Early and accurate detection of pain and disease in livestock remains a pivotal challenge in veterinary medicine. Since animals cannot verbally communicate discomfort, behavioural changes including alterations in feeding, activity, posture, and social interaction—serve as the earliest detectable health indicators, often preceding overt clinical signs. Precision Livestock Technologies (PLT) are an emerging paradigm that integrates sensors, thermal imaging, computer vision, and AI to enable continuous, automated, and individualised behaviour monitoring. This review examines the biological basis of behaviour as a health indicator, the architecture and mechanisms of PLT, and their applications in detecting conditions such as lameness, mastitis, metabolic disorders, and reproductive events. We discuss the implications for animal welfare, production efficiency, and precision veterinary medicine. Challenges including data reliability, cost, and contextual adaptability are also addressed. Ongoing advancements in AI and sensor technology will further enhance the accessibility and predictive accuracy of PLT in diverse livestock settings.
Manash Jyoti Barman (Mon,) studied this question.