P.PSH.1374 - Livestock Mustering with Drones and Pathways to Adoption

Summary

The goal for this project is to demonstrate the viability of drones as a livestock mustering tool, and to support best practice industry adoption of this emerging technology compliant with existing regulations.

This project will use the latest in drone hardware and software to prove that this is a viable solution that will have many benefits to livestock producers and the industry at large. Gaps may be discovered in current technology, which will open the opportunity for further development of specific hardware and software that will revolutionise the way livestock are handled in the future.

Objectives

The project had three key objectives:
• Proving the solution
Nineteen different mustering trials on nine separate properties were conducted, representing a vast contrast of land types and the most common livestock species of sheep, cattle and goats. The latest and most relevant hardware and software was employed.

• Develop best practice drone mustering workshop
The content of this workshop encompassed:
- Introduction to technology
- Benefits of the solution
- Case studies – Drone mustering
- Regulations – Landholder Rule and beyond (EVLOS, BVLOS)
- Safety and compliance
- Tools and services to get you flying and stay compliant
- Drone mustering techniques – Practical flight exercise with livestock (if achievable).

• Deliver five best practice drone mustering workshops
The locations were:
- Cloncurry
- Toowoomba
- Tamworth
- Rockhampton
- MLA updates 2022

Key findings

The success of this project can be attributed to the competency and experience of the personnel involved. This was a project developed and run by producers, for producers. The key finding of this research is that drones are highly effective for locating and mustering livestock. This report validates claims that drones are cheaper, safer and provide productivity advantages and benefits which outperform current methods (although further research is recommended).
Other recommendations that will assist in the adoption of this solution include:
- regulatory progression
- hardware and software development
- AI development
- training
- raising awareness.

Benefits to industry

The extent of how valuable drones can be for mustering livestock using sophisticated technology is largely unknown. This project will have groundbreaking discoveries and tread the path to a realistic disruption of the helicopter mustering industry. SkyKelpie will develop a one-day workshop that will inform livestock operators on how they are legally able to perform drone mustering under the 3.2.10 Landholder Rule - Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems - Licensing and Operations without the need of a Remote Pilot Licence (RePL). The education and exposure through this workshop will encourage adoption. Additional learnings will be made from interacting with graziers in this context as SkyKelpie places huge value in creating technology for the customer, for a real purpose.

Future research

More research and credible scientific evidence on the benefits of livestock drone mustering would greatly impact on future take-up. These benefits include animal welfare, environment, economics and increased productivity.