Published 27.02.2023
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Nofence for cattle - virtual fence without poles and wire
Cattle have a good ability to "see" with their ears, and they quickly learn where the boundaries of their paddock are, even if there is no visible fence. This is proved by the first experiences in Denmark with Nofence.
By Arne Munk
Warning tones and electrical impulses have replaced the traditional electric fence in an experiment on Fanø. The method is called Nofence, and it opens new perspectives for both ordinary agriculture and for the grazing of nature areas.
The Nofence system works by giving the cow or the young animal a warning tone via a GPS collar when approaching the invisible fence. If the animal continues in the direction of the invisible "wire", it receives the sound with increasing intensity as a warning. If the ani-mal still does not turn around, it will receive a slight shock from the collar, corresponding to 2-5% of the current in an ordinary electric fence.
Young bull with the bell-shaped steering device of the Nofence system which the animals wear around their necks.
The bell-like device, which the animal wears in a collar, has a GPS built-in. The GPS is connected via satellite to the owner's mobile or iPad. The collars are solar powered.
Virtual fencing does not seem to stress the animals
The farmer sets (marks) the virtual fence using his mobile phone or iPad in a matter of seconds. We experienced this when we visited the farmer participating in the experiment. We saw a digital enclosure with 15 young bulls where the animals changed paddocks daily.
When young bulls are given a warning tone that they are approaching the invisible wire, the farmer is informed of the animals involved. Most of the young bulls could make do with one or two warning tones before they had realized where the limit of the virtual wire had been set. Some (always the same animals) always had to test the limits with a slight shock from the collar as a result. The animals appeared to be very calm with no signs of stress.
Only a few times the animals have broken out of the virtual enclosure, despite warning tones and shocks. The farmer receives a warning on his mobile phone or iPad, and in most cases, the escaped animal returns to the herd all by itself in the digital virtual enclosure. On the way in, the animal receives no shocks, and the collar is activated again when the animal is back.
Nofence not yet allowed in Denmark
The Nofence system is allowed for cows, sheep, and goats in Norway. In Denmark, it is not allowed to use electric collars or other devices for animals. The Danish Animal Inspectorate has granted dispensation to the scientific animal experiment on Fanø, where, among other things, behavioral studies are carried out via video recordings, and manure samples are collected from the animals' faeces to measure stress levels when the virtual enclosure is changed.
Economy depends on the size of the herd
The economy is of course an important factor for agriculture and nature care, when hopefully one day you can choose between traditional electric fences and a solar-powered digital solution. For Nofence an expense of approx. DKK 2,000 per animal for the purchase of collars should be expected. On top of that there is an ongoing charge for operating the system which depends on the size of the herd and the number of active days in a year.
The cost must be weighed against the costs associated with the purchase, installation and relocation of fences. In large natural areas, the electronic invisible solution will have an advantage by always knowing from a distance where the animals are. And if you practice grazing in many small paddocks 1-2 days at a time, a digital fencing solution will provide a great deal of work relief and make the management of grazing much easier for the farmer. It should therefore be examined whether virtual fencing can be used in dairy herds.
The virtual fencing experiment has been created through a collaboration between a farmer and a landowner as well as Fanø Municipality and the Wadden Sea National Park. The project is supported by 15th June Foundation, Markus Jebsen’s Nature Fund and Hedeselskabet. It will run from 2021-2024 and will also include a trial of virtual fences for strip grazing on farmland. The trial on Fanø is the first step towards a Danish approval which the organizers hope to receive no later than 2024.
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Invisible fencing on Fanø (nationalparkvadehavet.dk)