Small ruminants

Even for sheep and goats, thermal stress is a crucial environmental factor that affects welfare, fertility, milk production, and growth. The Thermal Stress Index (THI) continuously monitors the combination of temperature and humidity to detect critical conditions and prevent negative impacts on health and performance.

While sheep and goats can tolerate dry heat to some extent, they are still vulnerable to humid heat and extreme cold, especially in confined or high-density environments.

High THI levels can lead to:

• reduced feed intake

• decreased milk production (in dairy goats and ewes)

• lower reproductive efficiency

• increased mortality rates in young animals

• behavioral changes (restlessness, reduced rumination)

Continuous monitoring = proactive management

With the integrated THI index, you can:

• Continuously assess environmental conditions in barns, shelters, or paddocks

• Take timely action with ventilation, shading, or cooling systems

• Adjust daily management routines (feeding schedules, grazing times, stocking density)

• Anticipate risk conditions on a daily or seasonal basis

Reducing thermal stress means improving the animals’ quality of life while achieving better milk yields, improved growth, and fewer health issues. In small ruminants, even slight changes in environmental conditions can make a significant difference.

Light doesn’t just affect visibility in the barn—it’s a key biological factor that influences reproductive cycles, lactation, and behavior. The Light Exposure Efficiency Index provides real-time measurement of light intensity and duration to ensure optimal conditions throughout all production phases.

Goats and sheep are photoperiod-sensitive species: the amount and quality of light perceived daily plays a major role in regulating their endocrine balance. Proper light management can lead to:

• better control over reproductive seasonality

• more predictable and synchronized breeding cycles

• increased milk production in dairy goats and ewes

• improved welfare and activity levels in indoor housing systems

In intensive farming, especially during winter months or in covered environments, the impact of inadequate lighting is often underestimated.

Continuous monitoring = light under control

With continuous tracking of light parameters, the index allows you to:

• Assess light intensity (in lux) in different barn areas

• Monitor the duration of exposure to both natural and artificial light

• Identify areas with insufficient or inconsistent lighting

• Adjust the photoperiod based on productive or reproductive goals

In modern livestock systems, every environmental detail matters. Integrating light management means supporting animals naturally and effectively—enhancing both profitability and sustainability.

In sheep and goats, feed is one of the main cost drivers and levers of efficiency. The Feed Efficiency Index monitors methane emissions in real time to evaluate how effectively the diet is converted into milk or meat, optimizing feeding strategies and improving the overall sustainability of the system.

Methane is a natural byproduct of rumen fermentation. However, high levels indicate a loss of usable energy—energy that could otherwise be converted into production.

Monitoring feed efficiency in small ruminants allows you to:

• assess the quality of ration assimilation

• identify unbalanced diets or those not tailored to the production phase

• reduce greenhouse gas emissions per kg of milk or meat

• improve economic efficiency, especially in semi-intensive or intensive systems

By tracking daily methane variations, the index helps you:

• Compare the effects of different rations or feed additives

• Detect early signs of digestive or nutritional issues

• Optimize precision feeding strategies for lactating, weaning, or fattening animals

• Support certification of good environmental practices (e.g., CO₂eq reduction)

Efficient diet = productive and sustainable animals

In livestock farming, every bite counts. An animal that digests more efficiently will grow faster, produce more milk, and have a lower environmental impact. This is especially true for small ruminants, where the balance between productivity and sustainability is often more delicate.