Fenceless Grasslands Grazing in Renfrewshire

Nic MacLeod embarked on her farming journey just last year. She runs a small but growing operation outside Glasgow. With a focus on native breeds, she currently tends to four Highland cows, ten Scots Grey chickens, and a handful of Scots Dumpy chickens. MacLeod has a long-term vision to scale up sustainably, to raise and finish her own stock of pedigree Highland beef to sell in beef boxes.

Harnessing the power of grasslands

The Highland cattle benefit from the farm’s rich grasslands by grazing year-round. This spring and summer, she will implement rotational grazing. This strategy could increase her land’s productivity by up to 40%.

“Starting small and sustainable is key for me,” she explains. “I want to grow organically with what we have and make the most of our land.”

Learning by doing – and breaking stereotypes

Though she grew up in agriculture, this is the first time Nic is running her own farm. She’s embracing the learning curve by taking courses and developing skills through hands-on experience. A big part of her journey has been building relationships with other farmers, seeking advice, and finding confidence in her decisions for her operations.

“You have to rely on the experience around you,” she says. “It’s about persistence, talking to people who have done it before, and finding your feet. Farming is about trust – with the land, the animals, and yourself.”She acknowledges that being a woman in farming comes with its own set of challenges.

“People don’t always believe I do the work myself, or they assume I can’t,” she says. “But farming isn’t just about strength. It’s about patience, understanding and working with the animals, not against them.”

Her approach has paid off. By spending time with her cattle and handling them calmly, she has built a strong bond of trust, making daily management smoother.

Fenceless solution from Monil: making farming smarter

Nic has integrated virtual fencing into her operations. She finds virtual fencing to be an intuitive and effective tool. One major benefit for her is keeping track of her cows, particularly during calving season when Highland cattle seek secluded spots.

“Knowing where they are is a game-changer,” she says. “They tend to calve in secret, and now I don’t have to search endlessly to find them.”

Virtual fencing is also making rotational grazing easier and helps reduce breakouts. Her cattle habitually push boundaries and tear down fences, leading to frequent escapes. With virtual fencing, that problem is a thing of the past.

“The system is easy to set up and not overly technical, which is amazing,” she says. Monil also has the option of adding a name to the collar. “I love the nickname feature – now I can see exactly who has wandered off!”

Looking ahead

For Nic, farming is a journey of constant growth. She envisions expanding her herd and refining her systems, all while staying true to her values of sustainability and careful land management. With virtual fencing in her toolkit, she’s set on making the most of her farm, her animals, and the opportunities ahead.

Want to try Monil yourself? Get in touch with us to work together on how virtual fences can accelerate your farming operations: