Russian livestock farming digitalization: current stage and strategic guidelines

Issue № 8, 2026, article № 16, pages 147-159

Section: Competition of young authors

Language: Russian

Original language title: ЦИФРОВИЗАЦИЯ ЖИВОТНОВОДСТВА В РОССИИ: СОВРЕМЕННОЕ СОСТОЯНИЕ И СТРАТЕГИЧЕСКИЕ ОРИЕНТИРЫ

Keywords: PRECISION LIVESTOCK FARMING (PLF), DIGITALIZATION, DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION, DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, SOFTWARE TOOLS, ICT COSTS, DIGITAL PROFILES, HETEROGENEITY

Abstract: The article presents a methodology for assessing the intensity of digitalization across various segments of the livestock industry by constructing digital profiles. For the period 2021–2024, the study identifies a stagnation in the number of organizations adopting digital technologies and specialized software, alongside a simultaneous increase in total ICT budgets. This trend indicates an intensification of digitalization among existing adopters rather than market expansion. The measurements obtained indicate a pyramidal structure of digitalization: precision livestock technologies and a class of operational efficiency software tools are in much less demand than infrastructure and basic tools. The study reveals heterogeneity in digital strategies: the pig farming sector implements a model with a pronounced shift towards outsourcing, likely due to the concentration of ICT functions within subsidiary holding companies; the poultry industry is undergoing a phase of large-scale technical re-equipment; meanwhile, the dairy farming, unlike the global trend, has not shown itself as a leader in digitalization and changes priorities every year. Budgetary pressure on organizations varies significantly by segment due to production concentration and digital investments are mostly in the hands of large players, creating a system risk of technological inequality. Pig farming is the absolute leader of digitalization in Russian livestock farming industry in terms of the potential used at all levels of the digital hierarchy, with poultry farming in second place and dairy cattle in third. Two system challenges were identified: critical underfunding of employee competence and a lack of attention to cybersecurity.

Authors: Inozemtseva Elena IUrevna