Electric collars help cows learn grazing boundaries

Virtual fences help conservation cows to create wetland habitats in the fens

Collars with electric pulses have been placed on cows' necks to help create wetland habitats in the fens.

The 'Nofence' collars are part of a conservation grazing project at the Great Fen in Cambridgeshire.

The wildlife trust for the county said grazing using native breeds of cows and sheep was a vital part of managing fen grasslands, to promote wildflower growth and provide ideal habitats for butterflies, dragonflies and birds.

The collars give out a short low level pulse, similar to an electric fence, with livestock quickly learning the extent of their new boundaries and to avoid approaching the "virtual fence line" again.

The Great Fen landscape project began in 2001 to connect the two national nature reserves of Woodwalton Fen and Holme Fen by restoring the surrounding land for wildlife.

The Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire & Northamptonshire said the former agricultural land, with square, drained fields, has been turned into a natural mosaic of grass, pools and winding channels.

It said static electric fences were no longer practical, so remote GPS-connected cattle collars were purchased, giving the conservation team greater flexibility over how the area is grazed.

To maintain livestock welfare standards, the team also installed new cattle management areas, ditches and water supplies at New Decoy Farm, near Peterborough.

Senior reserves officer David Metcalfe said: "Although it's known for its wide arable fields, the fenland landscape has been home to cows and sheep for generations.

"We always knew getting grazing animals into the emerging new wild wetland areas was going to be a challenge, so the Nofence collar technology has been fantastic."

The solar-powered collars are controlled via an app. Cows are alerted by an audible tone when they approach the boundary, or if they persist, they will be deterred by a weak electrical pulse.

The collars can be managed remotely by the project team.

The rewilding project at the Great Fen in Cambridgeshire was supported with a £78,000 grant from the FCC Communities Foundation, which awards grants for community projects through the Landfill Communities Fund.