Virtual fences reduce the need for fencing work, facilitate optimal pasture utilisation and, with the help of GPS sensors, you can also record their position in the pasture via an app.

Closeup on sheep eating grass
Photo: Pexels

Description

The app allows you to specify an area on a map for the animals to move around. Using GPS sensors in the animals' collars, their position can be recorded. If the animals are about to leave the area drawn on the map, the collar first emits a sound signal. If the animal does not turn around but continues out of the area, weak electric shocks (maximum 3) are sent from the collar. Warning sounds and shocks are noted in the app and if the animals get completely out of the area, notifications are sent to the animal owner.

Virtual fencing reduces the need for fencing work and makes it easier to divide the pasture into smaller pens for optimal pasture utilisation or to temporarily graze outlying areas. From the app, it is also possible to see where the animals spend the most time on the pasture to get information for further pasture optimisation.

Nofence also has motion sensors so that alerts can also be registered for changing activity levels.

Virtual fences are not approved in Sweden, before any legislative change can take place, more results are needed from research on how fences affect animal welfare. More research is ongoing.

The cost is about SEK 3500 per collar and a subscription fee.

Source

Contactperson

Sofie Johansson from Gård och Djurhälsan
Photo: Ebba Nordqvist

Gård & Djurhälsan

Sofie Johansson, Coordinator AO, Animal Health and Welfare

E-mail: sofie.johansson@gardochdjurhalsan.se
Phone: 013- 24 48 49

Gardochdjurhalsan.se

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