Farming can be tough work, and every minute spent managing the herd or putting up fences is a minute you could spend doing something else. Harry Dark, a seasoned farmer from the UK, has been using Monil’s virtual fencing system to manage his cattle, and he’s seen the impact it’s had on his day-to-day life.

Cutting down on time and labour-intensive work

For Harry, the biggest draw of virtual fencing was the time and labor savings. Managing cattle on a tenant farm meant that he was often working away from his home. This used to involve long drives just to check on his cows, especially during the unpredictable winter months.

"The collars are making that much easier for me because I can check the cows wherever and whenever I want to."

Gone are the days of having to drive out to the farm to inspect each field and manually move cows from one paddock to another. The virtual fence allows Harry to move cows with just a few clicks on his phone, saving him precious time and energy. With the ability to monitor the cows via a simple app, he saves hours each week.

"I save a lot of time... I would say I'm probably saving 6-8 hours a week easily in the winter."

Live update on the herd right from your phone

The Monil app gives farmers better control over their herds. Harry is able to pinpoint exactly where each cow is at any given moment.

"If I can look at the app and see that the cow hasn’t moved for some time, I can go out, pinpoint exactly where that cow is, and see what’s up with her."

This level of precision means that any issues, from sickness to potential escapes, can be addressed immediately. With physical fences, any fallen trees or broken wires could result in cows escaping before the farmer even noticed. But with virtual fences, even if a cow wanders beyond the designated area, Harry is the first to know.

“I’ll get a notification that the cow escaped. Even if a cow did get out, I’m the first person to know. I don’t have to wait for my neighbors to call and tell me my cows have escaped."

Improved pasture management

Harry’s farm covers a large area, and traditionally, managing the grazing of his cattle meant putting up and down physical fences every time the herd needed to be moved. It was a labor-intensive process that often took up an entire day.

"Before I had the collars, I was having to erect physical fences every time I moved a group of animals into the field. That could take me half a day to a day each time."

Now, with Monil's virtual fencing system, Harry can manage his grazing rotation much more efficiently. The ability to divide his large fields into multiple smaller paddocks allows for better rotational grazing, improving the land's health and encouraging more grass growth. He’s even able to graze areas he would have previously avoided, like woodland and steep valleys, all while maintaining full control of where the cattle roam.

Expanded grazing season

One of the most exciting benefits of virtual fencing is the opportunity it opens up for expanding Harry’s grazing areas. Without the need for expensive physical fences, he can now graze areas previously unavailable to him, such as cliff land or woodland.

“If more land came available to rent and I didn’t want to spend money on fencing, then I can move straight in without having to spend money on physical fences.”

This flexibility has already enabled him to increase his grazing area by 15-20 acres, which has extended his grazing season by a couple of weeks. And, as Harry points out, this expansion isn’t just about more space for the cows, it also benefits the land itself. By grazing different paddocks at different times, the soil has more time to recover, leading to healthier pastures and improved grass growth.

The animals well-being

With the ability to monitor each cow’s movement and behavior in real-time, Harry can spot potential health issues before they become serious problems.

"If I can detect a problem with an individual cow... I know instantly when there’s a problem. That can save me a lot of time and a lot of money, because finding out that problem has happened a lot earlier can prevent other things from happening."

The future is fenceless

Harry has been impressed with the Monil system and he recommends it to fellow farmers.

"It’s been a big time saver for me, both physically and mentally."

As Harry looks to the future, he plans to continue using the Monil system to expand his operation and enhance his pasture management practices.

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