Topic 1: Introduction to Drones in Agriculture

4.1. What a farmer might want to see

The availability of this technology for a farmer opens a new set of tools for them to utilise. Implementations for feral animal management such as dear, rabbits or wild pigs are being used now. These introduced species cause enormous amounts of damage and high cost to the farmer. Tracking and eradicating them can be a complex and labour-intensive exercise. The use of this technology vastly improves the management of these animals at a relatively low cost. The same technology can also be used to find lost animals in dense and difficult to access terrain.

This same imaging system can also help with animal management. Research has been done shown that thermal imaging of cattle and sheep can help identify sick or stressed livestock. The monitoring of body temperature can give early indications of an outbreak of disease. Early identification and treatment can limit the impact over the entire heard.

You will find some examples of thermal imaging and how thermal imaging is changing the future of livestock here: