Satellite Expansion Could Broaden Virtual Fencing Use
A major shift in cattle management is making waves across the livestock industry. Halter, a New Zealand based ag tech company, is expanding its reach with a new satellite powered system for virtual fencing.
Virtual fencing uses smart collars to guide cattle without physical barriers. The collars work similar to training collars many pet owners know, using sound cues, gentle vibration, or a brief, low level pulse to keep animals within a set boundary.
Until now, Halter’s solar powered, GPS enabled collars relied on the company’s own long range radio towers to stay connected.
Now, Halter is linking those collars directly to satellites through Starlink, eliminating the need for cell service or tower infrastructure.
That could be especially important for producers operating in areas with spotty connectivity, heavily forested acreage, or rugged terrain.
For cattle producers across the Southeast, virtual fencing technology has generated growing interest as operations look for ways to manage grazing and reduce labor demands.
Competitors in virtual fencing include Vence, eShepherd, and NoFence, all of which have teams working to stay on the cutting edge of this rapidly evolving technology.
