Field demonstration of smart grazing systems with environmental conservation effects and high productivity through the restoration of abandoned farmland

Abstract

A field demonstration of sustainable grazing-related smart technologies without agrichemicals or chemical fertilizers was conducted in an area that included abandoned farmland on Mount Sanbe in Oda City, Shimane Prefecture, Japan. The technologies introduced include abandoned farmland restoration, grazing period extension, Global Positioning System (GPS)-guided chicken manure spreading, grazing cattle position monitoring, and electric fence voltage monitoring. As a result of the introduction of these technologies, the grazing area has increased from 31 to 64 ha, the grazing period has extended from 182 to 230 d, and the number of grazing cattle has increased from 30 to 53. Despite these increases, grazing management was maintained by only two individuals without having to increase personnel thanks to grazing cattle position monitoring technology and other innovations. Therefore, these smart grazing systems are expected to contribute to the resolution of abandoned farmland, improve labor-saving maintenance of agricultural land, and enable a low-cost sustainable livestock breeding system based on self-sufficient feed. Further technological development and dissemination are expected in the future.