The need for sustainable livestock production methods and the potential of Precision Livestock Farming

The gap

Evidence profile

Sourced from the future-work section and stated research gap and future work of the source papers, classified as general, drawn from work published between 2024 and 2026, spanning 2 journals. Those papers have been cited 41 times in total.

Supporting evidence — 3 representative gaps

• Spatial Assessment of Livestock Heat Stress in Thessaly Region of Greece Using ERA5-Land Reanalysis and Temperature–Humidity Index (2026) · Veterinary Sciences · cited 2× · doi

  Further research is needed to develop targeted mitigation strategies and climate-resilient livestock management in Mediterranean agricultural regions. Investigation into the impact of heat stress on animal productivity and welfare is required. Studies on the effectiveness of different thermal stress mitigation methods are needed.

  generalfuture-work section
  Keywords: further research needed develop targeted mitigation strategies climate-resilient
• Indoor Temperature Forecasting in Livestock Buildings: A Data-Driven Approach (2024) · Agriculture · cited 18× · doi

  The paper identifies the need for sustainable livestock production methods and the potential of Precision Livestock Farming (PLF) to improve farming efficiency and animal health. It highlights the gap in predicting indoor temperatures in livestock buildings using a data-driven approach.

  generalstated research gapevidence 5/5
  Keywords: paper identifies need sustainable livestock production methods potential
• Recent Application of Heat Pump Systems for Environmental Control in Livestock Facilities–A Review (2024) · Agriculture · cited 21× · doi

  This review analyzes heat pump systems for indoor environment regulation in live- stock facilities, highlighting their role in sustainable livestock farming. Heat pump tech- nology uses efficient energy conversion to control temperature and humidity, meeting animals’ physiological needs. Its advantages include energy savings, emission reductions, and cost efficiency. Compared to conventional methods, heat pumps offer superior energy efficiency, resulting in long-term cost reductions, particularly when integrated with re- newable energy sources. Additionally, they contribute to a decrease in GHG and pollutant emissions, supporting the transition to sustainable agricultural practices. However, the broader adoption of heat pump technology faces several barriers, including policy and regulatory hurdles, economic and financial constraints, technological and infrastructure limitations, and gaps in public perception and awareness. Future research on heat pump technology in livestock housing could focus on three key areas. First, it is important to evaluate the environmental impacts through life cycle assessments (LCA) to better understand the sustainability and energy efficiency of these systems. Second, studies could investigate the effects of heat pump-regulated environ- ments on animal well-being and productivity, ensuring that temperature control benefits both livestock health and performance. Third, research could explore the integration of heat pump systems with renewable energy sources, such as solar or geothermal energy, to reduce the carbon footprint and promote sustainable practices in the livestock sector. Addressing these areas will help optimize heat pump technology and contribute to more sustainable farming practices. Author Contributions: Methodology, Z.H.; Investigation, X.W. and Z.H.; Writing—original draft preparation, Z.H.; Writing—review and editing, X.W., K.W., L.D., and K.L.; Visualization, Z.H. and X.W.; Data curation, Z.H. and X.W.; Supervision, X.W. and K.L.; Project administration, X.W. and K.L.; Funding acquisition, X.W. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript. Funding: This research was funded by the Key R&D Projects of Zhejiang Province (2022C02015) and Zhejiang Provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, grant number 2023SNJF054. Informed Consent Statement: Not applicable. Data Availability Statement: The data presented in this study are available on request from the corresponding author. Conflicts of Interest: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

  generalfuture workevidence 5/5
  Keywords: heat pump energy sustainable livestock systems ciency practices technology review farming control temperature reductions cost

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