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Staff and alumni from Harper Adams University in the UK are looking at the use of drones for sheep herding and is currently seeing positive results.
Local farmer Wojtek Behnke is training his sheep to associate a drone with food and learn to follow it.
Farmers in New Zealand have already trialled drone use for herding sheep by using the sound of a barking dog or other scare tactics.
We think it’s a more ethical approach to moving sheep
“And this is where we’re trying something different,” said Behnke, who started putting food out for his sheep and flying his drone so that they learned to associate the drone with food.
After some training, the sheep have learned to automatically follow the drone.
“We think it’s a more ethical approach to moving sheep, as you’re using positive reinforcement and not using fear,” said Behnke.
Herd monitoring
Professor of applied animal behaviour Mark Rutter said: “The hope is that drones will also be used for monitoring sheep. We think this could be a very cost effective way of monitoring sheep.
"Relatively expensive pieces of kit, such as activity monitors, have been created for dairy cows, but that’s because dairy cows are higher value livestock.
"A cheaper solution is needed for sheep and this is where we think the drone could play an important role in the future.”
Potential problems have already been highlighted, such as the herd following the drone when it is merely flying for monitoring purposes.
Restrictions
Mechatronics researcher and UAV pilot Jonathan Gill said: “There are a number of restrictions that have to be taken into account when using a drone for commercial purposes.
“You need to have a license to fly the drone, you have to have insurance and you’re limited to a set area. New legislation has recently been released in regards to further restrictions around airports.”
Professor Rutter doesn’t believe that drones will replace sheepdogs.
“I think we will still be using sheepdogs because there’ll be times when the sheep won’t respond to the positive reinforcement and times when they are in danger and you have to act quickly; for example when someone has left the gate open and the sheep are at risk of running out into the road. It’s just another tool to provide the farmer with more useful information.”
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