Application of geographic information system (GIS) technology in animal sciences

Technologies that assist in making management decisions and policies regarding the sustainable use of livestock and poultry resources through the providing and analysing information are valuable. Today, various computer and information tools are used for planning, decision-making and management of different sub-sectors of agriculture. One of these tools is the geographic information system (GIS). The application of GIS has been developed according to the needs of each person or nation in different sectors, so that the widespread use of this system can be seen in different branches of agriculture. The use of GIS in animal sciences as well as the livestock and poultry industry is also of great importance as one of the most important sub-sectors of agriculture that plays an important role in providing food security. However, the use of this technology in the field of livestock and poultry has progressed very slowly compared to some agricultural sciences. Considering the advantages and potential capacities of GIS application in animal sciences, it is necessary to widely promote its use to increase the productivity of different fields of animal husbandry. Therefore, the purpose of this article is to review GIS technology, its capabilities and potential applications in animal husbandry.