High-Tech Cowboys Hitting Montana Ranches

High-Tech Cowboys Hitting Montana Ranches SkyDogg from Rogue Livestock has all the tools for high-tech cowboy work. They include drones, GPS livestock tags, thermal imaging, real-time mapping and field-based reporting. Founder Melissa Brandao says the only thing missing is trained drone pilots to integrate these tools into ranch management and to work with cowboys on the ground. “When we first started testing drones, we realized successful application of the technology depended on who you picked to fly the drones and how well you train them to collect the data and images, including thermal images, day or night,” says Brandao. Rogue had already assembled much of the technology and the partners to provide it for their YardDogg feedlot program. YardDogg provides livestock logistics and biometrics for individual animals in feedlots, dairies, sales yards and livestock transport. It includes ID and GPS monitoring via ear tags, gateway infrastructure to transfer the data, and operational software to use it. SkyDogg uses many of the same technologies, combined with drones. In addition to aerial and image gathering for pasture management and herd location, a growing market is the use of drones for predation management. That means being able to differentiate between a cow and a bear in a thermal image. It also means being able to quickly locate a predator kill so action can be taken to prevent further predation. Rapid identification can make the difference between receiving state reimbursement and simply having an animal go missing. While available technologies have the potential to address these needs, a key component was missing. “The biggest hurdle to adoption of the technology is coupling it with the technical knowledge of livestock and the geography where it’ll be used,” says Brandao. “We started a non-profit apprentice program this year to couple cowboy expertise with drone technology. We’re working with the state of Montana to create a structured program.” Brandao’s plan is to build a local expert network. Rogue Livestock will sell the drone service, ear tags and other products to ranchers, while local pilots will represent the company and fly the drones.  “They’ll be like the Geek Squad for ranching communities,” says Brandao. “They’ll be able to stay in their communities, where they know the local ranchers and the geography. The technology exists, and people need it, but they don’t have the expertise.” Interns in the program are paid on a graduated scale that increases as they gain more expertise. Brandao notes that a late start to the program this year limited rancher interest. “We have to be in place and ready to go in 2027, when the cattle go on grass,” she says. “We’re seeking ranchers interested in the service and cowboys interested in the internship program.” Montana is Rogue’s proving ground for the program, suggests Brandao. “We have yet to market beyond Montana at this point. We don’t want to overpromise. We want to show demonstrative results.” Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Rogue Livestock, Three Forks, Mont. 59752 (ph 406-285-8866; hello@roguelivestock.com; www.roguelivestock.com).

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