Injured farmer uses drone "cowscan" technology to check newborn calves in pasture

When Farmer Dave badly injured his foot in a farming accident, he needed to check his cows and calves several times each day. But walking was difficult while he was on the mend. A large piece of machinery had shattered the bones in his foot and he needed several surgeries to put things back in place. He could see the pasture and the cows from his porch, but walking around and giving them the proper attention took more walking than he was able to do.Show more

But Farmer Dave has a drone and he started using it to watch his cows while they were in calving season. He could fly around and look at each heifer and each calf and he could make sure that none of them were in distress as they gave birth. He could tell when a new calf was born and he would know exactly where to find it without making laps around the meadow.

Farmer Dave was able to recuperate and rest while still giving the cows the proper care. The drone camera resolution is shockingly clear and he can even read the ear tags from his seat on the porch. But in the name of fun, a little editing turned the regular video into a little spoof of something you might see in a science fiction movie. Special effects create the illusion that Farmer Dave is scanning the udders with a sensor to detect milk content and match full cows with thirsty calves. Although this is all in jest in this case, that technology won't be too far in the future as we see the advances in tech and everyday work saving devices.