Artificial Intelligence Revolutionizes Sheep Farming with GenCloud4Sheep
A Data-Driven Model to Improve Sheep Farming Profitability and Reproduction
How AI is Transforming Genetic Selection and Farm Management
The GenCloud4Sheep Operational Group has reached its final phase with significant advances in the application of artificial intelligence to the sheep farming sector, presented at the Foro Ovino, held in Valladolid last June. This initiative was developed at Gradiant in collaboration with a consortium of livestock associations and other key players in the production chain: Ovigen, ASAFFE, AGRAMA, CONFELAC, Genovis, and Medrar Smart Solutions. Its main goal has been to improve the profitability of sheep farms through data analysis in a federated platform powered by artificial intelligence. This approach has enabled more accurate predictions and decision-support tools for farmers.
One of the most relevant milestones has been the creation of a federated data platform, allowing breed associations to integrate key information on lactation, insemination, genotyping, reproductive performance, and morphological data, among others. This data ecosystem has facilitated the development of predictive models that enhance genetic improvement in breeds such as Latxa, Manchega, and Assaf, optimizing reproductive management and animal performance.
Key Findings from the Conducted Studies
In the field of fertility, one of the most notable studies has revealed that pregnancy can be detected in milk with 85% accuracy just 26 days after insemination. This finding represents a major breakthrough in reproductive management, allowing farmers to make faster and more precise decisions. Additionally, factors affecting male reproductive performance have been analyzed, including the optimal mating rhythm in breeding centers. Researchers have also evaluated how nutrition impacts the development of ewe lambs until puberty.
Another key advancement has been research on the viability of refrigerated semen. Various diluents have been tested to extend its lifespan from six to 24 hours, which would allow greater flexibility and efficiency in artificial insemination processes. At the same time, the platform has facilitated the selection of breeding rams based on development, morphology, and semen quality data, providing farmers with more precise information for genetic improvement in their flocks.
Artificial Intelligence to Optimize Decision-Making
From a technological perspective, the GenCloud4Sheep platform is based on an AI-powered system capable of analyzing thousands of historical data points and establishing correlations between genetic and productive variables. This approach has led to a better understanding of the factors influencing the productivity of the sheep sector, offering innovative tools to optimize decision-making. Since it is a federated platform, the data remains the property of each livestock association, ensuring security and validity in shared information.
The studies have yielded valuable insights into milk production and insemination success rates. In the case of milk production in Assaf and Manchega breeds, factors such as animal age, drying-off days, and specific udder morphological characteristics have been identified as having a significant impact. Similarly, the analysis of insemination success in Assaf sheep has revealed that advanced ewe age can negatively affect success rates, while certain fat and protein levels in milk may have positive or negative effects on the reproductive process.
Digital Transformation in Sheep Farming
GenCloud4Sheep has laid the foundation for a digital transformation in sheep farming, demonstrating how artificial intelligence can be a key tool in improving the profitability and sustainability of the sector. These results open the door to future research and applications that will continue optimizing livestock production and reproduction, ensuring a more efficient and innovative model for farmers.
This Operational Group, as the responsible entity for the content, has been the beneficiary of a grant for the implementation of innovation projects of general interest by operational groups under the European Innovation Partnership for Agricultural Productivity and Sustainability (EIP-Agri), within the framework of the 2014-2022 National Rural Development Program, funded by the European Recovery Instrument (EU Next Generation).
The managing authority responsible for the implementation of the corresponding aid is the General Directorate of Rural Development, Innovation, and Agri-Food Training (DGDRIFA). This measure is 100% subsidized with funds from the European Union Recovery Instrument (Next Generation Funds) and is structured through the National Rural Development Program and the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD). The total grant amount is €599,022.40, matching the total project budget of €599,022.40.
