Smart collars herd cattle to greener pastures

New Zealand's rugged terrain makes managing its vast cattle populations a complex challenge. The best grazing land often lies inaccessible to dogs, horses, and ATVs. But a company called Halter has found a solution: intelligent solar-powered collars for cows, enhanced by AI and satellite Technology.

Halter's smart collars direct cattle to optimal grazing

These collars, which feed off solar energy, can guide a cow to a specific location. They also create a virtual fence, monitor the animal's health, and more. In just nine years, Halter has equipped over a million cows in New Zealand, Australia, and the US, with a European expansion in their sights.

Across much of rural New Zealand, many farmers simply let their cattle roam free in the mountains, with limited access for dogs and horses. As a result, few cows reach the best pastures, leading to suboptimal production. Halter promises to increase farmers' earnings by 20-30% by maximizing pasture use.

Data-driven cattle management

Over the past nine years, Halter has collected 5 billion hours of data from over a million cows. This wealth of information has been used to train AI that can detect unusual behavior linked to illness. The system also tracks each cow's reproductive cycle, calculating the ideal time for calving. But its most impressive feature is virtual fencing and remote control of individual animals.

Using a satellite-based app, farmers define virtual fences on their property. When a cow approaches the designated area, it triggers a series of alerts – a beeping sound that intensifies as the animal draws closer, accompanied by a vibration. Cows learn to turn left or right in response to these cues in just three iterations.

This Technology not only prevents escape but allows farmers to