Imagine a world without fences, where cows, goats, and sheep roam and graze freely on pastures. In reality, many livestock are kept indoors and fed costly and unsustainable products like soy. Animals are often sheltered to protect them from weather and predators. Yet this is an unnatural way of life. Out in the field, fencing doesn’t work either – it creates inflexible restrictions for farmers, and causes injuries to livestock and wildlife. So Synne Foss Budal is implementing a solution in the form of virtual fences that can be adjusted at any time.
Before the existence of fences, now extinct cattle species moved in large herds across grasslands. This was beneficial to the environment as they fed on a variety of plants, subsequently preventing overgrowth while enabling other flora to thrive. With contemporary pastures, livestock are habituated to feed on only certain sections of land at a time, which results in overgrazing and prevents plant recovery. As the United Kingdom country manager with the Nofence platform, Budal is empowering farmers to create adaptable fences that cannot be seen, but heard by animals.
Using a GPS collar, livestock can audibly detect a virtual boundary. The closer the animal gets to the fence, the audio increases in intensity, prompting them to return to the demarcated area. Farmers can alter their fences using an app, allowing their livestock to utilise a diversity of land. The result is a return to more traditional forms of grazing, facilitated by modern innovation. “Our technology allows nature to do what nature is supposed to do,” Budal says.
Through virtual fences, farmers are modifying boundaries according to the needs of the land and contributing to a healthier environment. They have been able to extend their grazing seasons, improve soil quality, and ensure the welfare of their livestock. “By using animals as a tool to encourage biodiversity, we can restore ecosystems,” Budal says.
Footage and images by Nofence were used in the creation of this film.
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