Halter is a New Zealand agricultural technology company that develops solar-powered cattle collars and farm management software for virtual fencing, animal monitoring and pasture management. The system combines collars, on-farm communication towers and mobile-web applications to guide and monitor cattle using sound and vibration cues, enabling remote stock movement and virtual break creation without physical fences.[2] As at July 2025 Halter reported deployment on approximately 400,000 animals across hundreds of farms.[3]
In June 2025 Halter announced a Series D funding round reported as US$100 million, with local media reporting NZ$165 million and a valuation of about NZ$1.65 billion (around US$1 billion).[4][5][6] Coverage also appeared in the Australian Financial Review.[7] The company announced expansion into the United States in 2024.[8] In 2025, Halter's technology was used on public lands in California for rotational grazing and fuel-break maintenance in partnership with the Bureau of Land Management.[9][10][11]
History
Halter was founded in 2016 by Craig Piggott, who grew up on a dairy farm in Matamata, New Zealand.[1] The company's product combines lightweight solar-powered collars, on-farm towers and a software platform.[2] In August 2024 Halter announced its United States launch for beef and dairy operations.[8]
Technology
Halter's collars are lightweight and solar-powered, communicating with farm-installed towers to guide cattle using sound and vibration via a mobile–web app. The system enables virtual fencing, remote drafting and herd shifting, while collecting activity, heat and rumination data to support animal-health and pasture decisions.[2][12]
Dairy cow wearing a Halter virtual-fencing collar in pasture, New Zealand.Dairy cows grazing and resting on pasture on an overcast day with a visible graze line
Halter describes an audio-first approach with vibration support: when an animal nears or crosses a virtual boundary, a series of beeps provides left- or right-hand guidance and vibration encourages forward movement; cues cease as soon as the animal turns or moves back inside the boundary. If primary cues are ignored, a low-energy electric pulse may be applied as a secondary aversive cue. Pulse settings are calibrated per animal to the minimum energy needed for safe containment, with limits, automated disablement and farmer alerts to protect welfare. Training and shifting modes differ by herd type: active shifting guides dairy cattle during regular movements, while passive shifting gives beef cattle time to move to new feed allocations without pulse reinforcement. Independent reviews report that cattle typically learn audio cues within days and that pulse events decline after training, while recommending ongoing monitoring.[3][13][14]
Products and services
The platform comprises collars worn by cattle, Halter transmission towers that provide on-farm connectivity, and a software application for iOS, Android and the web.[2] Features include virtual fencing and herding, remote shifting and scheduling, feed allocation and pasture budgeting, heat detection and selected health alerts, and livestock location maps.[15]
Business model
Halter sells on a subscription basis charged per animal, bundling software access with collar use and support.[16][17] Trade media characterise the model as a per-head monthly fee with service and software components.[18]
Operations and markets
Halter operates in New Zealand, Australia and the United States, with the U.S. launch announced in August 2024.[8] In August 2025 Halter announced a partnership with the Foundation for America's Public Lands and the Bureau of Land Management to support adoption on BLM-managed lands in California.[19]
Research and wildfire context
Land-grant institutions and range-management agencies have studied virtual fencing to concentrate grazing for fuel breaks and reduce fine fuels in rangelands. Studies in sagebrush steppe systems report high containment rates and operational feasibility for fuel-break establishment, although results vary by site and management objectives.[20][21]
Media coverage
Major media have reported on Halter's growth, technology and international expansion, including:
San Francisco Chronicle coverage of fuel-break applications at the Cotoni-Coast Dairies National Monument in Santa Cruz County.[9]
Smithsonian Magazine on shared use of the monument by hikers, bikers and cattle using virtual fencing.[10]
NPR coverage of public access among dairy cattle at Cotoni-Coast Dairies using virtual fencing.[11]
In 2025 Halter featured on Hyundai Country Calendar (Season 2025, Episode 32, "Oil Fields"), profiling a Taranaki dairy family and their adoption of new on-farm technologies.[22][23]
Awards and recognition
2025 - TIME Best Inventions (Special Mention) recognising Halter's virtual fencing system.[24]
2024 - Winner, Deloitte Fast 50 (New Zealand), ranked first overall.[25]
2021 - Craig Piggott named to Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia (Industry, Manufacturing and Energy).[26]
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