Digital Tools for Livestock Management: A Comprehensive Review of Mobile Applications in the Indian Livestock Sector

Abstract

Over the past decade, mobile applications have emerged as transformative digital tools capable of bridging the long-standing information gap between livestock research institutions and farming communities. This review synthesizes evidence from 18 peer-reviewed publications published between 2014 and 2025 to evaluate the landscape of mobile applications developed for the livestock sector in India by the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Indian Council of Agricultural Research Institutes, State Agricultural Universities, dairy cooperatives, and private organizations. The review examines application functionality, thematic domains, language accessibility, institutional origins, user adoption, and barriers to implementation. Findings reveal a diverse ecosystem of more than 60 documented mobile applications covering dairy management, disease surveillance, breeding, nutrition, poultry, swine, equine management, and veterinary extension services. These applications offer significant advantages in knowledge dissemination, disease management, farm decision-making, and market connectivity. However, major challenges persist, including low digital literacy, poor rural internet connectivity, limited multilingual support, inadequate awareness,
and weak post-launch maintenance. The review highlights the need for user-centered design, multilingual interfaces, offline functionality, regular content updates, and stronger extension support systems to maximize the effectiveness of digital livestock tools in India and other developing countries.