Geo-information Technology Application Based Animal Health Management Decision Support System Development

Food insecurity is a critical challenge for developing resource-poor farmers in Africa due to low quality/quantity of fodder and animal production, parasitic/infectious diseases, and lack of expert assistance. Study objectives include evaluation of efficient growth potential of appropriate tannin-rich and anti-parasitic fodder legumes in southern Africa and testing telemetry to monitor animal activity related to disease outbreaks and real-time preliminary treatment support via smartphone APP. Developed automated-geospatial model predicted suitable spatial locations to grow sericea lespedeza for improving animal production systems. Transponder-signal analyses from sheep on two farms in South Africa helped develop ranges of signals for animal health and predator attack/poaching associated behavior. Software developed from signal ranges as an early-warning system for disease detection worked efficiently. It is being combined with the under-progress smartphone APP to deliver health warnings to farmers’ cellphones. An APP-based Decision Support System website is under construction for real-time small-ruminant health management information delivery.