For centuries, livestock farming relied on posts, wire and rigid boundaries. Nofence, developed by Norwegian engineer and goat farmer Oscar Hovde, is changing that, turning a labour-intensive process into a connected, data-driven system.
As the world’s first commercial virtual fencing system, it uses GPS collars and acoustic signals to replace physical fences. Animals can graze freely and naturally, while farmers gain more control, improve animal welfare and spend less time building and maintaining fences. The system supports cattle, sheep and goats, making it suitable for different grazing practices and farm types.
Through Nofence’s app and its collars, farmers can draw boundaries, move fences, monitor herds and adjust grazing zones in real time. This level of visibility allows farmers to focus more on care and planning rather than chasing fence repairs. Over time, reduced fencing costs and access to previously unused pasture boost profitability and land productivity.
Nofence serves both smallholder farms and expansive ranches. In the U.S., the company collaborates with cost-share programs to make the technology more accessible.
“We help farmers manage grazing more efficiently. By replacing physical fences with a digital solution, we reduce labour, cut costs and give animals access to better, more varied pastures”, says Joachim Kähler, CEO, Nofence.
Data-Driven Grazing that Works Anywhere
With over 150,000 collars deployed across Europe and North America, and tested in a wide range of climates, farmers value how seamlessly Nofence integrates into daily routines. The collars are built for durability, with robust materials and hardware that ensure long-term performance, while built-in solar charging enables them to operate through full grazing seasons with minimal intervention.
Beyond reliability, the collars continuously collect data on animal movement and grazing patterns, turning everyday operations into actionable insights. This information helps farmers manage pastures, rotate grazing and care for their herds, while also tracking environmental factors like forage growth, pasture health and soil and carbon impact. HerdNet, a collar-to-collar communication system, ensures data flows even where connectivity is limited, keeping digital boundaries in place and giving farmers constant visibility of their animals.
By guiding livestock into underused, fragile, or sensitive areas without physical fences, Nofence supports sustainable practices and regenerative agriculture, while restoring soil health, enhancing biodiversity and sequestering carbon. The system is also applied in conservation and landscape management, where targeted grazing restores habitats, controls vegetation and reduces wildfire risk in overgrown areas.
These benefits are evident in Virginia, where cattle producers Will and Erin faced steep, brush-covered terrain that had remained unused for years. With Nofence, they set digital boundaries that opened new grazing areas within minutes. The herd adapted quickly, moving into rough ground that traditional fences could not reach. Within a single season, they eased pressure on lower fields, restored forage balance and improved soil and vegetation. The added flexibility improved grazing control, strengthened pastures, supported healthier animals and turned previously marginal acres into productive land, advancing both economic and environmental goals.
Evolving with Farmers, Expanding Globally
Nofence’s distributed expert teams gather farmer feedback to guide app updates and hardware improvements. With team members in Norway, the UK, Ireland, Spain and the U.S., Nofence remains close to producers and adapts features to meet regional farming needs. This approach has led to innovations such as simpler mapping, faster alerts and clearer data, ensuring the system evolves in step with real-world challenges.
The company’s $35 million Series B funding round provides the resources to expand globally and enhance analytics, enabling farmers to make smarter, data-driven decisions. Looking ahead, Nofence is exploring adjacent markets where virtual boundaries can create value, including wildlife management and new conservation applications.
Combining proven reliability with modern precision, Nofence empowers farmers to give animals more freedom while maintaining greater control. Removing physical fences opens new possibilities for land use, herd management and the future of sustainable agriculture.
As the world’s first commercial virtual fencing system, it uses GPS collars and acoustic signals to replace physical fences. Animals can graze freely and naturally, while farmers gain more control, improve animal welfare and spend less time building and maintaining fences. The system supports cattle, sheep and goats, making it suitable for different grazing practices and farm types.
Through Nofence’s app and its collars, farmers can draw boundaries, move fences, monitor herds and adjust grazing zones in real time. This level of visibility allows farmers to focus more on care and planning rather than chasing fence repairs. Over time, reduced fencing costs and access to previously unused pasture boost profitability and land productivity.
Nofence serves both smallholder farms and expansive ranches. In the U.S., the company collaborates with cost-share programs to make the technology more accessible.
“We help farmers manage grazing more efficiently. By replacing physical fences with a digital solution, we reduce labour, cut costs and give animals access to better, more varied pastures”, says Joachim Kähler, CEO, Nofence.
Data-Driven Grazing that Works Anywhere
With over 150,000 collars deployed across Europe and North America, and tested in a wide range of climates, farmers value how seamlessly Nofence integrates into daily routines. The collars are built for durability, with robust materials and hardware that ensure long-term performance, while built-in solar charging enables them to operate through full grazing seasons with minimal intervention.
Beyond reliability, the collars continuously collect data on animal movement and grazing patterns, turning everyday operations into actionable insights. This information helps farmers manage pastures, rotate grazing and care for their herds, while also tracking environmental factors like forage growth, pasture health and soil and carbon impact. HerdNet, a collar-to-collar communication system, ensures data flows even where connectivity is limited, keeping digital boundaries in place and giving farmers constant visibility of their animals.
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We help farmers manage grazing more efficiently. By replacing physical fences with a digital solution, we reduce labour, cut costs and give animals access to better, more varied pastures.
By guiding livestock into underused, fragile, or sensitive areas without physical fences, Nofence supports sustainable practices and regenerative agriculture, while restoring soil health, enhancing biodiversity and sequestering carbon. The system is also applied in conservation and landscape management, where targeted grazing restores habitats, controls vegetation and reduces wildfire risk in overgrown areas.
These benefits are evident in Virginia, where cattle producers Will and Erin faced steep, brush-covered terrain that had remained unused for years. With Nofence, they set digital boundaries that opened new grazing areas within minutes. The herd adapted quickly, moving into rough ground that traditional fences could not reach. Within a single season, they eased pressure on lower fields, restored forage balance and improved soil and vegetation. The added flexibility improved grazing control, strengthened pastures, supported healthier animals and turned previously marginal acres into productive land, advancing both economic and environmental goals.
Evolving with Farmers, Expanding Globally
Nofence’s distributed expert teams gather farmer feedback to guide app updates and hardware improvements. With team members in Norway, the UK, Ireland, Spain and the U.S., Nofence remains close to producers and adapts features to meet regional farming needs. This approach has led to innovations such as simpler mapping, faster alerts and clearer data, ensuring the system evolves in step with real-world challenges.
The company’s $35 million Series B funding round provides the resources to expand globally and enhance analytics, enabling farmers to make smarter, data-driven decisions. Looking ahead, Nofence is exploring adjacent markets where virtual boundaries can create value, including wildlife management and new conservation applications.
Combining proven reliability with modern precision, Nofence empowers farmers to give animals more freedom while maintaining greater control. Removing physical fences opens new possibilities for land use, herd management and the future of sustainable agriculture.
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