The EIP project DiTec4Sheep aims to further develop sheep farming in a sustainable, efficient and animal-friendly manner through the targeted use of modern, practice-oriented digital technologies. In view of the challenges in the sector – in particular increasing demands on animal welfare – innovative technical solutions are intended to help improve and simplify operational processes.

As part of the project, digital applications already available on the market (RFID ear tag & reader, herd management systems, camera monitoring, drone use, autonomous weighing systems, animal-specific treatment systems) will be tested and integrated into the everyday life of sheep farms. There is a particular focus on the needs-based selection and adaptation of technologies to the respective farm structures and resources. The central technology used is electronic identification with RFID technology, which enables precise animal identification. The current status of the participating farms is analyzed in order to create a solid database of existing digital technologies. Building on this, additional RFID readers and individual herd management systems will be introduced to ensure complete documentation of animal data. These systems are intended to improve herd management, enable early detection of health problems and promote efficiency.

Through close cooperation between science and practice and targeted support in the implementation of innovative solutions, DiTec4Sheep aims to help ensure the sustainability of sheep farming in the long term.