and spraying technologies 
have also been extensively researched and have led to significant improvements 
in crop yield and quality. The development of robots for fruit harvesting has 
brought both opportunities and challenges, particularly in the areas of fruit 
detection, manipulation, and transportation. In addition, automation systems in 
livestock, including feeding, shearing, weighing, and monitoring, have 
contributed to livestock welfare and productivity. Overall, the automated 
technology in farming has significant promise for enhancing sustainable 
agriculture and tackling the issue of global food security. However, additional 
investigations are necessary to refine their effectiveness and guarantee their 
economic feasibility. 

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