Ruminantec Operational Group: Technological improvements for extensive livestock farming in Andalusia

Extensive livestock farming, in decline due to rural abandonment and lack of profitability, plays a key socioeconomic role in the sustainable development of many rural areas in Andalusia, and preserves the Dehesa and other ecosystems of high ecological value, particularly when local breeds are used. Thus, many ecosystem services are affected, such as biodiversity, carbon sequestration, and food provisioning value. Climate change exacerbates the problem of land abandonment, especially in areas of high plant productivity. The loss of competitiveness is a major challenge to the sustainability of local livestock farming and the main threat to local breeds, which are increasingly facing fewer options compared to industrial models with specialized genotypes.

Thus, this project seeks to improve the profitability of extensive livestock farming through three innovations: greater reproductive efficiency, added value, and digitalization. A technological tool will be developed for data collection, automated analysis, and real-time results generation for effective decision-making in the areas of reproduction and planning for extensive livestock farming with ruminants. For extensive cattle farming, a commercial type and production process will be developed to complete the field cycle and market a differentiated, higher-quality product geared toward consumers.

For small ruminants, introduce an artificial photostimulation protocol to improve reproductive efficiency off-season and market kids/lambs at the optimal time. The project is expected to generate a direct impact of €6.5 to €9 million, and prevent the annual loss of 11 extensive farms and 14 direct jobs.