The innovative HorseData project entered its final stretch and showcased the data integration process at the 2nd Open Day
Yeguada Cartuja Hierro del Bocado yesterday hosted, on 14 April, the 2nd Open Day of the Go-HorseData innovation project.
The project, which began in 2023 and is now entering its final implementation phase, presented one of its main milestones during the day: the data integration process within the digital platform developed, which makes it possible to collect, process and analyse real-time information on the behaviour and management of horses kept under semi-free-range conditions.
Driven by the HorseData Operational Group and led by Fundación Ayesa, the project involved Yeguada Cartuja Hierro del Bocado, Digitanimal and Dinamedia Agropecuaria S.L.
Go-HorseData is co-financed by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, under the grant scheme for Operational Groups of the European Innovation Partnership (EIP-Agri).
Since its launch, the project has enabled the roll-out of a monitoring system based on individual identification using RFID (radio-frequency identification) technology, autonomous field devices and a digital data analysis platform.
The system currently tracks 170 animals, having generated to date close to 170,000 data points from 19 monitoring stations, which record feeding times and frequency, water consumption, activity, training and clinic visits.
All this information is integrated into a digital platform that made it possible to:
- Analyse behaviour patterns and the animals’ development
- Assess access to resources under real conditions
- Detect abnormal behaviour or factors limiting development
- Optimise group organisation based on zootechnical variables
- Develop predictive models to support decision-making and the valuation of animals
Yeguada Cartuja Hierro del Bocado plays a key role as a testing ground, making it possible to validate these technologies within a leading semi-free-range breeding system.
In the words of the President of Yeguada Cartuja, Judit Anda: “This project represents a qualitative leap in equine management, incorporating objective data and predictive tools that make it possible to optimise breeding processes and improve decision-making on holdings.”
This 2nd Open Day gave the sector a chance to see how digitalisation applied to extensive equine farming is establishing itself as a key tool for improving efficiency, animal welfare and sustainability across the sector.