Exploring the science behind Animal-Friendly & Sustainable Farming with Collie

Modern farming faces enormous challenges: ensuring animal welfare, reducing emissions, and protecting biodiversity - all while maintaining a profitable farm. Below you will find research-backed insights into how Collie addresses these challenges using virtual fencing and virtual herding technology.

Collie openly collaborates with scientists and consistently examines its technology critically from various perspectives, with the aim of creating a product that benefits the animals, the environment and the farmer.

Reduced Nitrogen Emissions

Outdoor grazing allows manure to disperse naturally across fields, lowering nitrogen emissions by up to 49% on average farms. This reduction is approximately equivalent to removing 1.4 million cars from the roads each year.

Animal Welfare

Collie’s technology not only minimizes stress but also enhances the overall health and well-being of cows.

Stress-Free Herding

Cows are guided using sound and vibration cues, eliminating the stress associated with traditional herding methods.

^{Verdon, M., Langworthy, A., & Rawnsley, R. (2021). Virtual fencing technology to intensively graze lactating dairy cattle II: Effects on cow welfare and behavior.}

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^{MDPI (2022) The effect of virtual fencing on cattle behavior and welfare.}

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Healthier Cows

Grazing outdoors is natural for cows and improves overall health by lowering the risk of common issues found in housed systems:

• Reduced lameness and hoof pathologies.
• Fewer cases of mastitis and uterine diseases.
• Improved immune response due to a cleaner, natural environment.
• fewer aggressive interactions due to increased space and opportunities for natural behaviors like grazing and lying.

^{Arnott, G., Ferris, C. P., & O’Connell, N. E. (2017). Pasture access affects health and welfare of dairy cows: A review. Animal, 11(5), 896-909.}

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Mother-Calf Bond

Collie enables farmers to allow calves to remain with their mothers longer, fostering natural bonding and reducing stress for both mother and calf.

Adaptation and Learning Curve

Cows quickly adapt to virtual fencing, learning to avoid exclusion zones in as little as 3 days.

^{Verdon, M., & Rawnsley, R. (2020). The effects of dairy heifer age at training on rate of learning and retention of learning in a virtual fencing feed attractant trial.}

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