Livestock farming in Australia is vast, rugged and tough. Stations stretch for kilometres, stock roam across open country and labour shortages are real. It’s hard work keeping an eye on every animal, every paddock and every fence. That’s why agricultural drones are fast becoming a trusted tool for livestock managers.

Drones aren’t just for crop farms anymore. In the paddock, they’re saving time, cutting costs and helping producers make smarter decisions. From mustering to water checks, health monitoring to fencing, drones are changing how livestock operations run—without the noise or cost of helicopters.

Let’s look at how this tech works, the gains it brings and what’s coming next for drone-driven livestock farming in Australia.

Animal Monitoring from the Air

Keeping eyes on stock spread over hundreds of hectares is no small task. Drones help do it in minutes. With thermal and high-resolution cameras, they scan paddocks and spot cattle, sheep or goats in real time.

Producers use drones to:

• Count head and track movement
• Identify animals stuck in dams or tangled in fencing
• Spot early signs of illness or lameness

This means faster action when issues pop up. Instead of waiting for muster or running patrols by quad, you launch the drone and get a full view in minutes.

It also makes daily checks safer. Hilly terrain, rough scrub and long distances are easier to manage from the sky. Plus, you reduce stress on animals by keeping things quiet. This is a big part of drones in sustainable agriculture practices, where animal welfare and efficiency go hand in hand.

Tracking Health and Movement

Beyond counting stock, drones are now helping track movement patterns and health trends over time. That’s a game changer.

With thermal imaging, drones can detect changes in body temperature—often a sign of stress, infection or injury. This gives farmers a chance to treat animals earlier, before small issues become big ones.

When paired with smart tags or collars, drones can also check specific animals and track where they’ve been. If one cow’s lost or acting odd, the drone can find it and send back data.

On large stations, this helps with:

• Monitoring calving and lambing zones
• Tracking recovery after vet treatment
• Checking mob behaviour across seasons

This type of early insight fits into the future of farming with advanced drone tech. It reduces losses, lowers treatment costs and helps maintain better herd health.

Drone Mustering and Movement Control

Traditional mustering is time-heavy, fuel-heavy and can be stressful for stock. Drones offer a quieter, cheaper option.

Trained operators can use drones to guide mobs toward yards, water points or fresh grazing. Some drones even play audio—like whistling or engine sounds—to gently direct animals.

This isn’t about replacing dogs or riders. It’s about doing the job smarter. In rough terrain or hot weather, drones reach areas bikes can’t. That means safer work for staff and less stress on animals.

For example, a station in outback Queensland cut mustering time by 30% after trialling drone support. They used it to sweep fence lines, check water points and locate outlier stock before sending in the crew.

As battery life improves and flight control gets smarter, drones will become a core part of livestock movement. This is all part of integrating drones into modern farm management.

Water Point and Fence Inspections

Water is life in livestock farming. So are strong fences. But checking them across a big property takes time.

Drones help by flying regular routes over troughs, tanks and lines. They spot leaks, damage or low water levels fast—often before livestock are affected.

They also scan fences for breaks or sagging. If stock escape or predators enter, the drone helps you act before it costs you.

Instead of sending someone out for a half-day trip, you fly a programmed route and get high-res images back to your phone or tablet.

This is especially useful after storms, heatwaves or bushfire alerts when damage risk is high. And it helps meet duty-of-care and biosecurity needs without stretching the crew thin.

Monitoring Pasture and Feed Availability

Feed quality changes fast—especially with Aussie weather. Drones help livestock managers stay on top of it.

By flying over grazing areas, drones capture images and build NDVI maps that show plant growth and ground cover. This helps farmers:

• Spot overgrazed areas early
• Plan rest periods for paddocks
• Guide hay or feed allocation

It also helps identify weed outbreaks or bare patches that could lead to erosion. This supports better pasture management and reduces risk of overstocking.

One cattle farm in the Northern Rivers used drone maps to shift grazing plans during a dry spell. The result? Better ground cover retention and fewer supplement costs.

Better pasture, better nutrition, better weight gain—it’s all linked. And drones help keep it on track.

Biosecurity and Stock Theft Detection

Australia’s livestock sector faces real threats from disease outbreaks and theft. Drones can help reduce both.

With routine drone flights, farmers can watch for unusual animal behaviour—like isolation, limping or dead stock. These signs could hint at illness or injury.

For theft, drones offer surveillance of yards, gates and road access. They can scan during night or off-hours using infrared or motion alerts.

If something’s off, you get real-time alerts and images. That’s fast action, not Monday-morning discovery.

While no system stops everything, drones add a layer of eyes that never blink. And in remote areas, that can mean the difference between quick recovery or big loss.

Climate Response and Emergency Readiness

Droughts, fires, floods—Aussie farmers deal with it all. Drones give an edge when these events hit.

Before disaster:

• Drones scan firebreaks and dry zones
• Help check emergency routes and escape paths
• Assist in pre-storm animal checks

During and after:

• Assess water levels and fodder supplies
• Spot isolated or stranded animals
• Check damaged infrastructure without risking lives

For flood-prone or fire-prone regions, drones are now being written into emergency response plans. They offer quick views when roads are blocked or unsafe.

A sheep farm in Victoria used drones during the 2022 floods to find stranded ewes and deliver hay to high ground. The savings—financial and emotional—were huge.

Connecting Data for Smarter Decisions

The real win comes when drones don’t work alone. Paired with apps, smart tags, farm software and IoT devices, they build a full livestock picture.

Imagine this:

• A drone flies a daily scan
• Picks up thermal signs of illness
• Sends an alert to your tablet
• Shows location and animal ID
• Suggests treatment based on past vet data

That’s not fantasy—it’s already being trialled. This connected setup gives farmers control, clarity and confidence.

Data becomes real decisions. And the whole farm benefits—from reduced costs to higher welfare scores.

FAQs

1) Do livestock get stressed by drone flights?
Not usually, especially when drones are flown at the right height and speed. Animals may look up or shift slightly during early flights, but they soon get used to the noise and presence. The key is consistency. Low, loud or erratic flying will spook them. But steady, gentle passes don’t cause trouble. Some operators even use drones to gently move mobs without distress. Over time, many animals ignore them completely. Still, it’s smart to introduce drones gradually and observe how each herd reacts. In general, drones cause far less stress than bikes, utes or choppers.

2) What kind of drone is best for livestock farming?
It depends on your needs. For basic monitoring, a quadcopter with a high-res camera works well. If you need thermal imaging or night vision, look for drones with those sensor options. For larger properties, a fixed-wing drone covers more ground faster, but they need more open space to launch and land. For spraying or delivery tasks, choose drones with higher payload capacity. Also check for features like GPS return, obstacle avoidance and long battery life. Drones with programmable flight paths make routine checks easier. And always pick something with good local support or parts access.

3) Is it legal to use drones for livestock work in Australia?
Yes, but you need to follow CASA rules. If the drone is under 2kg and used on your own property for farm work, you can fly it under the excluded category. That means no licence needed, but you must fly under 120 metres, keep it in sight and away from people and buildings. If the drone is over 2kg or used commercially, you may need a Remote Pilot Licence (RePL) and an operator’s certificate. Always register your drone and check airspace rules—especially near towns, defence zones or airfields. CASA offers online tools to help you stay compliant.

4) How much can drones save on labour or fuel costs?
Savings vary by property, but many producers report cutting back on bike trips, chopper use and long paddock runs. This means less fuel, less wear on vehicles and less labour time. On a 10,000-hectare cattle station, drones saved up to 20% in mustering costs by pre-locating mobs before the crew went out. In another case, a sheep farm saved two hours per day during lambing season by doing checks with drones. Over a year, those hours add up. Plus, early detection of issues means less need for expensive treatments or vet callouts.

5) Are drones hard to learn or maintain?
Not really. Most farm drones are designed to be easy to fly, with GPS stabilisation, one-button launch and return, and automatic landing. If you’ve used a smartphone or tablet, you can fly most models after a bit of practice. Maintenance is simple—keep batteries charged, clean sensors and store in a safe case. Software updates are automatic if your drone connects to the internet. Many sellers offer training or ongoing support. And drone service providers can help with more complex flights if needed. Once set up, most farmers find drones easy to run and well worth the time.

Bring Your Paddock into Focus Today

Livestock farming will always be hands-on, but with drone tech, it can be eyes-on too. Drones are helping producers cover more ground, catch problems early and stay ahead of risks. They’re not replacing good stockmanship—but they are making it smarter, safer and more scalable.

Whether you manage a small family farm or a large station, the benefits are real. And as new features roll out, the tech will only get better.

If you’re ready to make your livestock operation sharper, faster and more future-ready, visit Precision Ag Services and take the next step in precision livestock farming.

Please fill out our enquiry form for more information or to make a booking.