Use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Technologies with Thermal Imaging to Assess Surface Moisture in Pens of Cattle Offered Energy-dense vs. Low-energy Feeding Programs

Authors

Logan Diller, Kansas State University
Logan Thompson, Kansas State UniversityFollow
Dale A. Blasi, Kansas State UniversityFollow
Haley E. Larson, Kansas State UniversityFollow

Keywords

pen condition, UAV, thermal imaging

Abstract

Objective: Characterize surface moisture levels in cattle pens as determined by different feeding programs and evaluate associations between unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) thermal images and surface moisture in pens.

Study Description: Six dirt-floor pens (30 × 50 ft) housing 14 dairy-beef crossbred steers each were assigned to an energy-dense, limit-fed ration (LIMIT; 64 net energy for gain [NEg]) or a low-energy ad libitum ration (ADLIB; 50 NEg). Each pen was divided into 15 quadrants, and pen floor samples were collected for moisture analysis. A UAV was flown to capture thermal images, which were processed to extract quadrant-level luminosity values. Associations between UAV-derived luminosity and direct moisture measurements were analyzed.

The Bottom Line: Results confirmed low-energy, ad libitum pens were wetter than energy-dense, limit-fed pens, and luminosity values strongly predicted moisture with excellent agreement (CCC = 0.98).

Recommended Citation

Diller, Logan; Thompson, Logan; Blasi, Dale A.; and Larson, Haley E. (2026) "Use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Technologies with Thermal Imaging to Assess Surface Moisture in Pens of Cattle Offered Energy-dense vs. Low-energy Feeding Programs," Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports: Vol. 12: Iss. 1.