Development of a Decision Support System for Animal Health Management Using Geo-Information Technology: A Novel Approach to Precision Livestock Management

Abstract

Livestock management is challenging for resource-poor (R-P) farmers due to unavailability of quality feed, limited professional advice, and rumor-spreading about animal health condition in a herd. This research seeks to improve animal health in southern Africa by promoting sericea lespedeza (Lespedeza cuneata), a nutraceutical forage legume. An automated geospatial model for precision agriculture (PA) can identify suitable locations for its cultivation. Additionally, a novel approach of radio-frequency identifier (RFID) supported telemetry technology can track animal movement, and the analyses of data using artificial intelligence can determine sickness of small ruminants. This RFID-based system is being connected to a smartphone app (under construction) to alert farmers of potential livestock health issues in real time so they can take immediate corrective measures. An accompanying Decision Support System (DSS) site is being developed for R-P farmers to obtain all possible support on livestock production, including the designed PA and RFID-based DSS.

1. Introduction

Unprecedented phenomena, encompassing anthropogenic climate change, the depletion of vital natural resources, and an escalating global population, have exerted immense pressure on agroecosystems across the globe [1,2,3]. These factors underscore the critical necessity for the development and implementation of novel agricultural methodologies designed to augment both crop and livestock production, thereby ensuring the attainment of global food security objectives. In the context of advancing under-resourced (Resource-Poor; R-P) agriculturalists within communal and small-scale farming systems, particularly in sub-Saharan African nations, considerable obstacles are encountered [4]. Among these impediments are (i) the scarcity and suboptimal quality of forage: a major challenge faced by agriculturalists in sub-Saharan Africa is the limited availability and low quality of fodder for cattle. Consequently, animals have insufficient nourishment, which negatively impacts their well-being and efficiency. One possible solution to this problem could be implementing and advocating for sustainable farming methods that incorporate the development of high-yield, drought-tolerant fodder crops. In addition, providing farmers with training programs focused on forage control and preservation strategies, such as silage production and pasture rotation, could effectively enhance both the overall availability and the quality of feed. (ii) Subpar livestock productivity: the livestock in these places frequently exhibit suboptimal productivity because of an accumulation of unfavorable genetics, insufficient feed, and inefficient farming practices. Possible solutions may involve implementing breeding initiatives that introduce and promote high-yielding animal breeds that are well-suited to the local environment. Furthermore, capacity-building programs designed to educate farmers on the most effective feeding tactics and animal care practices can improve productivity. (iii) The prevalence of parasitic and infectious diseases: parasitic and transmissible illnesses are widespread in agricultural systems in sub-Saharan Africa, with significant negative effects on the health of animals and the production of farms. To address this issue, it is advisable to allocate more resources towards the development and enhancement of clinical services and their infrastructure. Implementing routine vaccination campaigns and ensuring relatively inexpensive access to veterinarians can effectively mitigate the occurrence of outbreaks. Moreover, it is imperative to provide farmers with education regarding disease prevention and control strategies, which encompass cleanliness protocols and the need for routine health assessments. (iv) A dearth of expertise and professional guidance pertaining to pasture management, animal health, and parasite mitigation strategies [5]: farmers frequently face a notable scarcity of specialized guidance regarding pasture management, animal health, and efficient ways for mitigating parasites. To bridge this gap, implementing extension services that offer consistent, convenient, and pragmatic guidance to farmers could be a viable solution. Collaborations between agricultural institutions and nearby farming communities could prove advantageous, as professionals can provide hands-on training sessions and workshops at the actual farming locations. (v) Most importantly, rumor-mongering about the entire animal herd’s sickness if one animal gets sick, even if quarantined and treated (personal observation). Disseminating false information that a whole group of animals is unwell when just one individual is sick might result in unwarranted culling and substantial financial detriment. To tackle this problem, it is necessary to implement targeted community education and communication methods that debunk misconceptions and promote accurate information regarding animal diseases and quarantine protocols. Deploying community-led monitoring systems, wherein reliable local leaders are educated to oversee health information, could effectively curb the propagation of rumors, and guarantee the accurate transmission of information. Therefore, a R-P farmer will be in a position to be rewarded with a good animal harvest even though one animal gets sick.

Notwithstanding the challenges encountered, there is a considerable opportunity for promoting sustainable intensification of ruminant livestock production in small-scale and geographically isolated farming systems [6]. This can be realized through the adoption of mobile-based electronic technologies to monitor animal activity [7], and computational modeling approaches for precision forage production [8,9], which will enable customized animal health and nutrition management strategies. Geospatial technology, also known as Geo-information technology (GT), has emerged as a crucial instrument in the development and implementation of animal health and habitat management decision support systems [10]. It is specifically designed to improve the management of animal parasites and diseases [11], optimize forage production [9], and enhance the carrying capacity of grazing lands, thereby contributing to the overall sustainability and productivity of ruminant livestock systems [12,13,14]. The present investigation specifically focuses on small ruminants, such as ovine and caprine species, given their heightened susceptibility to parasitic infection and their primary management by female and juvenile caretakers who frequently have limited access to veterinary healthcare professionals. The incorporation of GT-based decision support systems can enable small-scale agriculturalists to more effectively oversee and address concerns pertaining to livestock health, nutritional intake, and parasite regulation, which in turn facilitates enhanced productivity and elevates the overall welfare of their animals.

The amalgamation of electronic technology and GT-oriented decision support systems presents an encouraging solution to the obstacles confronted by R-P livestock farmers, particularly in isolated regions where expert assistance and resource availability are constrained. By capitalizing on these innovative instruments, agriculturalists can employ data-informed decision-making processes to augment forage production and animal health, an approach that fosters sustainable intensification of ruminant livestock production, thereby promoting long-term agricultural resilience and prosperity.

Infection with gastrointestinal nematodes (GINs), particularly Haemonchus contortus, a highly pathogenic blood feeder, has been identified as the most significant animal health constraint for R-P farmers globally, especially of sheep and goats [15] in Southeast Asia and Africa south of the Sahara [16]. Failure to farm profitably with small ruminants led in 1917 to what was apparently the first non-herbal anthelmintic [17], which was subsequently available commercially until the 1960’s in South Africa, despite having consisted initially of the highly toxic arsenic and copper sulphate, with a subsequent addition of nicotine. Furthermore, the first comprehensive drenching programs were developed in the 1930s in South Africa [18]. While the latter approach was very effective and user-friendly, it unknowingly led progressively to severe anthelmintic resistance to drug after drug that reached the market, to the extent that populations of H. contortus were discovered with resistance to all five of the unrelated anthelmintic groups in 1997 [19], and to all seven as recently as 2021 (Van Wyk, unpublished).

As drug-based GIN control programs have been shown to be non-sustainable due to a global rise in anthelmintic-resistant GINs of sheep, goats, and cattle [20] (Kaplan, 2004), effective non-synthetic alternatives, such as the use of targeted selective treatment (TST) techniques, including FAMACHA (clinical evaluation of the color of the ocular mucous membranes) [21] and the Five Point Check [15], and feeding of anti-parasitic tannin-containing forage legumes [22,23], in integrated parasite management (IPM) systems, were developed subsequently and have shown good results [24] (Terrill et al., 2012). In addition, the forage legumes listed are not only effective for GIN management, but also for control of Eimeria spp. [25,26], a genus of protozoan parasites that commonly cause severe coccidiosis outbreaks under R-P farming conditions.

Economic impacts due to gastrointestinal (GIT) helminth infection in small ruminants are felt by both the rural poor in developing countries [16] and by commercial farmers in the industrialized countries of the world [27,28]. In the United Kingdom alone, for example, nematode infection is estimated to cost the sheep industry more than 84 million pounds per year [29], with similar levels of impact worldwide [30], to the extent that anthelmintic resistance (AR) in small ruminants has instigated a significant transformation in the strategies employed for controlling parasitic infections in such a way as to mitigate the emergence and spread of AR. This change involves moving away from the traditional method of administering anthelmintic treatments to the entire flock or herd, whether performed as a routine measure or in response to observable symptoms of GIN infection. Instead, the focus has shifted towards implementing sustainable IPM approaches [8,31,32], which aim, via individual animal-based vs. whole-flock anthelmintic treatment, to provide more targeted and effective long-term control of parasitic infections while minimizing the development of AR.

The sustainable methodology mentioned employs targeted selective treatment (TST) and targeted treatment (TT) strategies to enhance animal health management in a flock or herd by either drenching those animals in need within a group, i.e., TST, or treating the entire group only when there are definite indicators suggesting a heightened risk of disease or potential production loss (TT) [33]. Presently, the adoption of TST and TT approaches among farmers is limited, primarily due to the complexity of their implementation and the associated labor demands, to the extent that even TST, for instance, employing FAMACHA, tested and/or applied in 45 different countries globally, is not applied to a large extent in any of these, even in South Africa, where it was conceived and developed. However, the progressive utilization of these strategies is a crucial component in pursuing sustainable animal health management for R-P farmers [8].

In conjunction with TST and TT, the utilization of nutrient-dense, bioactive forages, such as the tannin-rich legume sericea lespedeza [SL; Lespedeza cuneata (Dum. Cours.) G. Don.], can enhance small ruminant gastrointestinal health and provide a viable source of income for R-P farmers [34]. Sericea lespedeza is a resilient, warm-season perennial forage legume with exceptional drought tolerance, making it well-suited for cultivation in the southeastern United States (U.S.) [34], as well as in arid and semi-arid regions of South Africa and other southern African countries [35,36]. In fact, in the case of Eswatini in Southern Africa, using an automated geospatial model for site-specific forage management (SSFM), Panda et al. [8] reported that nearly the entire country is well-suited to SL production.

As a forage species with resistance to diseases and insect or pest infestations, SL is ideally suited for sheep, goats, and cattle grazing, primarily due to its high concentration of crude protein (CP) and condensed tannins, which prevent bloating [34]. This versatile forage thrives in acidic and nutrient-deficient soils, effectively competing with grasses because of its capacity to fix atmospheric nitrogen. Consequently, southern African countries provide suitable conditions for its growth and cultivation [34,35,36]. Hence, the adoption of precision SL forage production through the creation and implementation of a Site-Specific Forage Management Decision Support System (SSFMDSS) [8,9] has the potential to facilitate sustainable animal health management strategies for R-P farmers worldwide, particularly within the African continent.

The manuscript’s outline logically progresses from an introduction to the objectives, materials, and techniques, which describe how the Small-Scale Farming Management Decision Support System (SFMDSS) was developed in the context of Eswatini’s efficient production. This covers the need for and method of remote animal monitoring, system setup for the prototype, and RFID transponder data processing for decision support. The Results and Discussion are covered in detail in the next part. These are further subdivided into sections like DSS Scripting for RFID Transponder Signal-based AI Decision Support, Smartphone App Development for Animal Health Management, and Forage Efficient Production Decision Support with the development of a WebGIS site for end users (farmers). Important elements also include talking about the industrial relevance and potential benefits after the decision support system is completed, as well as addressing uncertainties and constraints. The manuscript ends with a succinct Conclusion and Summary Recommendation that summarizes the results and makes recommendations for further study and application.

Objectives

The primary aim of this research is to advance and extensively implement a centralized, mobile-phone-based automated decision support system (aDSS) for promoting sustainable animal health management and the production of anti-parasitic tannin-rich forage, in this way ultimately to contribute to the economic growth of R-P farmers and their communities. While the initial focus is on Africa, the project aims to progressively expand its reach to similarly situated regions, such as Southeast Asia. To accomplish this overarching goal, the research will focus on several objectives:

• Enhanced modeling and evaluation of methodologies to optimize the growth potential of suitable tannin-rich, anti-parasitic forage legumes tailored to distinct regions within southern Africa. This will include assessment of various environmental factors and agronomic practices for maximizing forage production and efficacy.
• Employment of RFID Transponder supported telemetry technology to closely monitor animal activity (movement) patterns for detection and prediction not only of disease outbreaks, but also of individual animals unable to cope with common scourges, such as nematodosis disease outbreaks, in a timely manner. This information is then to be integrated with a smartphone application and a centralized software-based model to provide real-time preliminary treatment support and automated data evaluation [37,38,39].
• Fostering the education and training of recipient farmers through the aDSS, concentrating on subjects such as sustainable worm management practices. By leveraging the power of mobile technology, this research aims to empower farmers with the knowledge and tools necessary to improve their livestock’s health and productivity, with ultimate economic benefit to their communities.

The current investigation, centered on a framework devised by our team for broadening utilization of SL for R-P farmers in Eswatini (previously Swaziland) [8], aims to establish an automated geospatial model for the proficient cultivation of SL, with its relatively high levels of tannins with bioactive (anti-parasitic) properties (Objective #1). Although initially formulated for Eswatini, this model is anticipated to be readily adaptable for the entire southern African region, offering decision support for cultivating SL efficiently in alignment with the precision agriculture methodology developed in the present research.

A software platform is designed through the integration of epidemiological modeling and surveillance of livestock behavior on remote farms across southern African nations. This will enable the effective implementation of TST and TT strategies to assist farmers in making informed treatment decisions via smartphone applications. The projected outcomes are poised to positively impact the global endeavor to enhance the practical adoption and maintenance of TST and TT approaches among livestock farmers (Objective #2). This is particularly relevant, given that TST is being evaluated or employed in 46 distinct countries across all continents (unpublished observations). Notably, the FAMACHA method of TST has generated significant interest, as evidenced by the 56,300 search results returned in a recent Google search.

While the technical concept of SSFM for SL production DSS (Objective # 1) and the small ruminant sickness determination through the RFID-Transponder based telemetry system through artificial intelligence (AI) application (Objective # 2) will be demonstrated through this study, we are reporting this research while Objective # 3 is under progress and presented piecemeal.

2. Materials and Methods

2.1. SSFMDSS for Efficient Production—Eswatini, as Example

The SSFMDSS was designed as an automated model tailored for Eswatini and different states in the U.S., regions known for favorable conditions for SL growth [8,9]. Geospatial data were acquired to assess the spatial suitability of the study area for optimal SL production, and processed raster images were analyzed using the criteria outlined in

Table 1. Summary table for the contributing environmental factors regarding suitability criteria for sericea lespedeza forage production.

Environmental Factors	Suitability Criteria	Assigned Weights
Land cover	Open land (any land cover)	0.35
Slope	Greater than 45% slope	0.25
Soil characteristics	non-clay soil	0.45
Temperature	20 °C to 30 °C	N/A (entire study area has suitable condition)
Precipitation	Low precipitation (Arid and semi-arid Condition)	N/A (entire study area has suitable condition)

. Due to the temperature and precipitation conditions being suitable for SL production in the entire country, these factors were not included in the development of the comprehensive SSFMDSS model, but rather soil, land cover, and slope raster images were utilized. Each of the three raster datasets mentioned was individually reclassified to assess suitability for SL production according to the classification ranges specified in Table 1. Thereupon, the reclassified rasters were integrated using the “Weighted Sum” tool within ArcGIS Pro 3.2 (www.esri.com, accessed on 15 February 2024). Table 1 displays the assigned weights for each raster during the creation of the comprehensive SL production spatial suitability raster. Utilizing a Delphi modeling approach [40], it was found that the contributions of the different production parameters to SL production were not equal.

Under the research objectives, the long-term goal of this study is systematically to expand the development process of the SSFMDSS model to encompass the entire southern African region and beyond. This broadened scope will empower farmers with informed decision-making support for planting SL in locations with optimal geographic suitability, leading to maximum production outcomes.

2.2. Animal Remote Monitoring—Necessity and Process

Anthelmintic resistance (AR) in small ruminants poses a significant global challenge to profitable production [20]. Despite its importance, AR surveillance studies are scarce in Africa [41], with few documented investigations.

Wanyangu et al. [42] reported that 50% of 42 surveyed farms in Kenya demonstrated AR to at least one anthelmintic group. Similarly, albendazole resistance was identified on five out of six commercial sheep farms in Zambia [43]. South Africa, which boasts a relatively well-developed commercial small ruminant sector, particularly in sheep farming, recorded one of the earliest instances of AR on the continent [44], as well as possibly the first case of resistance of a nematode population to all five of the unrelated anthelmintic groups in 1997 [19]. Whether the farmers are R-P or commercial, parasitologists widely agree that the current approach to controlling parasites in small ruminants, which relies heavily on chemical-based treatments, must be replaced with a strategy that emphasizes optimal worm management and is compatible with sustainable practices [45].

Targeted selective treatment is a strategic approach based on the understanding that parasitic loads are highly aggregated and markedly over-dispersed in farm animals. Consequently, this strategy focuses on treating only those individual animals judged, according to the FAMACHA system, to be incapable of managing the parasitic burden independently, as opposed to the traditional whole-flock treatment during parasitic infections, or an increased emphasis on prophylactic measures, such as more frequent treatments or strategic interventions during periods of low levels of the free-living stages of parasite, i.e., in refugia [45,46,47]. Implementing TST methodologies necessitates the identification of highly susceptible individuals within a flock or herd for targeted treatment [48].

The Five Point Check© system [15] has been shown to be instrumental for detection of animals with heightened vulnerability to endoparasites. This system entails the examination of five key areas:

• The nose for exudates
• The submandibular region for edema (bottle jaw)
• The conjunctivae of the eyelids for anemia
• The lumbar region for body condition score
• The perineum for dag (diarrhea) score

However, for R-P farmers, conducting frequent clinical evaluations (at intervals as brief as seven days) of each animal in any but very small flocks or herds is impractical as regards the time and effort required. As a result, remote monitoring of animals experiencing AR-related illness becomes essential [21].

Technological advancements have been effectively integrated to reduce labor inputs associated with visually identifying individual animals suffering from parasitic and other diseases, especially on large-scale farms. The implementation of remote electronic systems incorporating accelerometers to associate increased physical activity in animals with estrus behavior (bullying) in dairy cows has been investigated, yielding positive results [47,48,49]. Helwatkar et al. [50] detailed various sensor types available commercially for measurement of behavioral indicators or parameters correlated with fever, lameness, estrus, mastitis, ovarian cysts, displaced abomasum, ketosis, milk fever, retained placenta, heifer diarrhea, and heifer pneumonia on dairy farms.

Radio-frequency identification (RFID) is the foundation for the most widely used sensor technology in automated animal health monitoring and has played a crucial role in the present study. It is a wireless, contactless system that employs radio-frequency waves in different bandwidths to transmit data from an electronic RFID tag or label through a reader (interrogator) to automatically identify and track both animate and inanimate objects [51]. As the transponder manufacturing company was directly involved in instrumentation of the study, we never had issues such as the misreporting of signals or any false detection. It is used for various applications, such as logistics, retail, asset management, access control, animal husbandry, and healthcare [52,53].

Radio-frequency identification (RFID) technology in South Africa has primarily been employed for monitoring high-value game animals on private properties. However, its use has gradually been extended to commercial herds of small ruminants and cattle as a warning system against predator attacks and livestock theft. Given that RFID-based remote monitoring of animal activity may indicate health status and abnormal activity, supporting TT and TST decisions, RFID signals have been analyzed as part of the present project using real-time data acquisition and evaluation.

The study, carried out on South African farms, including both commercial farms and R-P communities, involved the following steps:

(i)

Establishment of a prototype RFID system designed for remote monitoring and communication of individual animal activity levels, thereby assessing the grazing behavior of sheep in typical small ruminant commercial and R-P enterprises.

(ii)

Subsequently assessing the performance of this system against various animal behaviors and disease states, with a particular focus on debilitating helminth infections.

(iii)

Examining data collected over several years (2013–2014) for both healthy and known sick animals to determine transponder signal range values associated with:

• Normal sleeping patterns (low signal volatility during sleep hours);
• Disease-induced sleep (prolonged sleep duration);
• Normal grazing patterns (low signal volatility during grazing hours);
• Flight response during attacks or poaching attempts (high signal volatility and increased signal strength); and developing real-time software capable of predicting an animal’s health and other statuses based on their signal range. This software is to be integrated into a smartphone app to provide instant alerts to R-P farmers’ cellphones when an animal is identified as sick or otherwise disturbed, through server-side analysis.

2.3. Prototype System Set Up

The experimental RFID system designed for these trials consisted of a single solar-panel-powered reader operating at an ultra-high frequency band of 868 MHz. This reader was mounted above ground on a five-meter wooden pole, while several active tags, working at the same frequency, were placed on the animals. Each active tag had a radio transceiver, powered by an onboard battery to power the transceiver [54]. They also featured an integrated A1-type accelerometer sensor for measuring activity levels, based on various simulated hand movements. The accelerometer was configured with a set acceleration threshold of twice the gravitational acceleration (2 g). When, due to simulated movements, the displacement of the accelerometer needle against the transponder casing reached or exceeded the 2 g threshold, a value of one was recorded. Conversely, a value of zero was registered if the movements did not meet or surpass the 2 g threshold. The tag subsequently aggregated the recorded values (ones and zeros) over a predetermined reader’s ‘collection’ command signaling interval of one minute. This resulted in an activity score representing the overall activity level per minute per day.

When the signal-to-noise ratio falls below 10 dB, the tag reader is unable to demodulate the signal, resulting in data loss. An active tag is activated upon receiving a “collection” command signal from a reader during an open window. Subsequently, it transmits its unique identifier and any additional data collected from integrated sensors to the reader, which sends a “sleep” command signal to the active tag after successful data transmission. This process enables the active tag to conserve energy (battery life) by only broadcasting its signal when prompted and within the range of a reader [54]. The activity score is measured on a scale ranging from zero, representing no activity or activity levels below 2 g, to a maximum average of 124, signifying activity levels above 2 g within a one-minute interval. Data obtained from the readers are transmitted using general packet radio services to a web-based server responsible for processing and logging the information. The server generates alarms and reports as outputs, and users can access the data through a website interface (Figure 1).

In order to calibrate the instrument, controlled experiments were systematically designed and executed to assess the impact of various factors on the data transfer rates (DTRs) and the transmitted score magnitudes of the prototype activity level monitoring system. The following factors were investigated:

(i)

The combined influence of distance (between tags and reader) and tag movement (or lack thereof) on DTRs and the magnitude of transmitted values.

(ii)

The impact of different physical barriers within the reader’s interrogation zone on DTRs.

(iii)

The effect of background noise on DTRs, ascertained indirectly through a comparison of daytime and nighttime DTRs.

(iv)

The combined effects of the quantity and arrangement (clustered or dispersed) of tags within the reader’s interrogation zone on DTR.

The transmission rates of the activity level scores (DTRs) and the actual values of the activity level scores derived from hand-simulated movement experiments were recorded and analyzed. Upon completion of the instrument calibration, tags were deployed on sheep based on the rationale that a comprehensive performance evaluation under controlled conditions would support interpretation in field settings and establish a gold standard against which additional variation and error could be measured. Figure 2 illustrates the instrument calibration process for experimental configuration.

2.4. RFID Transponder Data Analysis for Animal Movement-Based Decision Support

Farmers typically implement a standard husbandry management protocol that animals follow near-daily in southern Africa’s livestock farming systems, including small ruminant production. In regions where predation significantly impacts livestock farming, animals are typically housed in enclosures, such as kraals or yards, overnight and allowed to graze during daylight hours under the supervision of herders. Employing full-day physical monitoring of animals by stockmen as a defense against predators significantly increases labor expenses. It is to be expected that a remote monitoring system capable of profiling the anticipated daily husbandry routines at the individual or flock level, while also remotely notifying stockmen of any substantial deviations from the standard, could not only reduce costs associated with constant direct daily supervision of animals at pasture, but also greatly increase its usefulness.

Such a system as the above could detect disturbances due to predator attacks and identify more subtle behavioral changes, such as those resulting from illness or parasitic infections. In the present study involving small ruminant herds, typical animal behavior in South Africa was characterized as follows:

(i)

Between 7 p.m. and 7 a.m., animals rested in sheds, exhibiting minimal movement signal values.

(ii)

At 7 a.m., sheep rapidly transitioned to grazing pastures for several minutes, displaying peak movement signal values, but during daytime grazing, the animals demonstrated a moderate range of movement-based signals.

In this research, a longitudinal study was conducted, monitoring the activity signal levels of over 20 sheep daily for a period exceeding two years. Notably, a pregnant sheep and a lame goat were observed to examine the variations in movement signals related to these specific conditions. A fundamental graphing technique was used for identifying the range of signals associated with different health statuses and other factors.

With the focus on sequential gathering of time-series data on the activity levels of sheep during typical on-farm behavior, the RFID transponder signal data were collected, stored on a server, and processed into a database file to enable the analysis. Employment of change-point analysis enabled identification of distinct transitions between different states, such as:

(i)

Resting and running, where it was hypothesized that there would be a significant increase in activity level scores when transitioning from a resting state to a running state.

(ii)

The onset of lameness and recovery from lameness: the hypothesis suggested that the daily mean activity level score and the activity level score count would decrease upon the start of lameness and then return to previous levels upon recovery.

(iii)

In relation to specific daily husbandry management routines for free-grazing sheep on a farm, the hypothesis was that as the distance between a tagged animal and the RFID reader increased, the hourly activity level scores would decrease, and vice versa. Moreover, the expectation was that hourly mean activity scores would either increase or decrease in relation to the energy requirements of the specific activity—whether grazing at pasture or yarding at night.

By analyzing the data in this manner, the aim was to provide a more precise and detailed understanding of the factors that impact the activity levels of sheep during their daily routines on the farm. This scientific approach made it possible to better observe the relationships between states and activities, ultimately contributing to more informed husbandry management practices.

2.5. Software Development Based on Data Analysis

Python programming was employed to create a real-time decision support system utilizing RFID signal data associated with animal movement, continuously streamed to a designated server. The development of this Python 3.7.0-based software was informed by the data analysis findings outlined below:

• Signals within a range of 0 to 40: the animal is resting or sleeping.
• Signals within a range of 41 to 90: the animal is engaged in normal grazing behavior.
• Signals with a range of 91 and above: the animal is running, as is to be expected during poaching incidents or predator attacks, or is being herded on the way home or to pasture. In this way, it becomes possible for farmers to keep an eye on animal management at home, for instance while away, for instance to check on speed of herding and the like.

Additionally, specific timeframes were established to categorize animal activities:

• Sleeping hours: 7 p.m. to 7 a.m.
• Grazing hours: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Signals that deviate from the expected range and time parameters are considered abnormal, potentially indicating that the animal is experiencing health issues. The Python-based software aims to enhance decision-making and improve overall animal health management practices by leveraging these data-driven insights.

3. Results and Discussion

3.1. Forage Efficient Production Decision Support

The geographic suitability model for sericea lespedeza (SL) cultivation (Figure 3) demonstrates a five-level classification (high, moderate, low, very low, and not suitable) for the potential growth of SL in Eswatini. A considerable portion of Eswatini’s territory exhibits high or moderately favorable conditions for SL cultivation. These optimal circumstances would allow resource-poor (R-P) farmers with limited access to extension services and other resources to benefit economically by growing this tannin-rich, anti-parasitic forage, subsequently improving small ruminant health management.

Applying this study’s methodology to other African regions could empower R-P farmers to grow SL in moderate to high suitability locations, thereby enhancing productivity and health for small ruminants. This would improve human living conditions and heighten resilience against climate change and other challenges. In addition to the nutritional benefits, the tannin-rich forage produced from SL could contribute to controlling diseases such as gastrointestinal nematodosis (GIN) and coccidiosis, which are prevalent in the region and are a leading cause of mortality and suboptimal growth in small ruminants [55].

3.2. Smartphone App Development for Animal Health Management DSS

Figure 4 depicts the analysis of data from 40 goats and sheep from South Africa, accompanied by explanatory annotations, and elucidates the methodology for assessing an animal’s health status by examining its movement signals. Furthermore, the figure shows an example of a sick goat that was detected through the transponder signal data analysis, after which medicine was administered, and the animal recovered, with the recovery time frame followed via the data analysis. In addition, the movement of a pregnant sheep was studied along with the sick goat, further demonstrating artificial intelligence (AI)-based decision support. For each animal, even slight changes in the signal from the norm served as an aid in determining its health variation. In other words, when an animal, such as a goat or sheep, exhibits a prolonged low signal output that deviates from its typical routine, it is deemed unwell. As mentioned, the animals involved in this study generally sleep or rest from 7 p.m.to 7 a.m., during which time low RFID signals are produced. Thus, if the low-signal period of an animal persists throughout its grazing period, illness is suspected. Conversely, potential poaching or a predator attack is inferred if an animal’s RFID transponder generates a signal higher than the average level generally observed during grazing. Signal analysis, conducted for multiple cases, including sick goats, a pregnant ewe, and a lame goat, indicated that signal alterations occurred following treatment. Subsequently, the signal ranges (detailed in Section 2.5), were determined for facilitating the development of a smartphone app, which is under construction now, for the remote health management of these animals.

4. Software and Modeling

4.1. Scripting for RFID Transponder Signal-Based AI Decision Support

Figure 5a presents the Python script devised for real-time animal health management decision support, based on the RFID transponder signal analyses that telemetrically streamed to a server from the field.

Figure 5b is the tested object-oriented Executable form developed to test the AI decision support in case an abnormal signal is detected. The SSFMDSS project includes a WebGIS site, showcasing the spatial suitability for SL production. This interactive dashboard can be accessed through the UNG Institute for Environmental Spatial Analysis (IESA) program’s ESRI portal: https://iesa-ung.maps.arcgis.com/home/gallery.html?view=gridandsortOrder=descandsortField=relevanceandfocus=applications-dashboards (accessed on 17 January, 2023). The password is protected and will be available to readers/users upon request. Python and Visual Basics scripts and the SSFM automated geospatial model as supported by ESRI ModelBuilder are being made available for public use in the GitHub site (https://github.com/drsudhanshupanda/Software (accessed on 17 January, 2023)). As explained above, data transmittance from field to server, as well as server-side data analyses through software, and the initiated process of the development of the smartphone app and the WebGIS sites, are the envisioned Decision Support System (DSS) delivery to rural-pastoral farmers for remote animal health management.

The present research team is developing an automated decision support system (aDSS) for small ruminant health management. In recent years, due to technological development, smartphones have become a primary source for dissemination of information related to agriculture-related topics to R-P farmers in Sub-Saharan Africa [56,57]. This has the potential for disseminating critical health alerts, analogous to ‘inclement weather warnings’ or ‘Amber alerts’ in the U.S., to be readily accessible by most of the population.

The aDSS platform mentioned above provides comprehensive information on small ruminant remote health management, particularly beneficial in areas lacking access to animal healthcare providers. In cases where R-P farmers do not have a mobile phone, local farmer leaders or farm managers will serve as intermediaries. These individuals will receive warning messages and relay the information to the nearest farmers without mobile phones, ensuring widespread communication. By implementing this system, we aim to significantly enhance the health management of small ruminants within specific regions or villages in southern Africa.

4.2. Uncertainty and Limitations

In general, error propagation is the persistence of an error in new datasets calculated or created using datasets that originally contained errors during geospatial data analysis and model development [58,59,60,61]. Cumulative error propagation is certainly a big concern throughout a series of data processing operations, such as those conducted in this geospatial modeling study that used Landsat satellite imageries and SRTM-supported DEM (elevation). Furthermore, the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization (UN-FAO) provided spatial soil data in addition to other climatic data, including precipitation data [62]. Instrumentation, data processing, data transmittance (especially with RFID Transponder Telemetry system), and the final modeling approach include human and natural intervention, and hence are error prone. All these spatial/non-spatial and temporal data with such potential errors were used in the modeling process and automated model building. Therefore, both error propagation and accumulation are inherent and should be acknowledged. However, these errors are minimal, and in environmental modeling, such small errors can easily be ignored [59]. Therefore, we believe results from this study with a more subjective approach should be acceptable, especially since the SSFM DSS development and the RFID Transponder based signal transmittance and its server-side data analyses are being studied intensely with more instruments in different parts of the world, including the U.S. (several farms), South Africa (in newer farms), India (in five Krushi Vikash Kendras), and other areas.

5. Industrial Significance and Eventual Benefits upon Completion of aDSS

The SSFM geospatial model, designed for determining optimal locations for spatial growth suitability to aid Eswatini farmers, can be adapted effectively for farmers throughout Africa and other regions with similar climatic conditions. The research group has already created a preliminary agricultural decision support system tool, which is an ArcGIS cloud-based Dashboard [61] hosted at the Institute for Environmental Spatial Analysis at the University of North Georgia (UNG) in the U.S. This tool offers online decision support for identifying the most appropriate locations for Sorghum × Sudangrass (SL) production in the southeastern U.S.

A similar WebGIS-based modeling DSS is currently under development for southern Africa. In conjunction with the smartphone app development on the UNG AZURE platform, this effective SSFM tool for forage production will become accessible to R-P farmers through the comprehensive aDSS. The Dashboard is presently password protected. Figure 6 depict the WebGIS-based SSFM efficient production DSS and the comprehensive aDSS planning process. Developing this aDSS will enable successful livestock management in remote African locations and elsewhere, providing substantial benefits to R-P farmers.

6. Conclusions and Summary Recommendations

In this study and related research, the researchers developed an advanced geospatial model to predict optimal locations for cultivating sericea lespedeza, thereby enabling farmers to identify the most favorable sites for growing this forage crop and enhancing the nutrition and health of their livestock. Furthermore, by analyzing radio-frequency identification (RFID) transponder signals from two farms in South Africa, the team established signal ranges relevant to their system for monitoring animal health and detecting behaviors associated with predator attacks or poaching incidents. The transponder data is now being streamed to the University of North Georgia’s Microsoft Azure platform for server-side analysis. The software designed for issuing animal health alerts is functioning effectively and is currently being integrated with a mobile app under development to provide health warnings to farmers via their smartphones. An aDSS website is being developed to furnish stakeholders with real-time information on small ruminant health management. The aDSS site will be adapted for mobile app use and will serve as a training tool for R-P and other farmers, with system adjustments made according to their feedback. As discussed in the Industrial Significance and Eventual Benefits upon Completion of an aDSS section, the completed aDSS will bolster the productivity of small ruminant farming systems in Africa and beyond, with particular benefit for R-P farmers lacking access to animal husbandry experts. This remote aDSS for animal health management can improve the economic situation of R-P farmers by providing immediate alerts when an animal becomes sick or experiences distress. Farmers can then isolate the affected animal and consult the aDSS site for proper treatment recommendations to restore the animal’s health. This technology can also be utilized by government agencies in different countries as an ‘early warning system’ to issue alerts for outbreaks of diseases of national or international importance, such as Foot-and-Mouth disease, which is endemic in game parks in southern Africa [63,64].

This study’s efforts involved the development of an automated geospatial model to forecast the most optimal areas for growing sericea lespedeza, a crucial feed crop that improves the nutrition and health of animals. Through the utilization of sophisticated methods, farmers can now discern the optimal locations for cultivating sericea lespedeza, leading to a substantial enhancement in the welfare of their cattle. Furthermore, by conducting intricate analysis of radio-frequency identification (RFID) transponder signals collected from farms in South Africa, the research team effectively determined signal ranges that are relevant to their system. This advancement allows for the surveillance of animal well-being and the identification of behaviors that suggest predator assaults or occurrences of illegal hunting. The transponder data is currently being transmitted without interruption to the University of North Georgia’s Microsoft Azure platform for thorough server-side processing.

The animal health alerting software has shown great efficacy and is currently being integrated with a mobile application that is currently being developed. The purpose of this connection is to deliver immediate health alerts to farmers through their cellphones, enabling them to take immediate action in response to any possible risks to the well-being of their animals. Furthermore, a website for an Animal Decision Support System (aDSS) is nearing completion and will soon provide stakeholders with instant access to vital information on the management of small ruminant health. This platform, designed for mobile application use, will be a helpful teaching tool for farmers and other stakeholders who have limited resources. It will be continuously adjusted depending on their valuable comments.

The successful implementation of the aDSS has the potential to greatly transform small ruminant farming systems, not only in Africa but worldwide. This technology is especially beneficial for resource-poor farmers who do not have access to traditional animal husbandry knowledge. This technology has the potential to greatly improve the economic prospects of farmers with limited resources by offering remote monitoring and immediate notifications for sick or distressed animals. By rapidly isolating problematic animals and consulting the aDSS for customized treatment recommendations, farmers can successfully reduce the impact of health-related difficulties on their livestock. In addition, this technology has the potential to be used by government organizations as an early warning system for outbreaks of diseases that are of national or worldwide importance, such as Foot-and-Mouth disease. This research aims to revolutionize livestock management techniques and ensure the welfare of animals and communities worldwide by utilizing state-of-the-art technology and inventive methods.

In the future, research should prioritize improving the precision and effectiveness of the geospatial model and RFID-based monitoring system. Additionally, efforts should be made to broaden its suitability for various livestock species and geographic areas. Furthermore, it is important to improve the accessibility and usability of the aDSS platform for farmers who have different degrees of technology knowledge. Engaging with stakeholders from all backgrounds will be essential to guarantee the effective adoption and acceptance of this revolutionary technology, ultimately leading to the sustainable progress of livestock agricultural practices globally.