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“Invisible Fence” For Pastured Livestock
With the new Nofence virtual fencing system, you can “build” a fence simply by drawing a boundary on a computer screen and then turn animals loose. Solar-powered collars around their necks warn them when they’re near the “fence” and shock them if they try to cross over.
“It takes a matter of days for animals to learn how Nofence works,” says Christer Baltzeren, Nofence AS.
As the animal wanders close to the virtual boundary, an increasingly loud clicking is heard. As they get even closer, a harmless electric shock is delivered to the animal’s neck via chains on the collars.
According to Baltzeren, the animals soon respond quickly to the shock and then the clicking noise. “You can see them learn as you observe their interaction with the virtual boundary,” says Baltzeren.
Nofence has been in development in Norway for more than 20 years. A research pilot project with 850 goats started in 2016 with expanded pilots with sheep, goats and cattle in 2019. With commercial introduction in Norway and a few other countries, use has grown to 27,000 animals and 2,400 customers.
Both satellite and GSM provide location data, the former using triangulation from at least 3 or 4 satellites.
As an animal moves toward the boundary, it will receive 3 audio alerts, and if it continues, 3 successive electric pulses. The owner is notified with the first pulse and again if it crosses the boundary. At that point it is classified as an escape, and it is tracked electronically. If it crosses back, it receives no pulse. Experience with the collar has shown animals typically go back on their own.
Nofence offers a larger collar designed for cattle and a smaller one for goats and sheep. The cattle collar with its 20Ah battery weighs just over 3 lbs. The sheep and goat collars with 10Ah batteries weigh in at just over 1 lb.
Solar panels on both sides of the collars recharge the batteries. However, the smaller sheep and goat collars limit the size of the solar panels and the batteries. They may need to be replaced monthly for recharging. The larger cow collar batteries are expected to last the grazing season.
Other features include a motion sensor that detects acceleration and grazing exclusion areas. Up to 9 exclusion areas can be defined within a designated boundary. Corridors for animals moving between grazing areas can also be designated.
Nofence was introduced to the United Kingdom (UK) earlier this year. Plans are underway to expand to the North American market in the near future, says Baltzeren.
“In the UK we offer a $12 per month per collar rental agreement,” says Baltzeren.
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Nofence AS, Evjevegen 8, 6631 Batnfjordsøra, Norway (ph 47 48 38 64 88; sales@nofence.no; www.nofence.no).


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2021 - Volume #45, Issue #5