As artificial intelligence permeates agriculture, veterinarians warn that technological advances must not come at the expense of animal welfare.
The British Veterinary Association (BVA) will be hosting a session titled AI on Farms: Is it good for vets and animal welfare? At this year’s London Veterinary Show, experts will explore both the benefits and ethical challenges of using AI on the farm.
The discussion comes as AI tools are becoming increasingly common in veterinary practices. This follows a previous discussion at BVA Live in June, where veterans discussed the increasing role of technology in both clinical and non-clinical settings.
Across the agricultural sector, AI is already changing the way animals are managed. On some farms, wearable sensors track milk production and movement to detect early signs of disease, and automated cameras monitor lameness and feeding behavior.
Data-driven decision-making is becoming a routine part of herd management, and AI-powered analytics are enabling farmers to quickly respond to potential health and welfare issues.
According to BVA’s Voice of the Veterinary Profession survey, one in five veterinarians in clinical practice currently uses this technology. Reported benefits include faster data interpretation, improved diagnostic testing, and time savings.
However, the most common risks include results being interpreted without context or follow-up checks, over-reliance on AI that can compromise professional skills, and data protection concerns.
Interestingly, the survey found that 41% of livestock veterinarians feel positive about the role of AI in their profession, compared to 29% of companion animal veterinarians, suggesting that farm veterinarians may be more open to the potential of this technology.
BVA Junior Vice-President Dr Gwen Rees said the debate came at a pivotal time for the profession. “While the AI revolution offers significant opportunities for veterans, particularly potential benefits for diagnostic testing and interpretation of large data sets, it also comes with clear challenges and risks,” she said.
“The BVA’s position on the use of AI in the veterinary profession is under development, so this timely session will be an excellent opportunity to stay up to date on the use of AI tools on farms and address some of the ethical issues, including the impact on the relationship between veterinarians, farmers and the animals in their care.”
He added that participants will have the opportunity to ask questions of the panel and share their own experiences. “Attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions of our very knowledgeable panel, and we hope many of you will join us and add your voice to the discussion.”
As technology continues to transform agriculture, this session aims to ensure that innovation enhances, rather than replaces, the human insight and compassion that is at the core of veterinary medicine.
BVA says veterans will play a key role in shaping how AI is used responsibly, so that animal welfare, not automation, continues to guide progress.
The AI on Farms discussion will be held at the London Veterinary Show on 20 November 2025 from 1:30pm.
