New feature release: A digital grazing map for hikers

After feedback from farmers grazing in popular hiking and cabin areas, we’re launching a digital grazing map that gives hikers an overview of where cattle wearing Monil collars are located.

The goal is simple: to make the outdoors safer for both people and animals. With this map, we hope to reduce the risk of unwanted encounters between people, dogs, and cattle. All while still maintaining shared and respectful use of the land.

How the map works

This map will allow anyone to see where animals wearing Monil virtual fencing collars are within a 30 km radius of your location. You’ll find access to the map via information boards, local tourist centers, or anywhere a farmer wishes to post it.

Helpful tool

This makes it easier for you to find out where cattle may be in areas you plan to visit. Cattle using virtual fences usually don’t wear bells, making them harder to hear before you're right next to them. A digital grazing map makes it much easier to avoid these areas in advance.

That said, not all animals grazing in open landscapes are shown on the map, so you should always stay alert when hiking in pastures.

Used by farmers in popular outdoor areas

Anders is one of our users who runs a shared grazing initiative in a popular hiking destination with many holiday cottages. To prevent conflicts between cattle and hikers, especially families with dogs or children, they invested in 100 Monil collars and set up virtual fences to keep animals out of the busiest areas.

“It's often suckler cows that can be risky to meet in a pasture,” Fyksen explains.

“They have strong maternal instincts and may react defensively if they perceive a threat, like a dog or a small child. Cows are fast, and if something triggers them, it can be dangerous. With Monil, we’re able to fence off those high-traffic zones.”

When Anders first bought the collars, Monil didn’t yet offer a digital grazing map, but the need for one was clear. “We knew Monil didn’t offer a digital grazing map when we bought the collars, but we made it clear that this was a big wish for us. It’s great to see Monil taking action and launching this new feature" he tells us.

“We asked for it, and now it’s here. Now hikers can see where our animals are and plan their walk around the herd instead of through it.”