Latest news with #OldIrishGoats
Agriland
6 days ago
- General
- Agriland
It makes perfect fence: How virtual fencing is changing the way Ireland grazes
As land use pressures grow and farming practices evolve, virtual fencing is emerging as a practical solution to meet environmental and operational demands. In Ireland, where much of the agricultural landscape is fragmented, publicly accessible or difficult to fence, Nofence's technology is helping unlock land that might otherwise go unused. On the Howth Peninsula just outside Dublin, conservation grazing is now being carried out without physical barriers – thanks to Nofence's GPS-enabled collars and easy-to-use app. In partnership with Fingal County Council and Old Irish Goat Society, local goat herder Melissa Jeuken is using Nofence to manage a herd of native Old Irish Goats for wildfire prevention and biodiversity protection in this popular public space. Infrastructure-free grazing in complex environments Howth is a highly trafficked site with narrow firebreak strips, steep gradients and open access to walkers, dog walkers, and cyclists. Physical fencing was ruled out early on to preserve both aesthetics and public access. Jeuken said: 'The land is open to everyone, and fencing wasn't an option. That's what led us to Nofence. We needed a system that kept animals safe but left the landscape untouched.' The Old Irish Goats herd with their Nofence collars. Source: Nofence Each animal wears a GPS-enabled collar that is connected to a user-friendly app through cellular networks, allowing farmers to create, adjust, or remove grazing boundaries in real time. Livestock are guided by audio cues that gradually increase in pitch as they approach a virtual boundary, with a mild electric pulse – half the intensity of traditional electric fences – used only as a last resort. Most animals quickly adapt to the system and rarely receive the electric pulse after the initial training phase, with around 96% of interactions resulting in the animal stopping and or turning around. Grazing with biodiversity in mind With virtual fencing, Jeuken can carefully manage how and where her herd moves and grazes, which is essential in areas where biodiversity needs to be protected. Through the app, she can adjust boundaries in real time to exclude sensitive habitats and adapt grazing plans to seasonal changes. 'You can graze any site and map any site accordingly,' Jeuken said. 'I use exclusion zones to protect shrubs and flowers, or to keep the goats away from steeper slopes during certain times of year. It's incredibly flexible.' This type of adaptive, low-impact grazing supports a conservation-first approach. Jeuken's herd helps reduce fuel load in fire-prone areas while preserving sensitive ecosystems. The collars make it possible to carry out targeted, responsive land management without disturbing the scenic landscape or disrupting public access. Managing public land with animal welfare in mind Jeuken works in a uniquely public setting, so the safety and wellbeing of her animals is a top priority. With dog walkers, hikers and other disturbances nearby, she relies on the GPS system to monitor herd location and behaviour in real time. 'The GPS has been massive for keeping an eye on stock,' she explained. 'It helps me know if animals are unsettled. You can tell a lot from their grazing behaviour.' Goat herder Melissa Jeuken using the Nofence app to check on her herd of Old Irish Goats on the Howth Peninsula, Co Dublin. Source: Nofence Through the app, Jeuken receives alerts if an animal's movement stops or if a collar comes loose, allowing her to intervene quickly. As a hands-on stock manager, she checks her animals daily and says that proper training is critical to success. 'You don't just put the collar on and hope for the best. Training is your number one. Once the animals understand the system, they really respect the sound.' Over time, her goats have learned to anticipate the boundary tones and adjust their movement, even using the system to cheekily 'grab a few extra bites' before turning back. Unlocking access to underused and unfenced land Although Jeuken's work is focused on conservation, her experience reflects a broader opportunity for land managers and farmers across Ireland. For those managing small parcels of land or operating in areas without physical infrastructure, virtual fencing opens the door to new forms of land use. Jeuken said: 'There are a lot of farmers here with land that just became unviable to manage. 'With Nofence, they can start using that ground again, not just for grazing, but to access schemes or even just to carry on a tradition.' For public authorities and contractors, the technology offers a new way to manage livestock professionally without altering the landscape. It enables land to be grazed responsibly, safely, and without the need for permanent fencing, making it ideal for shared, sensitive or transitional sites, and benefitting local wildlife in the process. Low-impact infrastructure for modern farming Jeuken's work on the Howth Peninsula shows what is possible when technology meets thoughtful land stewardship. With Nofence, she is able to deliver a public-facing conservation service that is animal-centred, environmentally responsive, and visually unobtrusive, all while managing over 100 goats with just her phone. As Ireland continues to pursue nature restoration, wildfire prevention and sustainable land use, virtual fencing is proving to be more than just a technological solution. It is a flexible, scalable infrastructure that supports the evolving needs of Irish farming and helps keep animals on the land, safely and sustainably.
Agriland
10-05-2025
- General
- Agriland
Goats a catalyst for change in Co. Carlow
A small herd of Old Irish Goats attracted almost 2,000 visitors from across Carlow in the sunshine recently as people of all ages learned about the county council's urban pollinator foraging initiative and a little about fire safety on the cusp of wildfire season. The Old Irish Goats – Ireland's indigenous landrace breed now only found in remote mountain ranges, roaming in feral herds – will return to Co. Carlow in September. On that occasion, the council will work with some local retired farmers to demonstrate how to make cocks of hay, a scene that has not been seen in Carlow for many years, according to Shane Casey, environmental officer with Carlow County Council. In 2023, the Carlow local authority adopted a green infrastructure strategy, which includes the policy that no pollinator in Co. Carlow's towns and villages will have to travel more than 200m to find a food source. Casey said: 'To do this, we developed a unique urban pollinator foraging network map in Carlow town. This has since been advocated by the All-Ireland Pollinator Plan as an example of best practice for prioritising local resources.' The Old Irish Goats hitching a lift on the fire brigade 'In 2024, we commissioned Flynn Furney to contact all community and residents' groups in the eight largest towns and villages in Carlow: Carlow town; Tullow; Bagenalstown; Leighlinbridge; Hacketstown; Borris; Ballon; and Rathvilly. 'We asked them to map any community-managed open spaces, where there was a desire to do more for pollinators. Over 60ac in total were mapped and all individual sites were a minimum size of 0.5 ac, and were being mown regularly. 'The focus of the next stage is to encourage a change in management, to move away from regular mowing, saving time and labour and reducing carbon footprint, and towards long flowering meadows in these areas, significantly improving conditions for biodiversity and enabling enhanced ecosystem services,' Casey said. The environmental officer went on to explain the important role of the Old Irish Goats in bringing about this different approach. 'The goats are a catalyst for this change in management, rather than the sole solution, and we will be partnering with the Co Carlow Environmental Network in September to offer practical help to local residents who want to make such changes.. 'This will involve us helping to 'cut and lift' these spaces, limited to any green space which is a minimum of 0.5 ac in size, where a mown boundary strip is maintained throughout the summer, and where signs – which we will provide – are erected and maintained,' he said. It is anticipated that the 'lifted' vegetation will be used as part of a cultural event to demonstrate the skill of making cocks of hay. The goats stayed overnight in the parochial house in Bagenalstown. They then visited the green adjacent to Leighlinbridge church, and also took in the green areas of Brooklawns, Burrindale and Sherwood, before finishing up at Hacketstown fire station. Their shepherd, Melissa Jeuken, was on hand throughout the week, along with Casey, to deliver educational talks on pollinators, land management for pollinators, and the goats themselves, the subject of Casey's agricultural science undergraduate thesis. According to Casey: 'Also joining us throughout the week was our fire service crew, delivering fire safety awareness as we enter wildfire season. 'These were the same goats as seen on Howth Head, controlling gorse and scrub to manage wildfire impacts, an issue all too prevalent in Carlow as well. 'We also found time during the week to create a Carlow version of the classic 'Three Billy Goats Gruff' performed by local woman, Wibbly Wobbly Wendy, and posted on Facebook by the National Heritage Council.' Shane Casey and Melissa Jeuken with the Old Irish Goats
