Learn › The collars
Every virtual fence company in the US.
What they cost, contract structure, how they work.
Halter pays Blueprint Ag for advising work, and Zach and Kacie Scherler-Abney appear in Halter's US case studies.
Comparisons
What one collar costs on day one, and what it costs every year after. Open a row for the breakdown.
Keep it for
Up front
Annually
Contract
Per year over 5 years
$0$40$80$120$160
range
Halter Up front$96 Annually$96 Contract1 to 4 years estDefects replaced Per year$96
our estimateSatellite
Up front, one collar$96
First year of subscriptionBilled at the start. No separate collar charge.$96
Every year after$96
SubscriptionThe same figure every year.$96
1 to 4 years our estimate . Set per customer. Auto-renews unless you opt out 30 days before the end. No cancellation for convenience. One to four years in what we have seen.
- Minimum order 100 collars.
- A tower-based option instead of satellite runs $70-80 a collar a year (our estimate), plus $4,000-5,000 of tower hardware.
What we think mattersRuns on satellite. No cell service, no towers. The only shipping collar that steers an animal forward. Collars come with the subscription. No posted US price; $96 a collar a year is our estimate.
Best fit: Cow-calf and stocker outfits that want the whole system managed and will trade ownership for it.
Every price they publish
Beef Base and Beef Pro (US)Quote onlyNo dollar figures on the packages page; each tier says to chat to your local rep. Monthly or annual plans source
Halter Base subscription (US)$96 / collar / yrNot published for the US. The same figure appears in Halter's December 2023 beef launch release, written in a New Zealand context source
Tower-based subscription (our estimate)$70-80 / collar / yrThe pre-satellite option. Tower hardware roughly $4,000-5,000 plus an internet fee near $50 a month
Minimum order100 collars
Collars come with the subscription. Defective hardware is replaced while you pay. Storm, accident, theft and loss are excluded and the subscription keeps billing.
Stands out
- The vibration is a go signal, not a warning: it asks her to move forward once she is facing the right way, and on beef cattle it is never reinforced with a pulse source
- Direct-to-satellite since April 2026: no towers, no cell coverage needed source
- Collars stream 6,000+ data points a minute; heat detection, rumination, forage insight in the app source
- Hardware with defects in materials or workmanship is replaced while you pay; storm, accident, theft and loss are excluded source
Everything else they publish
Company
Halter, founded in New Zealand; US launch August 2024; 2,000+ customers across the US, NZ, and Australia source
Product
The Halter System: solar-powered GPS collars, direct-to-satellite connectivity, and a mobile app for virtual fencing, remote shifting, 24/7 location and behavior tracking, and pasture management source
Species
Cattle only; not made for sheep, goats, or horses
How you pay
Monthly per-head subscription with collars included, on monthly or annual plans. Two US beef tiers: Beef Base and Beef Pro source
Power
Solar-powered collars, weather-resistant and dust-sealed; panels on top of the collar; no battery replacements source
Connectivity
Direct-to-satellite collars since April 2026: no on-ranch towers or cellular coverage required, works anywhere you can see the sky including light tree cover. The prior system used Halter's solar-powered long-range radio towers on the ranch source
Availability
Satellite collars for beef ranches across the United States; used on operations across 20+ states including Texas, Montana, Wyoming, and Colorado, throughout the Mountain West and Great Plains source
Contract terms
Initial term, fees and any deposit are set in each customer's Sales and Services Agreement. The agreement auto-renews for the same length unless either side opts out in writing at least 30 days before the end; it cannot be cancelled for convenience; the renewal fee moves to Halter's standard fee; deployment and connectivity fees may apply and all fees are non-refundable. Halter replaces hardware with defects in materials or workmanship while fees are paid; storm, accidental damage, theft and loss are excluded, the subscription keeps billing, and replacement hardware is charged at a fee Halter sets source
Hold cue
Beeps at a rising frequency if she keeps going, then a pulse. 0.45 J max, calibrated per animal, with daily limits.
Trains in
7 to 10 days
Warranty
Defects replaced while you pay; storm, accident, theft and loss excluded.
Weight
Not published.
- Cue mechanism: two primary cues, sound and vibration. On beef cattle the vibration cue is never reinforced with an electric pulse; a low-energy pulse backs up an ignored sound cue source
- Dual speakers give left and right sound cues, plus a vibration to confirm the animal is moving the right way source
- Pulse energy: maximum single pulse 0.45 joules, under 1/10th of the 5.0 joule regulated maximum for an electric fence shock; 80-98% of pasture pulses under 0.2 J; calibrated per animal with daily maximums source
- Beef cattle train to the system in 7-10 days; training is automated by the collar's cue algorithm source
- Each collar collects and sends over 6,000 data points a minute source
- App: draw and edit virtual fences, fence and move cattle with a tap, live herd location, grazing-pattern and pasture-utilization data, individual health alerts source
- April 2026 satellite launch added heat detection, near real-time grazing and rumination monitoring, and satellite-based forage insight with grazing plans source
- Scale: runs the same on 100 head or a couple thousand source
- Support: 24/7 US-based support plus a dedicated Territory Manager per region source
- Halter says its technology is proven on thousands of farms and over one million cattle source
- US terms: auto-renews for the same term unless you opt out in writing 30 days before the end; no cancellation for convenience; fees non-refundable source
Not published
- A published US price list. The rate here is invoice-confirmed, not posted by the vendor
- Initial term length, deposit, deployment and connectivity fees (set per customer in the Sales and Services Agreement)
- Price of replacement hardware after storm, accident, theft or loss
- Collar weight not published on vendor pages
- Battery runtime through extended cloudy periods
- Satellite network provider and message latency
Gallagher Up front$250–$350 Annually$18–$24 ContractNone, you own it3-year warranty Per year$68–$94
our estimateCellular or LoRa
Up front, one collar$250–$350
NeckbandOur estimate. Gallagher's guide puts it from about $250 a head at scale; smaller orders cost more.$250–$350
Every year after$18–$24
Connectivity, per active neckbandOur estimate, $1.50-2 a month. Varies by cellular or LoRa.$18–$24
None, you own it. Neckbands are yours outright. Connectivity is month to month, and the warranty covers manufacturing defects for three years.
- Connectivity bills from month one, so year one is the neckband plus about $18-24.
- A LoRa base station is $5,000 each where you have no cell service.
What we think mattersCellular where you have bars, your own LoRa base stations where you do not. Both can run on one place. You own the neckbands and pay a monthly fee per active one. Heaviest published, at 5.5 lb. Shortest published warranty, 3 years.
Best fit: Places with decent cell service, or enough scale to justify a base station of your own.
Every price they publish
Neckband, US (our estimate)$250-350By order size; larger orders land at the low end. The vendor quotes exact numbers
Neckband, indicative at scale (US)From about $250 / headGallagher's own guide gives indicative tiers by volume, from about US$250 a head at scale; not a quote. Guide published May 6 2026, updated Aug 24 2026 source
Neckband (US)Quote onlyQuote page offers a call or an indicative-quote PDF; no US figures published source
LoRa base station$5,000Per station, currency not stated. Cited in Gallagher's own news article announcing that the cellular option removes the need for one; that article puts some installs as high as $40,000 source
Monthly connectivity chargeNot publishedDescribed as a small fixed monthly charge per active neckband; varies by region and network source
Connectivity, per active neckband (our estimate)$1.50-2 / monthVaries by network type, cellular or LoRa
Bought outright, plus a monthly connectivity charge. Ranges are our estimate. Gallagher's guide says from about $250 a head at scale.
Stands out
- You own the neckbands outright: solar LiFePO4, 7-10 year design life, 3-year warranty source
- Cellular and private LoRa can mix on one property; fences stay active 24h if coverage drops source
- GPS accuracy about 1 meter when cattle are within 20 meters of a virtual fence source
Everything else they publish
Company
Gallagher Animal Management source
Product
Solar-powered GPS neckbands plus an app to fence, track, and move cattle without posts or wire source
Species
Cattle only, most breeds over 440 lb, bulls included; not suitable for sheep or goats
How you pay
One-off hardware purchase, owned outright, plus a small fixed monthly connectivity charge per active neckband. No per-head lease source
Power
Solar with LiFePO4 battery, 7-10 year design life; a few hours of sun holds charge for several days, 10+ days in low light source
Connectivity
Two options that can mix on one property: 4G LTE-M cellular (no base station, works wherever a cell phone works) or private LoRa to on-property base stations for terrain without coverage. Fences stay active up to 24 hours if coverage drops, then deactivate source
Availability
Available in the US and Canada; running on farms in 20+ countries; availability and carrier coverage vary by region source
Contract terms
Neckbands owned outright; 3-year warranty on manufacturing defects; monthly connectivity charge per active neckband; no other terms published source
Hold cue
A sound at the boundary, then a pulse only if she crosses it.
Trains in
3 to 10 days
Warranty
3 years, manufacturing defects.
Weight
5.5 lb (2.5 kg).
- Neckband weighs 2.5 kg (5.5 lb), balanced under the chin source
- Cue mechanism: sound cue at the boundary; mild electrical pulse only if the animal crosses source
- Minimum animal size 440 lb; minimum 20 animals for training; most cattle learn in 3-10 days on a training paddock over a physical fence source
- GPS accuracy about 1 meter when cattle are within 20 meters of a virtual fence source
- IPX7 waterproof, field-replaceable breakaway strap; strap adjustment every 2-5 months source
- App: draw paddocks on a map, scheduled moves, grazing-pressure heatmaps, individual tracking with 24-hour history source
- Boundary redraws reach neckbands within minutes; firmware updates over the cellular network source
- Offline Virtual Paddocks (April 2026): neckbands store two paddock configurations and switch automatically when out of coverage source
- No recurring software fee; the monthly data fee per neckband is the only recurring cost Gallagher names source
Not published
- A firm US price list; the quote tool and Gallagher's guide give indicative figures only
- Monthly connectivity charge amount
- Whether US base stations are sold or leased, and current list price
- Contract length or cancellation terms for connectivity
- Pulse energy specification
Monil Up front$280 Annually$35–$40 ContractYearly, auto-renews10-year warranty Per year$91–$96
publishedCellular
Up front, one collar$280
Cattle collarThe collar alone, with charger and charging station. Minimum six on a first order.$280
Every year after$35–$40
Subscription, from year onePer active collar: $40 for the first 50, $36 for the next 50, $32 above 100.$35–$40
Yearly, auto-renews. Subscription renews each year per active collar; cancel before renewal. Warranty runs ten years from delivery.
- Shipping from $100 an order plus $4 an item, collars and docks.
- Over 199 collars routes to sales.
- We follow the shop's calculator, which adds the subscription on top of the $280.
What we think matters$280 a collar, plus a subscription from year one: $40 a collar for the first 50, $36 for the next 50, $32 beyond. Lightest published cattle collar, 2.2 lb. Ten-year warranty. Stops all signals after three escape rounds. Norwegian, with a US office in Kansas City.
Best fit: Small to mid herds who want a posted price and can carry the risk of a young company.
Every price they publish
Cattle collar$280Per collar, with charger and charging station. Minimum 6 on a first order; over 199 routes to sales source
Subscription, year one and every year after$40 / $36 / $32 per collar / yrFrom the shop calculator: $40 a collar for the first 50, $36 for the next 50, $32 above 100. Billed per active collar. source
First year, collar plus subscription$320 / collar up to 50 collarsShop calculator, first year: 6 collars $1,920; 50 $16,000; 100 $31,800; 199 $62,688. A label beside it still says the $280 includes year one. source
Bought outright, plus a yearly subscription per active collar. The subscription bills from year one, on top of the collar: $40 each for the first 50 collars, $36 for the next 50, $32 above 100. Six-collar minimum on a first order; over 199 routes to sales.
Stands out
- Collar and subscription both posted online: $280 a collar, then $40, $36 or $32 a collar a year by marginal band source
- Escape protocol ends stimuli after three rounds rather than continuing to pulse source
- No limit on app users; admin, editor, and reader roles source
- 10-year warranty from delivery source
Everything else they publish
Company
Monil, Norway; US office in Kansas City, MO source
Product
Monil Cattle Collar: virtual fencing plus herd monitoring in one collar source
Species
Cattle, 6 months and older
How you pay
Direct online purchase from Monil's US webshop: the collar, plus a per-collar yearly subscription billed from year one. The subscription auto-renews; cancellation takes effect at the end of the current billing period. Sold to business entities only source
Power
Solar-charged top-mounted panel sized for a full grazing season; the battery never needs replacing; collars arrive at about 70% charge; may need a charger in deep forest or winter; charging station included source
Connectivity
4G cellular (NB-IoT and LTE-M) on existing networks, T-Mobile and AT&T in the US; no base stations or towers. GNSS positioning (GPS, Galileo, GLONASS, BeiDou) source
Availability
Serving US producers now, collars shipping; priority Midwest support, nationwide inquiries welcome source
Contract terms
B2B sales only; per-active-collar subscription that auto-renews, cancellation effective at the end of the billing period; excess collars carry a 12-month minimum term from activation; 10-year (120-month) warranty from delivery; no returns of non-defective product unless agreed in writing; US-only use; ships within 30 days of a completed order and full payment if no timeframe is stated. Terms effective September 11 2026 source
Hold cue
Directional sound, then a pulse after 7 seconds. Signals stop after three rounds and she is marked escaped.
Trains in
About a week
Warranty
10 years from delivery.
Weight
2.2 lb.
- Collar weight 2.2 lb; adjustable fit 26-50 inches source
- Correction protocol: escalating directional sound, then a short electrical pulse after 7 seconds if the animal keeps moving out; up to three rounds, then the animal is marked escaped, all signals stop, and the app alerts with live location source
- All adult animals in the herd must wear a collar for reliable containment; not recommended under 6 months source
- Training takes about a week source
- App: satellite-map fence drawing, live herd view, escape alerts, heat detection from activity and rumination, heatmaps, battery monitoring, motionless-collar detection source
- No limit on app users; admin, editor, and reader roles source
- 10-year warranty; spare parts available source
- Outside cell coverage the collar keeps enforcing its stored fence while it has GNSS; position reports and escape alerts wait until it reconnects source
- Subscription fees are based on active collars; a collar counts as active once assigned to an animal source
Not published
- Pulse strength not published
- Battery life in days and winter performance numbers not published
- Position-update frequency and boundary accuracy not published
- Price above 199 collars (routes to sales)
- Final shipping and sales tax
- Financing or lease options not published
- State-by-state coverage map not published
Nofence Up front$309–$349 Annually$35–$45 ContractSet per order, auto-renews5-year warranty Per year$90–$106
publishedCellular
Up front, one collar$309–$349
C2.5 cattle collar$349 under 25 collars, $309 at 25 or more. Includes the first 12 months of subscription.$309–$349
Every year after$35–$45
Subscription, month 13 on$45 under 100 collars, $35 at 100 or more.$35–$45
Set per order, auto-renews. Term set per order. Renews unless you give three months' written notice. Warranty five years on the C2.5, ten on the N3.
- Sheep and goat collars run $239-269 for 5 to 99; 100 or more is a quote.
- The new N3 cattle collar is on pre-order at a price not posted; ships March 2027.
- Battery chargers $40-50 each, about one per ten collars (our estimate).
What we think mattersCattle, sheep and goats. Prices posted by herd size; 100 or more sheep or goats is a quote. First year of subscription in the collar price. C2.5 cattle collar: 3.2 lb, five-year warranty. New N3 on pre-order for March 2027, ten-year warranty, price not posted.
Best fit: Smaller herds, mixed species, and anyone who wants to start without a sales call.
Every price they publish
C2.5 cattle collar, 0-24 collars$349Per collar; 5-year warranty; first 12 months of subscription included source
C2.5 cattle collar, 25+ collars$309Per collar, same at 100+; 5-year warranty; first 12 months included source
Sheep/goat collar, 5-24 collars$269Per collar; 12-month subscription included; then $45/yr or $6.50/mo source
Sheep/goat collar, 25-99 collars$239Per collar; 12-month subscription included; then $45/yr or $6.50/mo source
Sheep/goat collar, 100+ collarsQuote onlyThe tier table says talk to sales; the page footer separately says 'starting at $239 per collar + $35/yr' source
Cattle subscription after month 12, under 100 collars$45 / collar / yrOr $6.50 per collar monthly source
N3 cattle collar (pre-order)Not publishedNew collar with a 10-year warranty at an introductory pre-order price valid until October 31 or while supplies last; no figure on the page. First collars ship March 2027 source
Battery chargers (our estimate)$40-50 eachOne charger per ten collars is the working ratio; priced by collar type
Bought outright, plus a yearly subscription per active collar.
Stands out
- The only system here for cattle, sheep, AND goats source
- Cattle prices posted by herd size: 0-24, 25-99, 100+ collars; 5-year warranty on the C2.5 source
- New N3 cattle collar on pre-order: 10-year warranty, ships March 2027, satellite promised spring 2027 source
Everything else they publish
Company
Nofence, Norway; describes itself as the world's first virtual fencing system; US managing director listed source
Product
GPS virtual fencing collars for cattle and for sheep/goats, managed from a mobile app; no physical fence infrastructure source
Species
Cattle, Sheep, Goats
How you pay
Buy collars outright online; each active collar carries a subscription, with the first 12 months included in the collar purchase source
Power
Rechargeable lithium-ion battery with solar charging; C2.5 cattle collar battery 72 Wh, IP67 source
Connectivity
Cellular on AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon; no base station or infrastructure. Stored boundaries keep containing animals without signal, and one collar with signal relays updates to nearby collars over Bluetooth (HerdNet). Satellite is listed as coming in spring 2027 source
Availability
Sold direct in the US. C2.5 cattle collars in stock now; the new N3 cattle collar is on pre-order, first collars shipping March 2027 source
Contract terms
Subscription term set in each order and auto-renews for the same length unless either side gives written notice at least three months before the end; ending early makes the remaining subscription fees payable; fees can change on 30 days' notice; an accepted hardware order cannot be cancelled; use only in the country of purchase. Terms updated 2026-07-01 source
Hold cue
An audible warning first, then an electric pulse through the collar chains if she keeps going.
Trains in
4 to 7 days
Warranty
5 years on the C2.5; 10 on the new N3.
Weight
3.2 lb cattle (C2.5).
- Cue mechanism: escalating audio tones approaching the boundary, then a mild electric pulse if the animal continues past the final tone; audio sequence runs 5-20 seconds depending on speed source
- C2.5 cattle collar about 3.2 lb on the animal, IP67, charging range 32 to 113 F source
- Connectivity: LTE Cat-M1 and 2G, Bluetooth, GNSS (GPS, GLONASS) source
- HerdNet: one collar with cellular signal shares updates with nearby collars via Bluetooth source
- Most cattle, sheep, and goats learn the audio cue in four to seven days source
- Every adult in the herd needs a collar; minimum five collared adults per herd source
- Warranty: 5 years from shipment generally; 10 years on the N3 collar, chain, strap and battery source
- Money-back guarantee advertised on the cattle page; grants, funding or financing may be available source
- Subscription includes the app, user portal, team members, and phone and email support source
Not published
- N3 collar and N3 subscription price
- Minimum animal age or weight for collar fitting
- Shipping cost and lead time for C2.5
- Battery life per charge in days
- Battery and charger prices
- Sheep and goat collar weight on current pages
- Specific financing terms (only that options exist)
- Pulse energy specification on US pages
Drover ContractNot released not released
not releasedNot published
What we think mattersEar tags with muscle stimulation instead of a shock. Drover says its signal runs 6 to 80 V and can steer an animal. None of it is independently tested. Nothing ships until 2027. No price.
Best fit: Nobody yet.
Every price they publish
All hardware and serviceNot releasedStill in manufacturing; vendor promises posted pricing, no quote process source
Not released.
Stands out
- Ear tag about the size of a maxi tag, not a collar; solar, no battery changes source
- Directional steering as 'digital reins': mustering beyond containment source
- Not shipping yet: ranch trials underway, availability stated for early 2027 source
Everything else they publish
Company
Drover, US-based, founded by two Australians source
Product
Virtual fencing EAR TAGS (not collars), EMS-based, 2 patents pending source
Species
Beef cattle
How you pay
Not released. Vendor states pricing will be posted without a call-for-a-quote process source
Power
Solar panels on the ear tag; no battery changes source
Connectivity
Vendor states no base stations or infrastructure needed; network type not published source
Availability
NOT shipping. In manufacturing, ranch trials underway, availability stated for early 2027; early-access mailing list open source
Contract terms
Not published source
Hold cue
The same muscle contraction rather than a shock. 6 to 80 V against the 3,000 to 5,000 V Drover attributes to shock collars.
Trains in
Not shipping
Warranty
Not released.
Weight
Not published.
- Ear tag roughly the size of a maxi tag; final weight not finalized source
- EMS (electrical muscle stimulation): controlled electrical signals mimicking natural nerve impulses; 6-80V vs 3,000-5,000V for shock collars, under 0.1% of the joules source
- Independent sensations to each ear act as digital reins: directional steering and mustering beyond containment source
- Testing overseen by veterinarians and animal welfare experts source
- Trials on multiple ranches; three named rancher testimonials; no counts published source
Not published
- Pricing (explicitly unreleased)
- Purchase model and contract terms
- Connectivity type and range
- Battery life, exact weight, GPS specifics
- Funding, entity name, HQ, customer counts
Vence ContractNot published quote only
quoteBase stations
What we think mattersOwned by Merck Animal Health. Runs on base stations you put on the place, each covering 5,000 to 10,000 acres. No posted price, contract length, warranty or battery figure.
Best fit: Large ranches with the acreage to spread base stations over.
Every price they publish
All hardware and softwareQuote onlyNo dollar figures published anywhere on the vendor site. Cost page names cost-offset programs: EQIP, CSP, CIG, CRP, CREP, ACEP, RCPP, NFWF source
Not published. Base stations are quoted with the system.
Stands out
- One solar base station covers 5,000-10,000 acres depending on terrain source
- Owned by Merck Animal Health since 2022 source
- Rancher Success Team included: one-on-one setup, on-call help, weekly education source
Everything else they publish
Company
Merck Animal Health, which acquired Vence in 2022 source
Product
GPS/RF collar plus solar base stations plus HerdManager software source
Species
Cattle (grazing beef or dairy); trials underway on other species
How you pay
Not published. The cost page says a Vence system is comparable to, and often less expensive than, installing and maintaining traditional fencing, and directs buyers to a conversation. No subscription-vs-purchase structure published source
Power
Base stations solar powered, designed to last 10+ years with little maintenance; collar battery replacement interval is variable per operation, no fixed battery life published source
Connectivity
Each collar carries a GPS transceiver and an RF transceiver that talks to ranch-placed base stations; one base station covers 5,000-10,000 acres depending on topography source
Availability
Sold through Merck Animal Health USA with a US contact form and phone line; no state list or coverage map published source
Contract terms
Not published. No contract length, minimums, warranty, or included-services breakdown on the cost or products pages source
Hold cue
A sound at the boundary, then a pulse if the sound does not work. She can walk back inside without another cue.
Trains in
Four days or less, best case
Warranty
Not published.
Weight
Not published.
- One base station covers 5,000-10,000 acres depending on terrain source
- Cue sequence: sound cues at the boundary first, then an electric pulse if ineffective; an animal outside the line can pass back inside without any stimuli source
- Most herds train in under a week, often four days or less. source
- HerdManager software: create and manage herds, schedule fence lines weeks in advance, track animals, monitor collar status and battery, ear-tag-to-collar association, heat maps source
- Rancher Success Team included: one-on-one setup and training, on-call assistance during setup, weekly online education session source
- First seed funding round closed in 2017; acquired by Merck Animal Health in 2022 source
Not published
- No pricing of any kind: collar, subscription, base station, or installation
- Subscription vs purchase structure and contract length not published
- Collar weight, battery life figure, and swap procedure not published
- Minimum herd size or acreage not published
- State availability and deployment footprint not published
- Warranty and collar-loss policy not published
- GPS fix rate and boundary accuracy not published
More than containment
All six companies can hold an animal. Two of them can also prompt movement.
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