Jeonbuk Province to Launch "Animal Welfare Future Ranch Establishment and Joint Research" Project

AI and Robot-Based... Completion Targeted for April Next Year

The Livestock Research Institute of Jeonbuk Province is set to launch the "AI·Robot-Based Animal Welfare Future Ranch Establishment and Joint Research" project in earnest, aiming to drive the digital transformation of the livestock industry and enhance animal welfare standards.

Jeonbuk Provincial Government Office view. Provided by Jeonbuk Province.

According to the province on August 11, the project will cover a total area of 3,368 square meters, with a budget of 1.5 billion KRW. The plan is to remodel the institute's existing Hanwoo cattle barn into a Jersey dairy cattle ranch that integrates ICT-based smart livestock technologies and animal welfare standards.

Currently, a design contractor has been selected, and detailed design work began earlier this month. Construction is scheduled to start in November, with completion targeted for April 2026. The "Animal Welfare Future Ranch" will feature facilities such as a freestall barn and milking parlor, liquid manure storage, solid-liquid separator, training and education center, and exercise yard, all designed to ensure the physiological and behavioral welfare of dairy cows by guaranteeing their freedom of movement and rest.

Additionally, a total of 10 units of 7 types of AI·robot-based ICT equipment will be introduced in phases according to the cows' life cycles. Next year, basic management equipment such as concentrate feeders and automatic calf feeders will be installed. By 2028, when full-scale milking operations begin, a fully automated system will be established, including robotic milking machines, manure cleaning robots, and forage organizing robots.

The institute aims to build a milking herd of 50 cows by 2030 through embryo transfer and artificial insemination. It also plans to implant 30 Jersey embryos into Hanwoo surrogate cows, expecting the first Jersey calf to be born in April 2026.

The Future Ranch will serve not only as a simple livestock facility but also as the nation's only specialized dairy welfare management training center. Six courses will be offered to around 160 trainees annually, covering ICT-based dairy management, Jersey cattle breeding technology, animal welfare, low-carbon livestock practices, and more, with the goal of nurturing the next generation of dairy experts.

Through joint research with organizations such as the Seoul National University Industry-Academic Cooperation Foundation, Pulmuone, and Latbio, the institute will also pursue technology development, including verification of ICT automation systems, research on climate-adaptive beneficial microorganisms, and studies on the use of Jersey milk as a pharmaceutical material.

Min Sunshik, Director of the Agricultural Life and Livestock Industry Bureau of Jeonbuk Province, stated, "The Future Ranch will become a new livestock model that combines sustainability and technological innovation, serving as a convergence platform for production, education, and research. We will actively support this initiative so that it can be established as a collaborative model for growth among farmers, local communities, and research institutions."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.