The University of Kentucky Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and the Environment has received a $910,000 grant from the USDA to develop and improve drone technology in cattle management.
The five-year project, titled “Precision Livestock Management: Cattle Monitoring and Herding Using Cooperative Drones,” explores how drones can help herd, monitor and collect physiological data from beef cattle. cattle. The project aims to reduce labor requirements and enhance the efficiency of livestock producers.
“This project is a continuation of the ongoing efforts to integrate technology in livestock management,” said senior researcher and assistant professor extension of the Department of Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering (BAE) Josh Jackson. “We used to work on monitoring cattle using drones, but now our team is investigating how these drones can be used for herding. The idea is to see if we can transport cattle with drones in a way that is efficient and safe for the animals. ”
The research will address several key objectives. First, the team will develop a multi-agent drone system that enables drones to operate autonomously around cattle. This system will be designed to adjust its performance based on the behavior and movement of the animals, ensuring a safe and effective interaction.
The project will also examine the physiological response of cattle, particularly how different species respond to the presence of drones and their movement.
“We’re interested in how different species of cattle respond to drones,” Jackson said. For example, we have seen in our previous work that one drone flying 30 feet above the ground does not worry them much, but if you introduce a second drone or change the flight pattern, their response it changed. Understanding this response is important for developing effective systems. ”
Another important part of the study will be to develop methods to measure cattle weight using aerial imagery. By creating 3D models from aerial images, Jackson hopes to achieve accurate weight estimates, which could greatly reduce cattle management practices.
“The opportunity to weigh cattle without physically handling the animals is exciting,” Jackson said. “If we can get 5% accuracy using drones, it could change the way farmers monitor the health and growth of their livestock.”
Economic viability will also be a major focus. The research team plans to examine the cost-effectiveness of integrating drone technology at different scales of cattle production. This will include on-farm trials to determine the optimal number of drones needed for different herd sizes and the potential return on investment for producers.
“Farmers want to know if this technology makes financial sense,” Jackson added. “While it may not be cost-effective now, there is potential for future developments to make it more accessible and affordable.”
The interdisciplinary team includes UK experts from mechanical and aeronautical engineering, agricultural economics and veterinary science – ensuring that the project addresses both the challenges of aviation technology and the needs working of cattle producers.
“The exciting part of working in a group with such broad knowledge is that you’re always learning something new,” said Michael Sama, Gatton Foundation Distinguished Professor and director of Graduate Studies who is a collaborator on the project. this one. “We’ve come a long way in just a few years researching the use of drones for livestock management and we look forward to seeing where this project leads us.”
The research also aims to produce a list of guidelines and tools that livestock producers across the country can use.
“The results could pave the way for the widespread use of drones in agriculture,” Jackson said. “This could provide a new approach to livestock management that saves time, reduces labor and improves animal welfare.”
The BAE UK program is a partnership between the UK Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment and the UK Stanley and Karen Pigman College of Engineering. For more information about the department, visit https://bae.ca.uky.edu/.
This information is based on work supported by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, US Department of Agriculture, under award number 2024-69014-42393. USDA is an equal opportunity employer and service provider. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the US Department of Agriculture.
Source: University of Kentucky
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