Technology

The technology used for mustering are mainly vehicals, such as aircraft, cars or Utes and motorbikes. The most dangerous of these would be the motorbikes because if a bull or cow charges at you and runs into the bike there isn't much protection from the sharp horns.

 

Aircraft
Helecopter and Fixedwing aircraft are used widely among Australian cattle farms. They are most frequently used on rocky or hilly areas because a helicopter of a aeroplane is better at these areas than men on motorbikes or horses.
Helicopter pilots have solid experience in mustering on horseback. This gives them the basic knowledge of mustering and the cattle’s ways. Pilots who have had experience on horseback are most likely to get a job whereas pilots who haven’t had experience will be declined. Some pilots are and exception to the rule if they are well trained, but this is rare.
Due to the high price of fuel, running and maintenance of aircraft, they are only used when it is clearly efficient and economic. The aircraft have to earn their keep.  Farms in Southern Australia use the aircraft rarely, only on farms which are rocky or hilly. Quite a large number of northern farms have their own full time pilot especially during the mustering season. At this time, the pilots are out all day and they rarely have breaks. The only time that they will not be used is if the ranch is doing house/yard work.
Some farms employ a part-time or hire a pilot during the mustering season. The bookings are made well in advance so that they will have a pilot. Most of the managers of the farms plan the whole year in advance, but this can be a problem if it rains ect.
At the moment the most common helicopters that are used are a two seater Robinson R22’s which are made in the USA. They are relatively cheap to run and buy. The other helicopter that is used is the Bell and Hughes helicopters.
Farms which are vastly flat can muster using fixed wing aircraft. The most widfly used is a single engine Cessnas. They are cheap to run and to buy. However, fixed wing aircraft cannot control a mob of cattle as well as a helicopter.