Agency in Livestock Farming - A Perspective on Human–Animal–Computer Interactions

The adoption of precision livestock farming (PLF) and advanced artificial intelligence enabled computing technologies is radically altering intensive animal agriculture, yet it also raises urgent questions about animals’ autonomy. In this critical review, I examine animal agency—the capacity for animals to make informed choices and exert control over their surroundings—while scrutinizing how human–animal–computer interactions (HACI) in human-centric intelligent systems may either support or undermine this agency. By drawing on research from animal cognition and welfare science, alongside case studies involving automated milking, wearable sensors, and AI-driven monitoring, I highlight promising avenues for personalized care and the encouragement of natural behaviors. At the same time, I reveal the profound risks of over-surveillance, algorithmic control, and the erosion of empathetic stockmanship that can accompany increased automation. I argue that meaningful ethical design must take an animal-centered approach, ensuring technologies expand rather than confine behavioral repertoires. Interdisciplinary methods—integrating engineering, ethology, and ethics—are essential for fostering real empowerment. Equally critical is engaging stakeholders who represent diverse agricultural perspectives, including small-scale, organic, and regenerative operations, to guard against exclusionary “one-size-fits-all” solutions. I also underscore the need to address data privacy concerns, farmer skill transitions, and potential biases embedded within AI. Ultimately, I call for transparent dialogues, thorough impact assessments, and adaptive design principles that put animal agency at the core of digital livestock transformation. By balancing higher productivity with deeper respect for animal autonomy, I propose that human-centric intelligent systems can reconcile moral responsibilities toward humane treatment with the practical realities of global food demand. Through this balanced approach, future innovations in livestock management can uphold both ethical imperatives and operational viability, shaping a new paradigm in which animals are recognized as active participants rather than passive inputs.