Drones in livestock farming: opportunities, risks and best practices
ICAERUS Use Case leader IDELE have been working closely with farmers to understand how drones can reduce labor, improve working conditions, and support multiple functions in livestock management. Their work has now been compiled into a clear, practical guidebook covering everything from risks to opportunities and best practices. The guidebook was first published in French and has just been launched in English.
Whether you are a drone enthusiast looking to refine your practices or a livestock farmer considering investing in one, drones are emerging as a versatile and increasingly accessible tool for managing herds on pasture.
But with new opportunities come many questions:
- Where and when can drones be flown safely?
- Is training required?
- How do regulations apply to rural environments?
- And above all: do drones really save time in daily farm management?
To provide clear and practical answers, the French Livestock Institute (IDELE) has published a practical guide on drones in grassland livestock farming.
Why this guide?
Farmers and advisors are showing growing interest in drones. From locating animals spread across pastures, to checking water points or fences, to monitoring grasslands condition, drones are providing useful in the field. However, the technology also comes with challenges. Farmers need to ensure compliance with regulations while adapting drone use to the specific conditions of grassland-based systems. The guide was created to bridge this gap: it translate technical, legal, and environmental considerations into practical advice that farmers can directly apply on their farms.
What’s inside the guide ?
The guide brings together knowledge experiences from research, demonstration farms, and early adopters. It is organized into three main sections:
1.Opportunities and Benefits
- save time locating and monitoring the herd
- improve farmer safety in difficult terrain
- open new perspectives for herd and pasture monitoring
2. Risks and limitations
- weather and terrain constraints
- battery life and flight range,
- animal welfare considerations
- legal requirements for flight operations
3. Good practices
- preparing flights and respecting regulations
- adapting altitude and speed to avoid disturbing animals
- choosing appropriate drones for farm needs
- practical checklist for farmers and advisors
This structure makes the guide a hands-on tool, equally valuable for those considering their
first drone flight and for users looking to improve current practices.
Looking ahead
Drones already bring real gains in efficiency and working conditions. And this is just the beginning. With the rise of artificial intelligence, future applications could include :
- Automatic animal counting
- Early detection of health or welfare issues
- Integration with farm management software
For now, this guide offers a solid foundation: it helps farmers adopt drones responsibly, balancing opportunities with risks, and ensuring safe and effective use.
Download the full guide here.
