AgriRover Brings Mars Rover Technology To the Farm

Zothecula writes "We tend to think of livestock farmers as 'one man and his dog,' but if AgResearch of New Zealand has anything to say, that pair may have to move over to include a robot. A team led by Dr. Andrew Manderson is developing AgriRover, an agricultural robot inspired by NASA's Mars rovers. It's a proof-of-concept prototype designed to show how robots can make life easier and more productive for livestock farmers."

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Re:My image.

[flyneye]

We've always raised cattle on an open pasture and alfalfa bales.
Anti-biotics don't "pump cattle up", it keeps infectious diseases from the herd. Although I admit, I don't do anything to the cattle I intend to slaughter for beef for myself. If you want to pump cattle up, do it the old fashioned way, a few days before market, salt their food til they get on the truck. They'll soak up water like a sponge. @ 9+ lb. per gallon, it helps tip the scales nicely for max profit. Corn? Damned if I'm gonna spend that kind of money, don't know anyone else who will either.
Silage is usually milo based. Feedyards are kinda gross and I do not approve, but even then, they have an interest in keeping cattle alive for their clients. It is poorly run yards, indeed, that get filmed for the "feel sorry for the cows" propaganda films they use to get money from vegetarians and animal lovers. But what are they going to use, an example of the majority that clean pens, doctor their cattle and mix nutrition blends for weight gain. I would suggest that if corn is involved, it is fed during a pre market cycle. Individual farmers most likely to pasture their cattle, who can't afford the cost of feed yards, sure as shit don't feed corn. I dunno, maybe in Iowa , but I doubt it. So, how do you raise your cattle? What, you've never seen one eye to eye? Maybe you need a trip to the farm, boy. It will improve your credibility.