Animal location and distribution control for an improved management system

Abstract

This dissertation addresses the problem of animal location management and respective distribution control, with special interest on the virtual fence solution based on GPS. As it is known, animals tend to walk wherever they can find food and safety. This can be a problem since they can interfere with other animals and people in general. To prevent unpleasant encounters physical fences were developed, but since they present high maintenance costs and some questionable efficiency, a new technology was developed: virtual fences. In addition, since cattle and sheep graze over large areas animals are often rotated in order to achieve pasture management limitations. Virtual fences help in this matter due to the ease of changing boundaries. The main goal was to develop a virtual fence system where animal’s behaviour can be managed. To achieve this purpose, were developed a collar prototype (CP) with GPS location and GSM communication, a software application and an energetic study. The collar tests revealed good results from GPS localisation and GSM communication, obtaining signal in open fields, house complex areas and inside constructions with different ceiling types. The collar stimuli were applied as expected, taking in consideration the collar localisation in the defined fence. Also, the system efficiency was tested resulting in the expected attribution of time periods accordingly the collar localisation area and stimulus applied. Furthermore, the speed data achieved from the GPS revealed animal behaviour important to deal with control management. The software application revealed efficiency when designing the fence boundaries. The website was considered user-friendly being easy to use, design the fence limits, register the animals and monitor the cattle.