Geofencing
Geofencing for Pet and Livestock Tracking
Animal Watch 365 has incorporated Geofencing in some of its products and systems. Animal Watch 365’s engineers, technical support, and technical sales staff have become experts in Geofencing.
Geofencing is a location-based technology that uses GPS (Global Positioning System), RFID (Radio Frequency Identification), Wi-Fi, or cellular data to create a virtual geographic boundary, enabling software to trigger a response when a device enters or exits a defined area. In the context of pet and livestock tracking, geofencing plays a crucial role in ensuring the safety, security, and efficient management of animals.
- Device Reliability: Requires durable, weatherproof trackers with strong battery
- Connectivity Issues: Remote areas may face GPS or cellular signal
- Cost: Initial setup and device costs may be a barrier for small-scale
- Animal Comfort: Devices must be lightweight and non-intrusive to avoid
- Enhanced Safety: Immediate alerts reduce the risk of lost or stolen
- Operational Efficiency: Saves time and labor in monitoring large farms or rural
- Data Insights: Provides valuable data on animal movement patterns and
- Customizability: Geofences can be reshaped or relocated as needed, making them flexible for different terrains or seasonal changes.
- Defining the Virtual Boundary: A user sets a predefined area—such as a farm, backyard, or grazing field—on a digital map via a mobile app or web dashboard. This virtual boundary becomes the “geofence.”
- Equipping the Animal: The pet or livestock is fitted with a GPS-enabled tracking device, often in the form of a collar or tag. This device constantly communicates its location to a central system via satellite or cellular networks.
- Monitoring Movements: The system continuously tracks the animal’s location in real-time. When the animal enters or leaves the geofenced zone, the system detects this change.
- Triggering Alerts and Actions: Upon breach of the virtual fence, automated actions are triggered. These may include:
- Sending alerts (SMS, app notification, email) to the owner or farm
- Activating deterrents or alarms to guide animals
- Logging data for historical movement tracking and
Animal Watch 365 offers Geofencing Products.
For More Details, Please Contact Us:
- Environmental Sensors
- Environmental Data Loggers
- Temperature Calibration Systems
- Humidity Sensors
- Moisture Gauges
- Infrared Thermography Cameras
Applications of Geofencing for Pet and Livestock Tracking
Here’s a list of applications of Geofencing for Pet and Livestock Tracking:
- Set up safe zones around homes or yards to get alerts if pets wander beyond the designated
- Monitor and manage the location of cattle, sheep, or other animals within grazing areas or
- Trigger real-time alerts if livestock or valuable animals are moved outside the farm’s
- Integrate with smart systems to open gates or activate feeders when animals enter specific
- Detect unusual movement patterns or inactivity that might indicate illness or
- Apply geofencing in conservation efforts to track and protect endangered animals within
- Monitor animals to ensure they stay within secure play or rest zones.
- Help ranchers track herds across large distances using GPS and geofencing without being physically present.
- Receive notifications when animals enter or leave designated mating or breeding
- Use geofencing in pet training to reinforce area boundaries, pairing it with signals or training
Case Examples
Smart Fencing on Ranches in Texas
Ranchers in Texas use geofencing to create virtual boundaries for cattle. When livestock move beyond these boundaries, real-time alerts are sent to the ranchers’ mobile devices, allowing quick intervention and reducing the risk of loss.
Suburban Pet Containment in California
Pet owners in suburban areas of California use geofencing with GPS collars to keep dogs within their yard boundaries. If a dog leaves the designated area, the system sends an alert and can trigger automatic responses like sending a notification to a neighbor.
Mobile Goat Grazing in Colorado
Farmers practicing rotational grazing in Colorado use geofencing to control where goats graze on open lands. By changing the virtual fences via an app, they can manage pasture usage without physical barriers.
Remote Cattle Monitoring in Alberta
In Alberta’s remote grazing lands, ranchers use geofencing to track cattle movements. If cattle stray beyond designated grazing zones or approach hazardous terrain, alerts are sent via satellite-connected devices, helping ensure herd safety and reduce labor costs.
Free-RangePoultry Management in Georgia
Small-scale poultry farms in Georgia use geofencing to monitor free-range chickens. This helps ensure the chickens stay within safe areas, especially near roads or predator-prone zones.
Animal Watch 365’s Products Related to Geofencing for Pet and Livestock Tracking Comply with
Animal Watch 365’s geofencing and tracking products for pets and livestock are subject to a range of U.S. federal regulations to ensure legal compliance, operational safety, and market readiness. These regulations encompass animal traceability, radiofrequency communication standards, and data privacy considerations.
Livestock Tracking Regulations
- USDA Animal Disease Traceability (ADT) Program: Administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), this program requires that certain livestock, particularly cattle moving interstate, be identified using RFID (radio-frequency identification) technology. As of November 2024, all such cattle must bear both visual and electronic (RFID) identification tags to support disease control and traceability efforts.
- Animal Health Protection Act (7 S.C. §§ 8301–8322): This legislation provides the USDA with the authority to implement disease prevention and surveillance measures, including requirements for animal identification and traceability technologies. Products used for livestock tracking must align with the mandates of this act.
- Title 9 of the Code of Federal Regulations (9 F.R. Parts 70–89): These federal regulations detail protocols for the interstate movement of animals and the identification systems that must be in place, including compatibility with official electronic tracking technologies.
Pet Tracking and Wireless Communication Standards
- Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Compliance: Tracking devices that utilize GPS and wireless communication (e.g., Bluetooth, cellular, or other RF signals) must comply with FCC Part 15 regulations to ensure safe and interference- free operation. This includes proper frequency use, power output limits, and device labeling requirements.
- RF Exposure and Safety Standards: Geofencing products must meet U.S. health and safety guidelines related to radiofrequency (RF) emissions to confirm that exposure levels for animals are within acceptable limits as outlined by the FCC and other relevant authorities.
Data Privacy and Cybersecurity
- While there is currently no federal law that explicitly governs data collection from animal tracking devices, companies are expected to implement strong cybersecurity protocols to protect sensitive location and behavioral data. Adhering to best practices in data encryption, access control, and user consent management is recommended, especially if the data is stored in cloud systems or transmitted via mobile apps.
Animal Watch 365’s geofencing solutions for pet and livestock tracking are subject to several Canadian federal and provincial regulations to ensure compliance with national traceability standards, animal health mandates, and data privacy laws. The following outlines key regulatory frameworks that the company’s products adhere to:
Federal Regulations
Health of Animals Regulations – Part XV (Identification and Traceability)
Administered by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), these regulations mandate the identification and traceability of livestock species such as cattle, bison, sheep, pigs, and others. Key compliance requirements include:
- Use of CFIA-approved identification methods (e.g., RFID tags).
- Accurate reporting of animal movements and
- Maintenance of records related to animal identification and transfered.
Upcoming Amendments (2024–2026):
CFIA is introducing revised traceability requirements, with anticipated implementation starting mid- 2025 and full enforcement by 2026.
Livestock Identification and Traceability (TRACE) Program
The TRACE program supports rapid response to animal health emergencies by ensuring accurate data on the identity, location, and movement of livestock. Compliance requires:
- Linking animals to a registered Premises Identification Number (PID).
- Timely and accurate reporting of animal movements.
Provincial Regulations
Each province may have additional traceability mandates. Examples include:
Alberta
- Animal Health Act & Traceability Regulation: Requires all livestock operations and commingling sites to obtain a PID and report animal movements accordingly.
British Columbia
- Premises Identification Regulation: Mandates registration of premises housing certain livestock (e.g., cattle, pigs, poultry) to support emergency preparedness.
Ontario
- Premises Identification Program: Requires livestock owners to register and maintain an active Premises ID for facilities managing animals.
Data Privacy Compliance
Geofencing technologies inherently collect sensitive location and movement data, making compliance with data protection laws essential:
Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA)
- Governs how private-sector organizations collect, use, and disclose personal information during commercial activities.
- Requires transparency, informed consent, and secure handling of data.
Provincial Privacy Laws
- Jurisdictions such as Alberta and British Columbia have distinct privacy statutes that may apply depending on where the product is used or sold.
Animal Watch 365’s geofencing products for pet and livestock tracking are designed to align with key international standards that ensure safety, interoperability, and performance. These include:
- ISO/IEC 30141 – Internet of Things (IoT) Reference Architecture
This standard provides a framework for the architecture of IoT-based systems, which includes GPS and geofencing applications used in animal tracking.
- ISO 11784 / ISO 11785 – Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID) for Animals
These standards define the structure and technical concept of RFID used in animal tracking, which can complement geofencing systems.
- IEC 62368-1 – Audio/Video, Information and Communication Technology Equipment – Safety Requirements
Ensures the electrical safety of communication devices used in tracking collars and monitoring systems.
- ETSI EN 303 413 – Satellite Earth Stations and Systems (GNSS Receivers)
Applicable to GPS/GNSS receivers, ensuring accurate and reliable satellite-based positioning for geofencing.
- ISO 27001 – Information Security Management Systems (ISMS)
Relevant to data security practices in geofencing systems that collect, process, and store location data.
- FCC Part 15 / CE Marking – Electromagnetic Compatibility
Ensures that electronic devices used in geofencing (such as GPS trackers) comply with regulations for electromagnetic emissions in the U.S. and Europe respectively.
- REACH & RoHS Compliance (EU)
For the materials used in wearable tracking devices, ensuring they are safe, non-toxic, and environmentally compliant.
By adhering to these international standards, Animal Watch 365 ensures its geofencing solutions are safe, reliable, secure, and globally compatible.
Animal Watch 365 has developed strong expertise in geofencing for pet and livestock tracking, utilizing various alternative terms for this technology, including virtual fencing, boundary tracking, GPS-based containment, location-based monitoring, electronic perimeter, GPS geofence, smart fencing, virtual boundaries, and dynamic fencing. These terms all refer to the use of GPS and location-based technology to create virtual boundaries that help monitor and track the movement of pets and livestock, ensuring their safety and well-being within specified areas.
Customers can use Animal Watch 365’s products such as
- Environmental Sensors
- Environmental Data Loggers
- Temperature Calibration Systems
- Humidity Sensors
- Moisture Gauges
- Infrared Thermography Cameras
Animal Watch 365 offers expedited shipping for its products to various destinations across the U.S. and Canada, operating from our hub in Los Angeles. We encourage you to reach out if you wish to explore our product offerings or discuss potential partnerships. You can get in touch by completing the inquiry-form or contacting us via email.