5G in Livestock Management

Food producers have said the challenges they face are “the toughest in a generation”, with labour shortages caused by Brexit and Covid, an ongoing pig cull and the transition to life beyond the EU’s subsidy scheme. 

Livestock management is a notoriously difficult job, but technology is here to lend a helping hand. New connectivity developments have already considerably improved the industry, making tracking and managing livestock much easier and decision-making more data-driven. Companies are developing sensors to monitor real-time milk production, health and quality, which means producers can make decisions more efficiently while animal welfare improves too. In addition, virtual fences can move animals wearing a sensor remotely from one area of a pasture to another. Even robotics is advancing fast in this industry, addressing the challenges of labour shortages on traditional livestock farms. 12% of dairy farms already use robots and this is expected to grow to 20% in the next five years.

Read more below on livestock management applications.


Real-time monitoring of herds

In the North East of England, where grazing livestock farms account for over half the farms, the average UK farm size is 137 hectares, compared to 81 hectares nationally. Traditional methods of counting livestock and tracking herd movements are therefore time-consuming and hugely inefficient. Technology offers a better way: from GPS tags to connected cameras or even drones flown overhead, animals can be effectively tracked over large distances. Artificial Intelligence is then capable of processing the data, predicting herd movements and optimising grazing locations. This can free up limited worker resources to engage in less menial tasks such as supporting animal welfare.

Connected technologies can also monitor herd behaviour more efficiently and effectively, providing early warning systems for undesirable behaviours (for example, pigtail biting).

The 5GRIT project trialled UAV remote surveying of grazing livestock, primarily sheep, on a  600Ha farm outside of Slaggyford, Northumberland, a remote upland environment. Over a 5G network, the in-field transmission of survey data to a remote cloud server was completed around three to four times faster when compared with existing 4G data speeds. 

The project also developed an AI livestock detection algorithm to survey and assess livestock and achieved 86% accuracy. Indications suggest that this accuracy value could be further improved through additional data-set training and optimisation for wider detection targets, allowing for further livestock analysis. 5GRIT, which worked closely with the farming community during the project, estimated time savings from remote UAV farm surveying could reduce labour requirements by £600 per month. Additional cost efficiencies could be enabled through regular remote aerial surveillance, facilitating early identification of livestock health and enabling farm security benefits.

The TailTech research project focused on the problem of tail-biting among pigs, which can start without warning or an obvious traceable cause. Though generally beginning as a low-grade problem for farmers, an outbreak can spread rapidly, resulting in pain, sickness and infection for the pigs. This, in turn, results in abattoir condemnation of meat and economic losses to the farmer, alongside additional costs from veterinary treatments. 

Creating an early-detection system, based on research that suggests tail biting might be detected by the posture of a pig’s tail, TailTech deployed 3D cameras and mission vision software to enable automated detection of changes in tail posture. This not only improves animal welfare, reducing the need for practices like tail docking of piglets but minimises the likelihood of economic losses. 

Harper Adams University is also conducting research into the application of machine learning. To predict pen fouling, diarrhoea and tail biting in commercially farmed indoor pigs,  its RoboChick project has developed a small autonomous vehicle, which sits at approximately bird head height and is capable of collecting high-resolution data - such as temperature, humidity, carbon dioxide level, air flow velocity and light spectrum - within broiler chicken buildings. The project is only in its research stage but provides positive indications of how connectivity and new technologies can improve the tracking and monitoring of animals at the herd level.


Increased animal quality of life

Protecting the welfare of livestock is a critical concern for all farmers, both morally and economically: heat stress in cows alone costs the UK economy £94.6m annually. With connected technologies, environments can be effectively monitored and managed to promote animal comfort and minimise the risk of unwanted behaviours.

Sensors and machine vision can automatically make adaptations to animal environments, for example, increasing ventilation. In addition, monitoring enables earlier detection of disease and situations where the animal may require support such as calving.

Increased automation for commonplace activities like weighing and milking can also have a significant impact in reducing animal stress levels, while connected tags and collars grant them more autonomy over their own lives. Monitoring and controlling access to enclosures can reduce the risk of, and provide earlier identification of, biohazards.

As consumers have higher expectations around welfare standards, technology solutions enable farmers to meet those expectations and offer unparalleled traceability.

The South West Dairy Development Centre, run by Agri-EPI, is a high-performing dairy innovation unit featuring the latest robotic and sensor technology. Robotic milking systems allow the cows to choose when they are milked, while connected collars prevent over-milking and grant them free access around the farm. The robots also provide high levels of data to be able to monitor each cow’s output and identify potential problems (for example, if output suddenly drops). This, alongside the data from their connected collars - which offer insights into eating, sleeping and movement patterns - all provide a far more granular insight into the cow’s wellbeing than can be achieved through manual inspection.

An automated feed system reduces human-cow interaction, a potential cause of stress. Their environment is also monitored and continually optimised via automated side curtains which control airflow and adjust according to wind speed, rainfall and internal temperature.

The 5G RuralDorset project explored the potential of 5G to transform the welfare of dairy herds. Connected camera installations enabled live images from the milking parlour to be transferred in real-time to Kingston Maurward College: CattleEye analysis software was used to monitor the health of the cattle remotely and make timely intervention decisions across the herd.

The TailTech research project focused on the problem of tail-biting among pigs, outbreaks of which can start without warning or an obvious traceable cause. Though generally beginning as a low-grade problem for farmers, an outbreak can rapidly spread, resulting in pain, sickness and infection for the pigs. This, in turn, results in an abattoir condemnation of meat and economic losses to the farmer, alongside additional costs from veterinary treatments. 

Creating an early-detection system, based on research that suggests tail biting might be detected by the posture of a pig’s tail, TailTech deployed 3D cameras and mission vision software to enable automated detection of changes in tail posture. This not only improves animal welfare,  reducing the need for practices like tail docking of piglets but minimises the likelihood of economic losses. 

Harper Adams University is also conducting research into the application of machine learning. To predict pen fouling, diarrhoea and tail biting in commercially farmed indoor pigs, its RoboChick project has developed a small autonomous vehicle, which sits at approximately bird head height and is capable of collecting high-resolution data - such as temperature, humidity, carbon dioxide level, air flow velocity and light spectrum - within broiler chicken buildings. The project is only in its research stage but provides positive indications of how connectivity and new technologies can improve the tracking and monitoring of animals at the herd level.

Further afield, the Voshazhnikovo Farm in Russia has transformed into a “smart farm” to increase its milk production. Technology partners installed environmental sensors inside the farm to collect data on temperature, pressure, humidity, and lighting conditions. This information is transmitted via LoRaWAN connectivity to the farm’s ERP system, where it is added to the dataset along with external information.


Real-time individual monitoring of animals for smart livestock management

Against a backdrop of rising costs, optimising yields is paramount for livestock farmers. Using advanced connectivity and the technologies it enables, farmers can implement real-time individual monitoring of animals through body-worn and environmental sensors to facilitate smarter operations - from early detection of biohazards and illness to developing individualised feeding and care plans.

While many sensors only require 4G or even 3G connectivity, with advanced connectivity solutions like 5G offering higher bandwidth and lower latency, a large number of connected devices can be supported and data transferred to farmers in real-time. AI can then be used to analyse large volumes of data and identify early warning signs long before a human may observe a problem. This means farmers, who often need to make time-sensitive decisions, instantaneously receive the required information. 

The benefits will be significant. Farmers in the UK lose £270 million each year due to parasitic worm infections alone, and approximately 110,000 calves and 50,000 cows die every year in the UK because of calving issues. McKinsey estimates that better monitoring of animal health could produce $70 to $90 billion in value globally by 2030.

Individualised feeding and care plans can be created for dairy and beef cattle based on connected body sensor data and movement tracking. This is aimed at detecting illnesses early and providing each animal with optimal feed and medicine mix to maximise growth. Chips and body sensors can measure temperature, pulse, and blood pressure, among other indicators, preventing herd infection and improving food quality. Farmers are already using ear-tag technology from providers such as Smartbow (part of Zoetis) to monitor cows’ heat, health, and location and technology from companies such as Allflex to implement comprehensive electronic tracing in case of disease outbreaks. The South West Dairy Development Centre in Somerset is a high-performing dairy innovation unit featuring the latest robotic and sensor technology. Robotic milking systems allow the cows to choose when they are milked, while connected collars prevent over-milking and grant them free access around the farm. The robots also provide high levels of data to be able to monitor the output of individual cows and identify potential problems. Alongside the connected collars, this provides a greater insight into the well-being of the cows than can be achieved through manual inspection.

The Healthy Heifer project - led by Cambridge Animal Technologies, in partnership with the Agri-EPI Centre - uses smart ear tags and a data analysis platform to capture and assess the genetics of animals. This includes nutrition, environment, activity and health to inform decisions that will optimise health. Retaining healthier heifers and reducing the number of new heifers needed will improve a herd’s overall longevity, productivity and profitability, while also supporting a more sustainable way of farming. The ultimate aim of the project is to see 95% of the herd reach first lactation, halve losses and reduce the average first calving to 24 months. It is currently 26 months in most British dairy farms. 

Specific solutions can also support the conception and calving processes, as well as monitoring calves during their critical first days of life. MooCall is an Irish farmer-based agritech start-up that produces IoT sensors for cows. Its MooHEAT solution comprises a collar worn by a stock or a teaser, also known as vasectomised bull and ear tags attached to all cows and heifers. The collar then uses the proximity of the cow or bull, mounting behaviour and activity levels to determine when a cow or heifer is in heat to a high degree of accuracy. It can also identify likely due dates and monitor a cow’s fertility over time. Since using the technology, Ciarán Lenehan, a suckler farmer from Co. Meath has seen conception rates on his farm increase from 75-85% to over 90%.

MooCall also has a calving device, which focuses on combating the high cow mortality rates during calving. When a cow gets a contraction, her tail moves in a specific way and the device attaches to a cow’s tail and tracks those movements to monitor her contractions. The sensor has been shown to reduce the number of fatal births by half, helping farmers to save up to four hours per day per cow during a calving season.

Agri-tech solutions initially focused on older stock but solutions that monitor and protect the wellbeing of calves are now becoming available. The need for such solutions is great, with the importance of early disease detection in the early stages of a cow’s life well established. Calf scours (a clinical sign associated with several diseases, resulting in diarrhoea) cause more financial losses to calf producers than any other health problem in their herds. The prevalence of bovine respiratory disease (BRD) or calf pneumonia during the rearing period sits at a rate of approximately 20%, the most common reason for death and poor performance in calves and young, growing cattle.

To suppress and avoid the spread of diseases, calf farmers are heavily reliant on the use of antibiotics. However, the overuse of antibiotics can quickly lead to resistance and prolonged usage can enhance its persistence. Monitoring health at an individual level will optimise treatment, while early-life management offers significant benefits to both animal welfare and yields. 

The WELL-CALF project - funded by Innovate UK - developed the first cloud-based decision support platform, which serves different levels of decision-making on dairy and beef farms. WELL-CALF’s precision agriculture technology is focused on monitoring calves from seven days to sixteen weeks old, providing support for farm-level decisions (for example, health management and nutrition) as well as policy and practice decisions at the systems level.

Machine vision can also be used to monitor and assess animals individually. As a part of the 5G RuralDorset project, Wessex Internet partnered with CattleEye, using cameras to improve cattle welfare. The images are taken when the cow is being milked to decide if cattle are lame or unhealthy, but it is 5G that helps this data get back to the farmer straight away, ensuring the cattle are treated quickly.

Such technologies can also be used to address particular risk areas for livestock. Lameness is a key issue in dairy herds, for instance, with 25% of dairy cattle in the UK suffering at any one time, impacting milk production. The cows are susceptible to a range of hoof issues which often show a visual change on the underside and back of the hoof. The Hoofcount Automatic Footbath was developed with funding from Defra and Innovate UK to detect these early indicators and enable earlier treatment.

Individual monitoring of animals in real-time offers significant benefits. The SmARtview research project has taken this one step further, combining an AI-based system, which can recognise cows by their skin patterns and an AR headset, displaying health and productivity data. This enhances farmers’ knowledge of their cows' and vets’ expertise to deliver instant, individual data retrieval for faster and more accurate cow-side decision-making.

Duncan Forbes, Agri-EPI Head of Dairy explained:

“The beauty of this project is that it combines farmers’ and vet’s experienced ‘eyes’ with real-time data: technology is being used to enhance, rather than replace, human skills. In addition, SmARtview could provide a solution to one of the key challenges of on-farm technology – while different devices like robotic milkers, sensors and collars can already collect plentiful data, its lack of integration limits insight to drive decision-making.”

Precision livestock management is also possible in poultry farming. Poultry farmer Peter Mason, farm manager of Uphouse Farm Ltd. takes a data driven approach to his farm’s broiler business. This includes live monitoring of key performance metrics such as FCR (food conversion ratio), live weight gain and the daily feed and water intake of each bird.

Attention to detail is crucial in poultry farming, one drinker line or pan line at the wrong height can impact the performance of thousands of bird in a shed. For Mason, with seven and a half flocks each year, across two farms, such issues can have a significant impact on bird importance. Being able to monitor and respond to per-bird data is critical to his long term profitability and success. 

“We are an 840,000-bird site spread across two farms, both running the higher welfare, in-house hatching ‘Nestborn’ system. We have two great teams of stockmen who are all dedicated to achieving the highest welfare and performance from our birds. The technology we have installed in the sheds gives them a great platform on which to achieve this, and allows us to collect daily performance data and analyse it. If there is a drop in performance, we analyse the information to try and understand the cause”.


Automated husbandry

Labour and skills shortages pose a major challenge for the agriculture industry. Wages have risen by 22% since 2019, and Brexit has made it harder to access immigrant labour. A generation of farmers with a lifetime of knowledge are also slowly exiting the workforce: the average UK farmer is 59 years old

The case for embracing automation is clear. When it comes to livestock management, there are significant benefits to increasing the efficiency of livestock operations. For instance, ensuring livestock receive the right amount of feed at the right time, can result in better growth rates and higher yields, while consistent care, less stress-inducing human interaction and earlier detection of biohazards can improve animal welfare.

Automation in livestock can be deployed at various stages, whether breeding or slaughtering. The first milking robot was launched in 1995 and now automated equipment is a fixture on farms worldwide, carrying out a range of tasks including collecting eggs, weighing and feeding. Advanced connectivity can play a critical role in enabling this technology, ensuring data is collected and transferred in real-time for further analysis and human intervention. 

Drones can also play an important role in livestock management: when connected by 5G, the drone can fly behind the line of sight and transfer HD-quality data in near real-time. This means herds can be surveyed over vast areas quickly and efficiently, keeping herds safe, secure and accounted for at all times. Through reducing costs and improving yields, McKinsey estimates the use of drones in agriculture could generate between $85 billion and $115 billion in value.

The South West Dairy Development Centre, run by Agri-EPI, is a high-performing dairy innovation unit featuring the latest robotic and sensor technology. Robotic milking systems allow the cows to choose when they are milked, while connected collars prevent over-milking and grant them free access around the farm. The robots also provide high levels of data to be able to monitor each cow’s output and identify potential problems. This, alongside the data from their connected collars - which offer insights into eating, sleeping and movement patterns - provides a more granular insight into the cow’s wellbeing than can be achieved through manual inspection.

An automated feed system reduces human-cow interaction, a potential cause of stress. Their environment is also monitored and continually optimised via automated side curtains which control airflow and adjust according to wind speed, rainfall and internal temperature.

The 5G RuralDorset project also explored the potential of 5G in dairy farming. Connected camera installations enabled live images from the milking parlour to be transferred in real-time to Kingston Maurward College. CattleEye analysis software was used to monitor the health of the cattle, without the need for stressful human interactions, and make timely intervention decisions across the herd.

The Voshazhnikovo Farm in Russia has transformed into a “smart farm” to increase the milk production of its cows. Environmental sensors monitor temperature, pressure, humidity, and lighting conditions. The information is transmitted via LoRaWAN connectivity to the farm’s ERP system, where it is added to the dataset along with external information. Automatically collecting the data enabled the farm to identify that feed costs had increased and milk yields declined in higher temperatures. Armed with these insights, they were able to automate temperature thresholds and subsequent ventilation: as a result, milk production on the farm increased from 28 to 33 litres per cow.

Similar deployments have been made elsewhere. IMO Automation worked with a livestock farm in the US to optimise its barn ventilation system using automation technology. The farm had been facing several issues due to inadequate ventilation, including higher energy bills and reduced productivity. Sensors were installed to measure the temperature, humidity, and ammonia levels in the barn, connected to a control system that could adjust the ventilation system automatically. 


Predictive maintenance of machinery

With profit margins being squeezed, farmers need to increase - or at least maintain - their outputs. One way to do this is to reduce downtime, especially for critical machinery such as robot milking machines. As farms embrace the move to automation, the need to improve performance, minimise downtime and extend the lifetime of machinery will become even more vital.

Computer vision and sensors attached to equipment can feed AI models to enable predictive maintenance, and the identification of early indicators of wear, tear or malfunction. Advanced connectivity, such as 5G, facilitates the capture and processing of equipment operating data in real time. These insights - combined, for example, with analysis of vibrations, temperature and oil usage - allow a shift to a predictive maintenance model, which, impressively, results in detections up to 90 days in advance. This allows for scheduling and controlling of maintenance and repairs, minimising downtime, extending the lifespan of machinery and avoiding wastage from time-based maintenance approaches. 

As a part of the Worcestershire 5G project, manufacturer Mazak successfully deployed automated remote predictive maintenance. Taking advantage of 5G’s ability to process large amounts of data, the factory is now able to provide real-time analysis of machine status and feed this information to a cloud system. The company’s spindles are usually only removed for corrective maintenance after an issue or failure occurs but with the arrival of 5G, early warning signs of damage are available; this reduces repair costs, as well as downtime.

The Port of Felixstowe used 5G IoT devices and predictive data analytics to reduce unscheduled downtime of its 31 quay-side and 82-yard cranes. AI optimises the crane’s predictive maintenance cycle, which improves performance and the productivity of ship-to-shore operations. 

These examples, though from other sectors,  demonstrate the important role connectivity can play in digitising the maintenance process, facilitating early detection of faults and minimising downtime. This can have a significant impact on the bottom line, something that is needed in the farming industry where costs are spiralling.


Enabling more sustainable practices

Consumer demand for a sustainable food system is growing: a 2023 McKinsey US consumer study found that products making environmental, social, and governance (ESG)–related claims averaged 28 per cent cumulative growth over the past five years, compared with 20 per cent for products that do not make such claims. Products making multiple types of ESG claims—such as environmental sustainability and organic farming methods—grew about twice as fast as products that made only one claim. Sustainable farming offers increased profitability in the short term and is likely to become table stakes in the long term.

Sensors and camera-equipped autonomous equipment can collect and transmit rich, standardised data with minimal human input, enabling farmers to substantiate sustainable farming practices and provide full farm-to-fork traceability. 

Connected sensors can also support the successful scaling of insect-based food production for farmers moving away from soy-based animal feed.

Producing one kg of edible protein from insects requires much less land and water than conventional livestock feed, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and costs. Mass-rearing costs can potentially be much lower too. Insects fed on agricultural by-products help to reduce waste, lower costs and enable circular economic business models. 

SmartBreed is a Swiss agricultural start-up that produces IoT-connected breeding boxes, supporting farmers to grow grasshoppers that serve as feed for hens. The connected box creates optimal rearing conditions for insects. It uses sensors to automate breeding by monitoring the temperature, humidity, CO2 values, microclimate, and day–night rhythm. Currently reducing the breeding time by three weeks, SmartBreed expects this to fall to two weeks when powered by 5G, which can transfer higher volumes of data in near real-time. Image recognition will be able to measure the size and colour of the insects while AI can recognise the grasshoppers’ moulting phases, adjusting to required parameters.


Real-time monitoring of weather conditions

September 2023 saw seven days of 30-degree heat in the UK, a new record. In 2022, we witnessed an all-time high of 40.3 degrees. The impact of climate change is undeniable and it’s not just delivering hotter summers but wetter winters, increasing the likelihood of flooding, as well as more extreme and unpredictable weather.

This has big implications for livestock farmers, both directly (impacting animal health, welfare, growth, and reproduction), and indirectly (productivity of pastures, forage crops and feeds). The impact on cattle farming is particularly pronounced, with heat negatively impacting milk production and heat stress in cows, which already costs the UK economy £94.6m annually.

Connected weather sensors and AI can enable you to detect, analyse and even predict weather events, enabling you to respond faster to changing weather. Automated environments can increase shade and ventilation in response to rain, humidity, wind and temperature to continuously optimise the environments for indoor livestock.

The Voshazhnikovo Farm in Russia has transformed into a “smart farm” to increase its milk production. The farm has 4,500 dairy cows which each produce an average of 28 litres of milk per day.  Rising temperatures had affected the cows’ appetite, resulting in increased feed and food expenses, and reduced milk production. 

To combat this, technology partners installed environmental sensors inside the farm to collect data on temperature, pressure, humidity, and lighting conditions. This information is transmitted via LoRaWAN connectivity to the farm’s ERP system, where it is added to the dataset along with external information. The owners were able to identify when conditions were becoming unfavourable and take the required steps (for example, increasing ventilation). Over 180 days, the farm saved €340,000 on feed costs for 2,000 dairy cows and milk production increased by 18 percent to 33 litres per cow per day.

Worryingly, the UK is now experiencing wildfires due to increased temperatures, which can have devastating impacts on grazing land and risk to life for livestock.  A fire can spread up to 200 metres every minute: by the time a wildfire has been spotted by a farm worker, the damage can be significant. Ericsson SmartForest is a solution that uses sensors and AI to detect and monitor wildfires, enabling faster response times.  

"We're now treating wildfires as business as usual. And the conditions are going to get more extreme as the next two decades move on," said Surrey fire investigation officer Matt Oakley.


Improving operational efficiencies

Livestock farmers are in a precarious position, facing an uncertain future as input costs increasingly track above output costs. Improving operational efficiencies is therefore paramount, whether in the form of reducing wastage or increasing yields.

Connected sensors can track the use and conditions of buildings and machinery to reduce energy consumption, which avoids stockpiling fuel for machines not being used and minimises wastage of feed and other perishable items. 

Reducing costs is only one side of the equation. When the pressure on profitability is high, minimising downtime and increasing yields is critical. Connected silo sensors can monitor inventory levels, forecasting the consumption of products and automatically re-ordering. Monitoring and analysing environmental conditions and livestock performance can then identify opportunities to optimise conditions for higher yields.

The Voshazhnikovo Farm in Russia has transformed into a “smart farm” to increase its milk production. The farm has 4,500 dairy cows which each produce an average of 28 litres of milk per day. Rising temperatures had affected the cows’ appetite, resulting in increased feed and food expenses, and reduced milk production. 

To combat this, technology partners installed environmental sensors inside the farm to collect data on temperature, pressure, humidity, and lighting conditions. This information is transmitted via LoRaWAN connectivity to the farm’s ERP system, where it is added to the dataset along with external information. The owners were able to identify when conditions were becoming unfavourable and take the required steps (for example, increasing ventilation). Over 180 days, the farm saved €340,000 on feed costs for 2,000 dairy cows and milk production increased by 18 percent to 33 litres per cow per day.


Improve worker safety and satisfaction

According to Safety Nation, agriculture has the worst rate of worker fatal injury, around twenty times higher than the annual for the farming industry. Working with livestock and hazardous machinery poses significant risks and with increasing costs and growing labour shortages, many farm workers often work on their own. Being able to call for help is a basic need but reliable connectivity is essential.

More advanced connectivity can also support both worker safety and satisfaction. Automation of manual, laborious tasks can both free workers up to engage in more fulfilling work but also potentially remove them from hazardous scenarios such as manually weighing animals.

The Ritchie Beef Monitor is an automated weighing crate. Complete with fitted water troughs and 3D cameras, it allows farmers to monitor the live weight and gains of individual cattle through compatible ear tags. The information is then sent to an online platform that is accessible by farmers.

The technology allows farmers to track optimum finishing points for individual animals, which reduces labour needs, minimises stress for livestock and offers clear health and safety benefits.


Security of animals and machinery

Farm theft is on the rise with sheep rustling a significant problem: in 2023, NFU Mutual, the UK’s leading rural insurer, released a Rural Crime Report to highlight its true cost to the UK. Livestock rustling, quad and ATV theft are just some examples that contribute to the total loss of over £49.5m in 2022. Rural theft has become more organised and steadily increased since the pandemic: sheep rustling has seen an 11% increase in reports over two years, and insurers have identified livestock theft as the third most costly crime for the UK's farming sector.

Technology solutions are here to help. Connected CCTV and drones can provide real-time feeds of farmland, with 5G enabling ultra-high-definition quality. Connected collars and tags with GPS tracking can track livestock across expansive farmland, helping reduce the loss of livestock. Expensive farm machinery can also be fitted with geo-fencing, which triggers an alarm if the animals go beyond farm boundaries. 

5G RuralDorset’s connected cow initiative enabled the location of animals to be tracked in real-time, preventing rustling and facilitating the recovery of livestock. On the commercial market, solutions such as Digitanimal offer GPS locator devices for sheep, cows, goats and horses, tracking animal movements and sending notifications to farmers if an animal leaves the farm.

Tim Price, Rural Affairs Specialist at NFU Mutual, said: “By combining modern technology with physical fortifications, farmers are trying to keep one step ahead of the thieves”.