Study of the Milkability of the Mediterranean Italian Buffalo and the Tunisian Maghrebi Camel According to Parity and Lactation Stage.

While considered as hard milkers, both buffaloes and camels are milked with equipment destined for dairy cows based on external morphological similarities with this species. This work aimed to study similarities and differences in milkability traits between Mediterranean buffaloes and Maghrebi she-camels and to evaluate the effect of parity and lactation stage. A total of 422 milk flow curves recorded with an electronic milkmeter (Lactocorder) for both species were accessed.

Advancements in combining electronic animal identification and augmented reality technologies in digital livestock farming.

Modern livestock farm technologies allow operators to have access to a multitude of data thanks to the high number of mobile and fixed sensors available on both the livestock farming machinery and the animals. These data can be consulted via PC, tablet, and smartphone, which must be handheld by the operators, leading to an increase in the time needed for on-field activities. In this scenario, the use of augmented reality smart glasses could allow the visualization of data directly in the field, providing for a hands-free environment for the operator to work.

Assessment of video see-through smart glasses for augmented reality to support technicians during milking machine maintenance.

Smart glasses for augmented reality are digital technology under investigation in the agricultural sector. The potential of augmented reality was underlined, in some scientific contributions, as a support tool for farmers' activities and for the decision-making process. One of the most practical applications studied for augmented reality was in maintenance operations, where the use of smart glasses showed high capability.

Influence of milking units and working vacuum level on the mechanical milking of goats.

The objectives of this study were to evaluate and compare the effect of working vacuum levels (35 and 44 kPa) and liners dimensions (mouthpiece lip diameter and overall length, 20-185 and 22-170 mm) on the main milking characteristics of goats. The results highlight that both the working vacuum level and the liner dimension have influenced the milk flow curve parameters. The maximum variations were found for peak flow rate, which increased significantly with liner dimensions of 20-185 mm at a working vacuum level of 44 kPa as well as average milk flow rate and for plateau phase duration.

Influence of the Milking Units on the Pulsation Curve in Dairy Sheep Milking.

Mechanical milking is a critical operation in ewe dairy farming where the operative parameters and the milking routine strongly influence milk production and animal welfare. The challenge in adapting dairy animals to the farm environmental conditions may cause illness and compromise the quality of the products. From this perspective, it is important to evaluate the technological and operational aspects that can influence milk quality and animal welfare.

Exploring Smart Glasses for Augmented Reality: A Valuable and Integrative Tool in Precision Livestock Farming.

The growing interest in Augmented Reality (AR) systems is becoming increasingly evident in all production sectors. However, to the authors' knowledge, a literature gap has been found with regard to the application of smart glasses for AR in the agriculture and livestock sector. In fact, this technology allows farmers to manage animal husbandry in line with precision agriculture principles.

Energy and environmental performances of hybrid photovoltaic irrigation systems in Mediterranean intensive and super-intensive olive orchards.

Over the last decades, traditional olive production has been converted to intensive and super-intensive cultivation systems, characterized by high plant density and irrigation. Although this conversion improves product quality and quantity, it requires a larger amount of energy input. The new contributions in this paper are, first, an analysis of the energy and environmental performance of two commercial-scale high peak-power hybrid photovoltaic irrigation systems (HPVIS) installed at intensive and super-intensive Mediterranean olive orchards; second, an analysis of PV hybrid solutions, comparing PV hybridization with the electric power grid and with diesel generators; and finally, a comparison of the environmental benefits of HPVIS with conventional power sources.

Climate change adaptation and water saving by innovative irrigation management applied on open field globe artichoke.

The setting up of innovative irrigation water management might contribute to the mitigation of negative issues related to climate change. Our hypothesis was that globe artichoke irrigated with a traditionally drip system could be converted to an innovative water management system based on precision irrigation techniques and on evaporative cooling application in order to improve crop physiological status with positive impacts on earliness, total heads yield and water saving. Over two experiments carried out at plot- and field-scale, two irrigation management systems, differing in type and application time, were compared: (i) conventional, and (ii) canopy-cooling.