Nofence virtual fencing technology wins LAMMA Silver Innovation Award

Opportunities to capitalise on the carbon cycle benefits of grazing livestock without the challenges of physical fencing is a key feature of Nofence virtual fencing that won it silver in the 2023 LAMMA Innovation Awards. 

“The LAMMA Innovation Award judges were impressed by the Nofence entry as a highly innovative solution to the costs and practical difficulties of traditional fencing, using sophisticated collars to determine position with active feedback to both animals and via an app to staff, says Chris Rothery, Chair of the LAMMA Innovation Awards. “This promises to be a useful weapon in the moves towards low carbon livestock farming.”

Established in Norway in 2011 for mountain grazers, Nofence has recently become commercially available to UK livestock producers after a successful grazing trial on British beef farms. 

Utilising GPS, farmers can create virtual pastures on the Nofence app. Once livestock are turned out on the set virtual pasture while wearing a Nofence collar, GPS and a mobile data network track the animal’s location, triggering the collar to cue an audio signal as the animal nears the virtual fence boundary. If the animal breaches the virtual boundary following the audio cue, the collar administers a pulse. In the event of an escape, farmers receive a pop-up notification via the Nofence app with the location of the animal. The animal can return to the pasture without the collar issuing any audio or a pulse. 

For Welsh livestock farmer and Farming Connect mentor Hywel Morgan, virtual fencing technology has been pivotal in the ability to utilise livestock for upland habitat regeneration and fire control as part of a commercial beef operation. 

Two years ago, Mr Morgan invested in the technology to take advantage of grazing opportunities on 26,000 acres of unfenced common land in the Brecon Beacons. Currently, 40 head of primarily Highland, Highland cross Shorthorns and Highland cross Hereford cows with calves at foot are on the common ground with Nofence collars. 

“Nofence has allowed me to improve grazing utilisation and conservation efforts on this vast acreage by containing the herd in virtual pastures that range from 50-100 acres and working with natural water and shelter resources,” he says. “Aside from habitat improvement in this area, the ability to better utilise the common land has allowed me to reduce hay and haylage consumption for a better return on the herd.” 

Future of virtual fencing  

According to Synne Foss Budal, General Manager for Nofence UK, conservation grazing and commercial livestock producers will continue to have more management opportunities as the technology develops. 

“Virtual fencing technology is already changing the grazing landscape by allowing livestock producers to efficiently and cost-effectively improve grazing management without the use of physical fencing,” says Ms Budal. “The technology will continue to evolve and improve as we collect more data and customer feedback. We’re excited about what opportunities Nofence has brought to so many grazers and what the future holds.”