Success Story - Finding lost cattle

Fiscal Year: 2025

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Jul 1, 2024 - Jun 30, 2025

Success StoryFinding lost cattle

Finding lost cattle

Author: William Rogers

Planning Unit: KSU Administration

Major Program: Aquaculture

Outcome: Initial Outcome

After having a heart attack, Whitley County Farmer, John Rogers, moved his cattle from his small farm to the Livestock sale at Somerset to decrease his workload for recovery and increase his cash flow to pay his medical bills. Unfortunately, due to not feeling well, he did not have his cattle gate fasten tight. As a result, the cattle gate came open on the horse trailer, and as Rogers slowed down or stopped along the Cumberland Falls Hwy, the steers escape!

When Rogers stopped at a stop sign, he looked in his mirrors and saw one steer jump out of the trailer. He automatically put the truck in the stop position, jumped out, and saw one stall was almost empty, to his horror. This meant he had lost six steers with a value of close to 6000 dollars!

Mr. Rogers hunted for several hours for the cows. He used horses, and several friends in vehicles. Unfortunately, they could not locate any because the terrain was wooded and overgrown in brush trees and grasses. They could have been standing next to a steer but could not see the calf due to the brush.

Finally, Rogers called, and he asked if the Kentucky State University drone could help find his cattle. I told him Sure! He sounded worried and upset.

One of the pros of having a drone is Farmers can check livestock in areas not easily accessible by vehicles. The farmer can cover a vast amount of land more quickly and easier using a drone. Additionally, drone use is easier to use (at times) than the traditional method of finding a lost animal such as a cow or calf by auto or horseback, ATV, etc., which could take more time and expense.

I took the Matrices 200 of Kentucky State University traveled to where Mr. Rogers had lost his cattle. I found the area covered in brush. He had lost the cattle in the Daniel Boone National Forest, and it was rugged terrain.

The drone went up into the air, and it flew from where we were standing about a ½ mile and found one of the steers!! The steer was standing near the road but in an overgrowth higher than his head. This is why no one could see it as they drove by.

From the air, a black calf stood out from brown brush really good. Rogers's face went from a look weary from worry to one of amazement. I could find them that quickly.

In total, found 5 of the six steers in 2 hours because the steers did not all get out at the same spot.

The following Saturday, Rogers took the steers we had found to the stock sale. His income from the lost cattle was around $5000.00, which made a significant income for him in the winter months with medical bills. Rogers state he never thought of using a drone to find lost cattle. He now is a firm believer in new technology and its use of the farm.

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Acting Associate Dean & Director — Craig Wood, Ph.D.
S107 Ag. Science Center North
Lexington, KY 40546-0091
+1 (859) 257-4302

College Resources

Contact Information

Craig Wood, Ph.D
Acting Associate Dean & Director
UK Cooperative Extension Service

College Resources

Contact Information

Craig Wood, Ph.D
Acting Associate Dean & Director
UK Cooperative Extension Service

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