The new frontier of connected livestock farming
LoRaWAN technology is in the process of transforming the way extensive livestock farming operates. The global market is expected to grow by 41% annually until 2034 (analysis by Global Market Insights). In addition, the European Union allocated €762.7M from the Digital Europe 2024 program to promote agricultural IoT solutions, facilitating co-financing of rural projects.
Practical results are already tangible: farms that have installed collars and smart drinking troughs connected via LoRaWAN report reductions of 40–60% in daily supervision trips, directly impacting fuel and man-hours (analysis by Lansitec). And the new smart collars demonstrate, in pilot tests, their ability to monitor temperature, heart rate, and livestock activity in real time, without human intervention.
Common challenges and how LoRaWAN solves them
| LoRaWAN Solutions | Common challenges |
| Dehesa or open pasture | These are extensive areas where livestock can easily get lost or be affected by other species. |
| Locating animals across thousands of hectares | Rural areas are vast and dense, making it difficult to locate animals, with a high risk of losing livestock along the way. |
| Monitoring water and fences | Water is essential for irrigating fences and for hydrating and cleaning the animals. |
| Lack of mobile signal | With little to no connectivity, the use of technological tools becomes complicated. |
| Labor costs | It is difficult to find people willing to work in livestock farming. |
Tangible benefits for farming operations
- 40–60% fewer trips for inspection rounds.
- Early disease detection thanks to continuous physiological data.
- Improved animal welfare and traceability required by the digital CAP.
- Quick return on investment by combining robust gateways and low-cost sensors.
Use cases and recommended gateways
| Need | Suggested gateway / solution | Key features |
| Coverage for large farms | Kerlink Wirnet iStation | IP67, 8 channels, 4G/Ethernet backhaul, easy remote management. |
| Private networks for cooperatives | MultiTech Conduit IP67 | Ruggedized chassis, LoRa mCard™, external antenna, PoE and LTE options. |
| Regional / operator-scale deployments | Tektelic KONA Mega | 64 channels, up to 12M messages/day, carrier-grade design. |
Other manufacturers such as Dragino or SenseCAP complement the ecosystem with compact gateways for pilot testing and solar nodes for autonomous drinking troughs.
How DIGIS3 supports you
- Free assessment of digital applications in your company.
- Testbed: deploy a gateway on your land and evaluate ROI within weeks.
- Practical training on digital technologies.
- Guidance on European, national, and regional funding so that initial costs are not a barrier.
Request information at digis3.eu or write to info@digis3.eu and discover how LoRaWAN gateways can transform your extensive livestock farming.