Working dogs need not fear for their job security, despite drone technology making inroads into their livelihoods.
Lowburn Collie Club secretary Pru Heaney said while dogs will always have their place, the sounds of the farmer’s whistle and verbal commands are giving way to the buzzing of drones.
For the second consecutive year, the potential of the aircraft will be on full display at the club’s dog trials tomorrow.
Miss Heaney said drones would replace canines to shepherd three sheep through three sets of flags in competition between 6pm and 6.30pm.
The drone trials were added to the 106-year-old event last year and were likely to stay as traditional herding methods kept pace with technological advances.
‘‘There’s quite a few farmers around Cromwell and Bannockburn using drones in the day-to-day operations of their farm. It’s just an extra tool.’’
Drones were particularly useful and cost-effective in mustering, Miss Heaney said.
‘‘You can use them as an extra person and you don’t have to pay them, but they don’t take the place of dogs.’’
The more traditional style of competition would start from 8am tomorrow and continue on Saturday and consisted of the long head and the short head and yard competitions for heading dogs and the zigzag hunt and straight hunt for huntaways.
The trials, held on Sugar Loaf Hill on State Highway 6, typically attract 60 to 80 shepherds and more than 350 dogs each year and were known to attract the attention of passing tourists who would take in the action from the roadside, Miss Heaney said.
The trials are the first in Otago each year, competitors and their dogs vying for a spot in the national competition.
-By Jared Morgan
