Russian Farmers Expand the Use of “Smart” Devices on Their Farms
Advanced technologies are making livestock farming more efficient and transparent.
Russian farmers and reindeer herders are actively adopting advanced technologies to make livestock farming more efficient and transparent. In the Republic of Tatarstan, the number of smart devices on farms rose by 13% over the past year, with a key trend being the assignment of “digital passports” to animals. This approach, already working from the Volga region to the Yamal Peninsula, could become a model for the global agricultural sector.
Digital Transformation Starts With an Ear Tag
In Tatarstan, which ranks among Russia’s top three regions for growth in Internet of Things (IoT) adoption, technology has moved deep into agriculture. Newborn calves on farms such as Ak Bars Pestretsy receive an ear tag with a unique number within their first day of life. This tag functions as a “digital passport” that follows the animal throughout its life, accumulating data on health, vaccinations, and productivity.
Veterinarians note that the system goes beyond modern record-keeping. A digital history for each animal ensures transparency and allows farms to legally qualify for government subsidies aimed at development.
IoT in the Fields and the Tundra
The 13% rise in smart devices in Tatarstan is only part of the picture. In the region’s agricultural sector, the number of machine-to-machine (M2M) solutions grew by 37%. Sensors and video monitoring systems now help track milking processes and animal health in real time.
A similar technological shift is underway in Russia’s Far North. In the Yamal-Nenets Autonomous Okrug, the “Northern Shepherd” electronic identification system is used to track reindeer. When a herd passes through a special frame, data from all tags is read automatically, sparing herders days of manual counting.
To monitor rare musk oxen in the Ingilor Nature Park, specialists use Silflex 3D-A tags. Data from these tags can be read remotely, even with the help of drones, supporting population protection efforts and the maintenance of breeding records.
The successful deployment of these projects across vastly different climates, from temperate regions to the Arctic, demonstrates the reliability and versatility of Russian-developed technologies. These are ready-to-use, field-tested solutions that could prove valuable to farming operations worldwide.
