Livestock farmers attending AgriScot on the 16th of November will have the opportunity to learn about Nofence virtual fencing and speak to UK beef producers utilising the system.
“This event is a great opportunity for anyone who is curious about virtual fencing technology to learn how it works and to see and hear first-hand how the collars and audio cues interact with the Nofence app,” said Synne Foss Budal, general manager for Nofence UK.
“There will also be a couple of Scottish beef farmers who use Nofence on their own operations on the stand to discuss how they use the technology for their grazing systems.”
The company was previously awarded the 2022 AgriScot Innovation Award in February for its capacity to save money on fencing infrastructure and increase profits. It uses a combination of GPS, cellular communication and audio signals to work with animal behaviour and create a virtual fence perimeter.
It’s suitable for upland and intensive grazing, and the app allows farmers to set and adjust pasture boundaries. Livestock wearing the collars can be turned out into the area without physical fencing. When an animal crosses the perimeter, a three-stage audio warning will start and if it doesn’t turn around it will receive an electric pulse.
When the electric pulse is emitted, a notification is sent to the Nofence app, with the location of the animal. A maximum of three pulses will be issued before the animal is classed as escaped, at which point the farmer is notified again and the location is tracked.
“Nofence grazing technology has already opened up a lot of opportunities for UK livestock producers, especially those wanting to better manage upland grazing where the lack of physical fencing has previously been challenging,” said Miss Budal.
“Features within the Nofence app, such as being able to track an individual animal’s location and change virtual fencing parameters within a matter of seconds are also hugely beneficial to both upland and lowland systems.”