Where have ewe moo-ved to? Trialling the use of tracking technology in extensive grazing systems

Grazing livestock on large extensive grasslands can pose many problems such as difficulties in gathering, grazing management and an increased chance of theft. With the aim of farming smarter and not harder a group of six farmers across Wales are investigating how using tracking technology can help prevent these problems. Four of the farmers are sheep producers on the Brecon Beacons, and share common summer grazing up on the mountain. One farmer grazes the Kenfig coastal reserve near Margam, Port Talbot with cattle. The final farmer undertakes conservation grazing on land in North Wales. Livestock tracking technology is a new concept to extensive grazing animal systems in the UK and this project is the first of its kind here in Wales.

The technology

A single emitting device plus a battery is housed in a collar that will be around the animal’s neck. They rely on LoRaWAN radio frequency which enables very-long-range transmissions (more than 6 miles in rural areas) with low power consumption. The collars are programmed to send GPS data every 10 minutes and once on the animal the battery will last between 1 and 2 years.

The data

The farmers will be able to access the following information via an app on their smartphones:

• GPS Location (Latitude, Longitude)
• Activity Flags - alerting the farmer to a level of movement by the animal (possible theft)
• Behaviour Indicators (grazing, low intensity grazing, lying down)
• Social Interactions - contact with other animals, which may be useful when considering parent to off-spring interactions, assessing mothering abilities of the collared female

Project design

• The project will cover 2 grazing seasons, 2019 and 2020.
• Four sheep flocks and two cattle herds will be included in the project
• A percentage of each flock/herd will carry the GPS collars. 

Potential Outcomes

• The farmers will: Know where their animals are 'real-time' (with a 10-minute lag); Know what the animals are doing; Know where their animals graze over a period of time.
• This could potentially reduce gathering time and costs, minimise the risk of theft, help identify ill animals, and gain a better understanding of grazing habits.
• The project will assess what % of a flock is recommended to be ‘collared’, in order to get useful data.

Reports, Videos and Articles

Technical Publication, Issue 23 (September/October 2019)

EIP Wales, which is delivered by Menter a Busnes, has received funding through the Welsh Government Rural Communities - Rural Development Programme 2014-2020, which is funded by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development and the Welsh Government.

European Innovation Partnership (EIP) is part of the Co-operation and Supply Chain Development Scheme (CSCDS) delivering under Measure 16 (Article 35 of Regulation (EU) 1305/2013). The CSCDS is an important element of the Welsh Government Rural Communities - Rural Development Programme 2014-2020. The EIP delivers under sub Measure 16.1 of the Welsh Government Rural Communities - Rural Development Programme 2014- 2020.