Virtual fences for livestock combine agricultural technology, smart livestock farming, and animal welfare to increase productivity in agribusiness.
A Adoption of virtual fences for livestock. It is revolutionizing the way herds are managed by integrating agrotechnology, smart livestock farming, animal welfare e innovation in agribusiness.
Developed by the New Zealand company HolderThe technology uses smart collars connected to a mobile app to guide cows remotely, reducing operating costs, saving time, and increasing farm productivity.
Thus, the solution has been gaining scale from New Zealand to the United States and is already targeting strategic markets such as Brazil, Argentina, and Europe, precisely at a time when agriculture is seeking efficiency and sustainability.
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How do virtual fences for livestock work in practice?
Unlike traditional physical fences, virtual fences for livestock They operate by means of sound signals and vibrations sent to the collars worn by the animals.
Thus, the rancher defines the pasture boundaries and available grazing areas using the app.
As the animal approaches a restricted area, the alerts become more intense.
In specific cases, a low-energy electrical pulse — significantly lower than that of conventional fences — reinforces the learning process. According to the company, the training takes, on average, two to three days.
Agricultural technology that reduces labor and increases efficiency.
According to a Craig PiggottAccording to Halter’s founder and CEO, the technology allows for weekly savings of between 20 and 40 hours of work on rural properties.
In an interview with Forbes Asia, he summarizes the company’s ambition:
“Our central goal is to build the category to a point where an individual simply wouldn’t dream of running a farm or ranch without some form of virtual fencing product.”
This efficiency explains why the agrotechnology Halter is already present in more than 1.300 dairy and beef farms, managing approximately 650 animals in three countries.
Smart livestock farming based on data and algorithms.
In addition to movement tracking, the platform collects continuous data on herd health, such as body temperature and chewing patterns.
This information feeds into proprietary machine learning algorithms, nicknamed “cowgorithms” by the company.
With this, the smart livestock farming It allows for anticipating diseases, identifying ideal breeding periods, and improving dietary planning.
The result is more precise, preventative, and economical management.
Animal welfare at the heart of innovation.
One of the most sensitive points in the use of technology in livestock farming is… animal welfare.
In this respect, Halter claims to have developed the system based on field tests and close monitoring of producers.
According to the company, the predominant use of audio and vibration reduces stress on the herd, while the elimination of physical fences decreases the risk of injury.
For many producers, predictability in management also improves animal behavior.
International expansion and focus on the United States.
Thus, the company’s growth strategy intensified after the opening of an office in Colorado.
Since then, more than 200 American producers, in 22 states, have adopted the… virtual fences for livestock, totaling more than 39 kilometers virtually enclosed.
Halter estimates that its customers in the U.S. have saved approximately $220 million in costs associated with traditional fencing.
In August, the company also announced a partnership with the US. Bureau of Land Management, supported by US$2,7 million in public funding.
Innovation in agribusiness attracts global investors.
The advance of innovation in agribusiness It also caught the attention of the financial market.
Then in June, Halter raised $100 million in a Series D round led by BOND, reaching a valuation of $1 billion and becoming one of New Zealand’s rare unicorns.
According to Daegwon Chae, a partner at BOND, agriculture is still an underexplored sector in terms of technology:
“Agriculture and livestock farming are, in fact, one of those gigantic markets just waiting for innovation.”
Revenue, competition, and technological advantage
Official data shows that Halter’s subscription revenue in New Zealand grew by 45% in the last fiscal year.
Thus, despite competition from companies like Nofence, Gallagher, and Vence, analysts highlight the platform’s technical advantage.
According to Samantha Wong, from Blackbird Ventures:
“Their technical advantage is now so far ahead of the competition that the game belongs to Halter.”
What does this mean for the future of livestock farming?
With agriculture occupying about half of the planet’s habitable land, solutions that increase productivity without expanding areas are becoming increasingly strategic.
So in this context, virtual fences for livestock, combined with agrotechnology, tend to consolidate themselves as a key component of smart livestock farming, balancing economic efficiency, animal welfare and sustainability.
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