BoviTECH Operational Group: Incorporation of biometric parameters in the management of calf fattening in Aragon for the evaluation of the effect of feeding on their health, welfare and production
- Type Operational group
- Status In progress
- Execution 2025 -2028
- Assigned Budget 149.500,00 €
- Scope Autonómico
- Autonomous community Aragón
- Main source of financing CAP 2023-2027
- Project website Web del proyecto
Development of a comprehensive management model for calf fattening farms that integrates multiple predictive indicators to enable the sustainable fattening of calves in Aragon, addressing relevant production, health, and welfare aspects. Managing information through a dedicated website or app platform.
We are in the second year of this project and are still gathering information and implementing the devices and tools. In the area of animal welfare, we can confirm that while the breeding conditions are adequate, improvements to the environment, specifically regarding bedding quality and equipment maintenance, are possible. In this respect, the ongoing installation of environmental monitoring sensors is expected to provide continuous data to identify differences over time and allow us to establish preventative protocols. One of the monitoring activities carried out has been the control of animal fever using vaginal devices, although definitive results are not yet available. (Big Guardian) Regarding feed, progress is being made with the shift towards rations with adjusted crude protein (CP) and fat (GF).
1. Implementation of a simple, cost-effective, and reliable data collection system on calf farms for parameters affecting fattening results. 2. Evaluation and optimization of fattening feed for each stage and rearing condition. 3. Identification and correlation of explanatory variables and definition of alert thresholds associated with optimal management protocols, based on the integration and analysis of the collected data. 4. Design of specific management protocols based on the study results. 5. Efficient management of material and human resources through the incorporation of technology that facilitates both data collection and decision-making. 6. Improvement of animal welfare with a reduction in respiratory and digestive diseases. 7. Optimization of antibiotic use: "Only when necessary." 8. Economic evaluation of the minimum investment required in technology and training to achieve a sustainable production model.
- Installation of sensors and data acquisition systems for biometric parameters of the animals: body temperature, ruminal pH, movement, weight.
- Installation of sensors and data acquisition systems for internal and external environmental parameters of the feedlot: temperature, humidity, CO2.
- Feeding trials.
- Evaluation of growth and validation of individual weights against the average weight of the batch.
- Periodic health and wellness check-up.
- Software development of the management program that integrates all the information into an online platform.
- Data analysis using advanced statistical and mathematical tools to establish correlations between the information collected in the different phases of the project (breed, biometric data, type of feed, production parameters, environmental parameters, treatments, etc.).
- Creation and validation of health indicators.
- App development with early warnings.
- Project dissemination activities and results, Training and communication.
- Project management actions: coordination and participation
Calf fattening is one of the most important livestock activities in Aragon, where its economic value represents 16.4% of total livestock production, which in turn accounts for 68.0% of total regional agricultural production (Socioeconomic Report of Aragon; CESA, 2024). With more than 300,000 head of fattening cattle and 49,000 suckler cows (SITRAN Report, MAPA, 2024), the value of Aragonese beef contributes to Spain's ranking as the third most important sector in the European Union (€4.641 billion in 2024, 15% higher than the previous year), behind only France and Germany.
Aragonese feedlots base their breeding system on fattening calves from the national herd of suckler cows, as well as weaned calves from domestic and imported dairy farms. These systems rely heavily on concentrated feed, primarily cereal-based, with a high starch content and energy concentration, which the animals consume freely in an approximate ratio of 90% feed to 10% straw.
In recent months (2025), the beef market has experienced an unprecedented price increase, with prices reaching all-time highs. On the one hand, the availability of animals for fattening is limited, due to the reduction in the European livestock population and health issues within it (MAPA, 2025); on the other hand, there is growing demand in both the domestic and international markets, especially for high-quality products with high nutritional value (Leroy et al., 2025).
In this context of uncertainty, ensuring the sustainability and competitiveness of the beef sector as a benchmark for European food safety requires strategies that optimize production without compromising quality or animal welfare. Improving the technical efficiency of fattening emerges as a key solution to mitigate the potential impact of rising costs and ensure a balance between profitability and sustainability.
- Development of an integrated management model for calf fattening farms that integrates multiple predictive indicators to enable the sustainable fattening of calves in Aragon, taking into account relevant productive, health and welfare aspects
- Manage information through a platform on a website or your own app.
- Entity name: OVIARAGON SCL
- Postal address: Camino Cogullada 65, Calle G, Edificio Pastores, Mercazaragoza, 50014 Zaragoza
- Email: address@oviaragon.com
- Telephone: 976138050
- Entity name: ASIGA
- Postal address: Ctra. Logroño Km. 6, Pol. El Portazgo, N-23,
- Email: info@asiga.es
- Telephone: 976329611
- OVIARAGON SCL
- ASIGA