Calgary, Alta. (Rural Roots Canada) – A Canadian ag-tech startup is developing virtual fencing technology to make rotational grazing more accessible to ranchers.
Agrivanna is building what it calls an operating system for the ranch, combining forage analysis, grazing plans and virtual fencing collars.
Co-founder and COO Hayden Harrison says the technology is designed for remote operations where traditional systems can be difficult to use.
“The best part about going direct to satellite and using GPS is pretty much anywhere on the planet you can run these grazing collars,” he says.
Traditional virtual fencing systems can be costly and, in some cases, rely on cellular connectivity or permanent base stations. Harrison says its satellite-enabled collars can be used anywhere, allowing ranchers to track animals, adjust grazing boundaries and manage herds without relying on cell service. “Anywhere in the world, you can use our grazing collars anytime, anyplace,” he explains. The satellite option is also designed to come in at a lower cost than some competing systems that can cost about $120 per cow annually.
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Agrivanna is also developing a more affordable option that uses a handheld base station, rather than permanently installed equipment. Ranchers would take the device within about 100 to 200 metres of their herd to upload a new grazing plan to the collars. The approach is intended to keep technology from replacing traditional ranching skills, which the company says remain essential to managing livestock and land. “The last thing we want to do with virtual fencing is bastardize the art and skill of stockmanship,” Harrison adds.
Agrivanna recently completed a pilot project in Saskatchewan, where Harrison says the company demonstrated it could keep cattle in a designated area without a physical fence. The company is also focused on customer support as ranchers adopt the technology.
“One of our main motivating factors is to be able to hire and get hold of a support team so that no matter what time of day, any time of year, you can call Agrivanna and you can talk to someone,” he explains.
The company is now preparing for mass production, with plans to deploy about one thousand collars next spring.
