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Computational Architectures for Precision Dairy Nutrition Digital Twins: A Technical Review and Implementation Framework

Rao S, Neethirajan S

Sensors (Basel, Switzerland), 2025

5 citations

Abstract

Sensor-enabled digital twins (DTs) are reshaping precision dairy nutrition by seamlessly integrating real-time barn telemetry with advanced biophysical simulations in the cloud. Drawing insights from 122 peer-reviewed studies spanning 2010-2025, this systematic review reveals how DT architectures for dairy cattle are conceptualized, validated, and deployed. We introduce a novel five-dimensional classification framework-spanning application domain, modeling paradigms, computational topology, validation protocols, and implementation maturity-to provide a coherent comparative lens across diverse DT implementations. Hybrid edge-cloud architectures emerge as optimal solutions, with lightweight CNN-LSTM models embedded in collar or rumen-bolus microcontrollers achieving over 90% accuracy in recognizing feeding and rumination behaviors. Simultaneously, remote cloud systems harness mechanistic fermentation simulations and multi-objective genetic algorithms to optimize feed composition, minimize greenhouse gas emissions, and balance amino acid nutrition. Field-tested prototypes indicate significant agronomic benefits, including 15-20% enhancements in feed conversion efficiency and water use reductions of up to 40%. Nevertheless, critical challenges remain: effectively fusing heterogeneous sensor data amid high barn noise, ensuring millisecond-level synchronization across unreliable rural networks, and rigorously verifying AI-generated nutritional recommendations across varying…

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Evidence Hub reads this as a systematic review, done in animal, not in people. Its evidence level is 5 of 5 (Very low · case / narrative / animal / in vitro / in silico). Case reports, narrative reviews, and animal, cell or computer-model studies give the weakest evidence for human health.

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