CENRE YEGUADA CARTUJA drives the digitalisation of the equine sector with a conference day showing the way towards smarter stud farming
CENRE-Yeguada Cartuja yesterday hosted the results presentation day for the HORSEDATA project, an innovation initiative driving the digital transformation of equine holdings through the use of smart technologies to optimise management, improve animal welfare and support data-driven decision-making.
The event showcased the progress made by the project, whose main aim is to develop a comprehensive monitoring system for extensive and semi-extensive equine holdings. The initiative seeks to make use of the information generated by the animals throughout their lives to improve productivity, increase the efficiency of holdings and contribute to the professionalisation of the sector.
The event was attended by the President of Yeguada Cartuja Hierro del Bocado, Judit Anda Ugarte, and was opened by Ms Ana Jodral Grande, Director of the Agriculture and Fisheries Area at the Government Delegation in Andalusia, and by Mr Miguel Ángel Otte del Pino, Cádiz Delegate of the Official Association of Agricultural Engineers of Andalusia, who both stressed the importance of such initiatives for the growth of the equestrian sector. The event also featured talks by Mr Ricardo Alarcón, from the Andalusian Regional Government’s Department of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, who presented the Demofarm project, and by Ms Rafaela Herrera, Head of Livestock Innovation at Producciones Ganaderas COVAP, who presented practical examples of digitalisation in livestock farming. Both shared success stories in the application of digital technologies to different farming systems. Smart sensors, GPS devices, management platforms, artificial intelligence and remote monitoring systems were among
the solutions presented, demonstrating their impact on cost reduction, resource optimisation, animal welfare and improving farmers’ quality of life.
In the session dedicated to presenting the Go HorseData results, Estefanía Lechuga, from CENRE-Yeguada Cartuja, highlighted the usefulness of Go_Horsedata for monitoring horses thoroughly and easily and generating alerts to safeguard their welfare; Carlos del Cuvillo, from Digitanimal, showcased the technology used in the project; David Gómez, from Fundación Ayesa, explained how the data has been turned into a useful tool for managing equine holdings; and finally Amalia Gómez gave examples of how the data obtained can help account for production costs objectively. The day closed with a final panel discussion among the speakers, joined by Ms Inmaculada Torrego, Technical Director of the National Association of Spanish Sport Horses, who stressed the need for technology to be easy to apply, accessible and responsive to end users, and Mr José María Parias, Technical Director of the Spanish Association of Anglo-Arab Horse Breeders, who highlighted the dynamic nature of a sector that never settles and constantly works to improve, including advances in technology. Panel participants concluded that the equine sector already has technology embedded in genetics, reproduction and equestrian sport, but lacks other technologies focused on farm management, handling and other specific needs that still need to be addressed.
All the speakers agreed on a common message: digitalisation represents a strategic opportunity to build a more efficient, competitive and sustainable equine sector, in which technology becomes an ally for improving management, animal welfare and the profitability of holdings.
HORSEDATA is developed by Fundación Ayesa, Yeguada Cartuja-Hierro del Bocado, Digital Animal and Ingequus, and is funded under the 2023-2027 CAP Strategic Plan, within the 2023 call for the preparation and implementation of general-interest innovation projects by supra-regional operational groups of the European Innovation Partnership for agricultural productivity and sustainability (EIP-Agri). The project is co-financed 80% by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) and 20% by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAPA).
Holding this event reinforces CENRE-Yeguada Cartuja’s commitment to continue leading research, innovation and knowledge-transfer initiatives that contribute to developing a more competitive, sustainable equine sector, ready for the challenges of the future.