Ranchers want a version for bankers
Ranchers want a version for bankers
AMARILLO, Texas — Researchers have developed a way to judge when cattle are ready for market using drones and artificial intelligence, meaning the traditional business of looking at a steer has finally acquired an airborne software subscription. Ranchers welcomed the promise of better timing but wanted to know whether the same technology could identify the exact moment a bank manager should stop worrying.
Drones and Deep Learning Pick the Selling Window
Beef Magazine reported on research using drone imagery and deep learning to estimate cattle body characteristics and track fattening curves. The work aims to find the point where additional days on feed no longer justify their cost. That’s a real management problem. Feed is not free, weight gain eventually slows and cattle do not politely announce when they have reached optimal economic condition.
A Drone Reviews a Steer, Then the Rancher’s Books
A Panhandle demonstration began with a drone examining a steer from fifteen meters overhead. Its computer calculated a market window, then declared the animal “nearing financial maturity.” The rancher asked it to examine his checking account. After eight seconds, the drone requested permission to land and seek counseling.
The research team explained that automated measurements can spare cattle repeated handling and reduce labor. The rancher agreed this sounded useful. He asked whether it could also spare him repeated calls from lenders and reduce the handling fees charged by the dealership. The machine produced a thoughtful silence, which everyone agreed was a remarkable imitation of his accountant.
By one Panhandle feedyard manager’s count, an extra week on feed costs roughly $52 a head, so a pen of 800 steers waiting on a hunch burns $41,600 in seven days, not counting coffee. The manager said he’d happily pay for a drone if it could tell him on a Tuesday what the packer would tell him on a Friday.
What Better Timing Is Worth to Cattle Feeders
A healthy cattle operation depends on feed efficiency, animal welfare, accurate records and timely marketing. Experienced cattlemen already consider condition, weight, market signals and costs. Technology becomes valuable when it improves those decisions rather than selling ranchers an expensive photograph of something they can see from the pickup.
Dr. Susan Whitlock, an animal scientist who reviewed the study, said the idea is sound as long as it’s validated. “Cattle don’t all grow the same, and a camera that works on one breed in good light may struggle with another in dust,” she said. “If it saves handling and helps with timing, it’s a tool. If it just sells you a photograph of a steer, you already have a window.”
Bankers Propose Flying Over the Producers
A local banker suggested expanding the system to evaluate producers. Drones would fly over a farm, measure the distance between buildings and assign a credit rating based on visible optimism. A man with three broken tractors would be classified as “capital intensive.” A man with one working tractor would be described as “possibly hiding assets.”
Text messages between the banker and the rancher, shown to a reporter by the rancher, read: Banker: “Saw your drone. Everything OK?” Rancher: “Fine.” Banker: “Drone says ‘capital intensive.'” Rancher: “Drone has never met you.” Banker: “Calling you now.” Rancher: “Out of range.” Rancher, forty minutes later: “Still out of range.”
The ranchers rejected the proposal but supported a reciprocal program. If a banker appeared sufficiently comfortable in his chair, a drone would identify the optimum moment to reduce interest charges. Investors complained that the algorithm misunderstood their business model.
The final demonstration ended when the steer looked directly at the drone and continued chewing. The computer delivered a detailed assessment of animal growth. The rancher delivered a simpler one: “He’ll be ready when the numbers work.”
The banker asked which numbers. The steer had the good sense not to answer.
Five Observations About Drones and Fat Cattle
- Researchers figured out how to judge when cattle are ready for market with a drone. Meanwhile, I know a guy who can do it with a pickup and a toothpick. Sure, his is free. But nobody’s making a PowerPoint about it.
- The drone looked at the steer and said ‘nearing financial maturity.’ The rancher said, ‘Look at my checking account.’ Eight seconds later the drone asked permission to land and seek counseling. That’s a machine with feelings.
- The banker wants to fly drones over the farms and assign a credit rating based on how optimistic a guy looks. One working tractor means you’re hiding assets. Three broken tractors means you’re capital intensive. Everybody’s a suspect.
- The rancher says if a banker looks comfortable enough in his chair, a drone should flag it for lower interest. The investors said that’s not how their business model works. Right. It works if you’re on the receiving end.
- The steer looked at the drone and kept chewing. That’s the whole review. Years of research, millions of pixels, and the cow’s like, ‘Are you done?’